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A gunman posing as a customer opened fire inside a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday, killing two women and wounding five others before killing himself, authorities said. Local police identified the shooter as Scott Paul Beierle, 40. Police said Beierle shot six people with a handgun and pistol-whipped another. Patrons fought the gunman and prevented him from harming others. Two of the victims died, while another two are in stable condition. Three have been released from the hospital. "The fact we had people fight this attacker and prevent him from doing further harm speaks to the true spirit of Tallahassee," police chief Michael DeLeo told reporters Friday. The deceased victims were identified as Maura Binkley, 21, and Nancy Van Vessem, 61. Florida State University (FSU) President John Thrasher said Binkley was a student at the college and Vessem was a faculty member. "To lose one of our students and one of our faculty members in this tragic and violent way is just devastating to the Florida State University family," Thrasher said. "We feel this loss profoundly and we send our deepest sympathies to Maura's and Nancy's loved ones while we pray for the recovery of those who were injured." A gunman killed two people in Florida. CBS News Police said Beierle acted alone, but investigators are still searching for a motive and his connection to the victims. Leon County Court records show Beierle had criminal history relating to the harassment of several women. In 2012, the FSU graduate was arrested for allegedly grabbing the buttocks of two women at a campus dining hall. He denied intentionally grabbing anyone. In 2016, Beierle was arrested for grabbing and slapping the buttocks of a woman at an apartment complex's pool, according to court documents. Prosecutors dropped the charges after both of his arrests. Police responded to the shooting at the upscale shopping plaza around 5:30 p.m. Friday. Melissa Hutchinson is a bartender across the street from the studio. She administered first aid as bloodied victims rushed inside the bar to take cover. "I had two people that I was helping, they were very emotional," Hutchinson said. "They just saw people get shot. It was a shocking moment." Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and Gov. Rick Scott visited the gunshot victims in the hospital. "These have become far too frequent in our society," Gillum said Friday. "It is my sincere hope that beyond this, we will all reflect on why that might be." Caroline Linton contributed to this report.[SEP]At least one person is dead and three others have been injured after a gunman opened fire inside of a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida. The incident occurred around 6:00 pm at Hot Yoga studio near Thomasville Road and Bradford. Not much is known about the shooting at this time, however, witnesses at a restaurant which is housed below the studio, told authorities that a panicked woman rushed into the bar asking for help and a man who appeared to be bleeding from the head came in after her. The pair told authorities that a tall man with a beard walked inside of the studio and began acting strangely before he opened fire. The man also told authorities that when he attempted to stop the gunman, the gunman allegedly pistol-whipped him before fatally turning the gun on himself. The motive behind the shooting is unclear at this time. Governor candidate, Andrew Gillum interrupted his campaigning to respond to the shooting saying:[SEP]Official: Shooter killed himself, wounded at least four others at Florida yoga studio TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Official: Shooter killed himself, wounded at least four others at Florida yoga studio.[SEP]A gunman killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida before killing himself, officials said. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo told reporters that the man shot six people and pistol-whipped another after walking into the studio, which is part of a small shopping centre, on Friday evening. The suspect then turned the gun on himself, Mr DeLeo said. Early on Saturday morning, the Tallahassee Police Department identified the gunman as Scott Paul Beierle, 40. The two people who were killed were named as Nancy Van Vessem, 61, and Maura Binkley, 21. Dr Van Vessem was an internist who served as chief medical director for Capital Health Plan, the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper reported. Capital Health Plan paid tribute in a statement: “As CHP’s longtime chief medical director, Nancy has been a guiding, visionary force in our daily work to serve the wellness and health care needs of thousands of families in this community. “Her dedication, caring, leadership, humanity, and experience made her one of the most respected, inspiring, and accomplished medical professionals in the state and country. “Our hearts are filled with sorrow and prayers for her family. We all have been so blessed to have Nancy in our lives,” the company said. Florida State University President John Thrasher said Dr Van Vessem and Ms Binkley had links with the university, the Democrat reported. “To lose one of our students and one of our faculty members in this tragic and violent way is just devastating to the Florida State University family. “We feel this loss profoundly and we send our deepest sympathies to Maura’s and Nancy’s loved ones while we pray for the recovery of those who were injured,” Mr Thrasher said in a statement. Mr DeLeo said police are asking for anyone who saw something unusual around the time of the shooting to contact police. He said the gunman acted alone and authorities are investigating possible motives. He declined to say what kind of weapon was used. “We’re all very saddened and shocked by the events that occurred, but it’s important that people understand that there is no immediate threat outside of what has already occurred this evening,” Mr DeLeo said. Melissa Hutchinson said she helped treat a “profusely” bleeding man who rushed into a bar after the incident. She said three people from the studio ran in, and they were told there was an active gunman. “It was a shocking moment something happened like this,” she said. The people who came in were injured, including the bleeding man who was pistol-whipped while trying to stop the gunman. They told her the shooter kept coming in and out of the studio. When he loaded his gun, people started pounding the windows of the studio to warn people. City Commissioner Scott Maddox was on the scene. He said on Facebook: “In my public service career I have had to be on some bad scenes. This is the worst. Please pray.” Elle Welling said she was leaving a liquor store across the street from the shopping centre and saw at least three people loaded into ambulances. “You don’t think about this in Tallahassee and now you have to,” said the 26-year-old, who lives locally. The plaza is home to popular restaurants, a jewellery store, a framing shop, a hair salon and other businesses. Erskin Wesson, 64, said he was eating dinner with his family at a restaurant located below the yoga studio when they heard the gunshots above them. “We just heard ‘pow, pow, pow, pow’,” he said. “It sounded like a limb falling on a tin roof and rolling.” The restaurant’s owner arrived a short time later, asking if anyone was a doctor, Mr Wesson said. His stepdaughter is an emergency room nurse and helped paramedics for about an hour, he added. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, broke off the campaign trail to return to Tallahassee. He had earlier appeared at a campaign event with former president Barack Obama. Late on Friday night, Mr Gillum spoke to reporters near the scene of the shooting to say that he had visited in the hospital two people who were shot at the yoga studio. The mayor said they were in good spirits despite their injuries. He asked residents to pray for those who survived and those who were killed in the shooting. “We all feel a sense of added vulnerability” because of the shooting, the mayor said. Republican Governor Rick Scott, who is challenging Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, called Mr DeLeo and the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to get details of the shooting. “I will remain in constant communication with law enforcement. We have offered state assistance,” he tweeted. Tallahassee’s crime and murder rate has been an issue in the governor’s race, with Mr Gillum’s opponent, Republican Ron DeSantis, calling the capital Florida’s most crime-ridden city, a claim that is incorrect.[SEP]Police: Death toll in shooting at Florida yoga studio rises to three, including shooter TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Police: Death toll in shooting at Florida yoga studio rises to three, including shooter.[SEP]Police in Florida have named the gunman who shot two people to death and wounded five others at a yoga studio before turning the gun on himself. Tallahassee police said Scott Paul Beierle, 40, shot six people and pistol-whipped another after walking into the yoga studio that sits on the second floor of the small shopping plaza. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo said some in the studio showed courage and tried to stop him. Witnesses who were at the shopping centre described how people who had been in the studio, including one who was bleeding, ran away, seeking shelter in nearby bars and restaurants as shots rang out. Police responded within a few minutes, but by then Beirele had fatally shot himself, leaving police to search for a motive and a community to wonder what prompted the violence near the city’s fashionable neighbourhoods. “You don’t think about this in Tallahassee and now you have to,” said Elle Welling, who said she saw at least three people put into ambulances as she was leaving a shop across the street. The two killed on Friday were a student and faculty member at Florida State University, according to university officials. The department identified them as Dr Nancy Van Vessem, 61, and Maura Binkley, 21. Police said two other victims were in a stable condition, and three had been released from the hospital. Officers at the scene in Florida’s capital (Steve Cannon/AP) Police said Beierle acted alone but they were still looking into what prompted the shooting. During a late night press briefing, Mr DeLeo declined to say what kind of gun he had. Court records show that he had been previously arrested for grabbing women. Tallahassee police chief Michael DeLeo speaks to the press at the scene of the shooting (Steve Cannon/AP) Beierle was charged by police with battery in 2016 after he slapped and grabbed a woman’s buttocks at an apartment complex pool. Records show that the charges were eventually dismissed after Beierle followed the conditions of a deferred prosecution agreement. Beierle was also charged with battery in 2012 for grabbing women’s buttocks in a Florida State University campus dining hall. An FSU police report shows that Beierle told police he may have accidentally bumped into someone, but denied grabbing anyone. Erskin Wesson, 64, said he was eating dinner with his family at a restaurant below the yoga studio when they heard the gunshots above them. “We just heard ‘pow, pow, pow, pow’,” Mr Wesson said. “It sounded like a limb falling on a tin roof and rolling.” The restaurant’s owner came past a short time later, asking if anyone was a doctor, Mr Wesson said. His step-daughter is a nurse and helped paramedics for about an hour, he said. Melissa Hutchinson said she helped treat a “profusely” bleeding man who rushed into a bar after the incident. She said three people from the studio ran in, and they were told there was an active gunman. Police at the scene after the shooting in Tallahassee, Florida (Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat/AP) “It was a shocking moment something happened like this,” Ms Hutchinson said. The people who came in were injured, including the bleeding man who was pistol-whipped while trying to stop the gunman. They told her the gunman kept coming in and out of the studio. When he loaded his gun, people started pounding on the studio’s windows to warn people. Both governor Rick Scott and Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for governor, broke off from the campaign trail to return to Tallahassee. Mr Scott and Mr Gillum both visited gunshot victims, including one who had been shot nine times. Mr Gillum asked residents to pray for the survivors and those who were killed. “We all feel a sense of added vulnerability” because of the shooting, the mayor said.- Press Association[SEP]A gunman opened fire inside a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday, killing two women and wounding five other people before killing himself, authorities said. Tallahassee police identified the shooter as Scott Paul Beierle, 40. A total of seven victims were taken to a local hospital, police said. Six suffered from gunshot wounds and one had been pistol-whipped. Two of the victims died, while another two are in stable condition. Three have been released. Police believe the gunman acted alone, and Police Chief Michael DeLeo said there is no threat to the community. "There is no immediate threat outside what has already occurred this evening," DeLeo said. The motive is still unknown, police said. Elle Welling, a resident who lives nearby, said she watched several people being loaded into an ambulance. "You don't think about this in Tallahassee and now you have to," Welling told The Associated Press. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, said he's stepping away from the campaign trail and returning to the city. "I'm deeply appreciative of law enforcement's quick response to the shooting at the yoga facility in Tallahassee today. No act of gun violence is acceptable," he tweeted. "I'm in close communication with law enforcement officials and will be returning to Tallahassee tonight." This story is developing. Check back for updates.[SEP]Two people have tragically died after a gunman opened fire at a hot yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida Friday before killing himself. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo explained in a news conference, that a man, whose identity has not been revealed to the public, shot six people after barging into the studio located in a small shopping center. Another man was pistol-whipped as he bravely tried to tackle the shooter, the reports. The shooter then turned the gun on himself, according to the Associated Press. Kristin Jacobs, a Democratic politician who is a representative for Broward County— the same community in which a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida killing seventeen students in February, witnessed the aftermath of the shooting at a nearby bar. “A girl ran into the bar. She could hardly talk. She was hyperventilating. I heard her say ‘shooter.’ Two other women came in, and I kept hearing the word ‘shooter,'” Jacobs told the . Jacobs also came across the pistol-whipped victim. “Many people are alive because this guy rushed the shooter,” Jacobs explained to the , adding that the man had a “bloodied head.” Authorities believe the shooter acted alone and are currently investigating all possible motives including whether it was a domestic dispute. “We’re all very saddened and shocked by the events that occurred, but it’s important that people understand that there is no immediate threat outside of what has already occurred this evening,” DeLeo told reporters. Following the horrific incident, Melissa Hutchinson, a resident of Tallahassee, told NBC Miami that she helped treat a “profusely” bleeding man who ran into a bar following the shooting. • Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. “It was a shocking moment something happened like this,” Hutchinson said after explaining that three other people from the yoga studio ran in seeking refuge. In wake of the devastating incident, Florida Governor candidate Andrew Gillum halted his campaign to direct his attention towards the shooting. “I’m deeply appreciative of law enforcement’s quick response to the shooting at the yoga facility in Tallahassee today. No act of gun violence is acceptable. I’m in close communication with law enforcement officials and will be returning to Tallahassee tonight,” Gillum tweeted. Republican Governor Rick Scott also spoke on the shooting tweeting, “I have been briefed by FDLE and local law enforcement regarding the shooting in Tallahassee. FDLE is on the scene and assisting local police.” “I will remain in constant communication with law enforcement. We have offered state assistance,” Scott added. City Commissioner Scott Maddox, who was on the scene, wrote about the incident on Facebook. RELATED: How Pittsburgh Sports Teams Paid Tribute to the Synagogue Shooting Victims “Left the scene. Have no words to express the sadness I fell. How do you make sense of a senseless act of evil. We must continue to talk to our children. Be kind to one another. Be civil always condemn those that spew hate. We can no longer ignore hatred. We must act… and most of all we must pray,” Maddox wrote. At this time the names of the victims have not been released, and it is not clear what kind of weapon the gunman had.[SEP]TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Police: Death toll in shooting at Florida yoga studio rises to three, including shooter.[SEP]Scene outside a Yoga studio in Florida where four people have been wounded and a gunman shot himself. Picture: via FirstCoastNews Scene outside a Yoga studio in Florida where four people have been wounded and a gunman shot himself. Picture: via FirstCoastNews FLORIDA police have confirmed four people were shot at a yoga studio by an gunman who then turned his weapon on himself. Tallahassee City spokeswoman Alison Faris told local media the shooter is dead, and four wounded have been rushed to hospital. First Coast News reports a witness saw a man run into a bar hyperventilating, followed shortly after by a blood-splattered man. The witness said two or three other people followed, seeking assitence. They described a tall bearded man had been inside the Hot Yoga Studio 'acting strange' before opening fire on a class. "The man with blood on his head told the patrons he tried to stop the shooter but was pistol-whipped before the shooter then shot himself," First Coast News reports. No details on the state of the injured has yet been released. Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is running for the position of Florida's governor, said he is returning to the city and is communication with law enforcement officials. MORE TO COME

A gunman kills two people and injures five others before killing himself at a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, United States.

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s public prosecutor on Friday sought jail terms of up to 25 years on rebellion charges for nine leaders of Catalonia’s independence movement over an illegal secession bid they spearheaded last year. Dismissed Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras arrives to Spain's High Court after being summoned to testify on charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds for defying the central government by holding a referendum on secession and proclaiming independence, in Madrid, Spain, November 2, 2017. REUTERS/Javier Barbancho The recommendation drew an angry response from the region’s leader, who also dismissed moves by the State Attorney - a separate, government-appointed body prosecuting in the case - to push for the lesser charge of sedition. Madrid imposed direct rule on the wealthy northeastern region in October 2017 after it declared its independence on the basis of a referendum that Spanish courts ruled was unconstitutional. The nine Catalan politicians were jailed without bail for their role in that secession drive, which laid bare deep divisions between the region’s pro- and anti-Spain camps, and remain in custody pending their Supreme Court trial. The prosecutor, which also filed a charge of misuse of public funds against the nine, sought the longest term of 25 years for Oriol Junqueras, the leader of pro-Catalan-independence party ERC. The State Attorney, which is part of the justice ministry, said it was seeking maximum sentences of 12 years. Reiterating calls for all charges to be dropped, Catalonia’s pro-secession government head Quim Torra said the pursuit of the campaigners through the courts showed “absolute disdain for imprisoned democrats”. “Today, the government has missed a golden opportunity to take this conflict out of the courts and return it to a political matter,” he said. The prosecutor has precedence in the trial, expected to begin in January. The Attorney’s bid for the lesser charge of sedition coincides with efforts by the Socialist government of Pedro Sanchez to reduce tensions between Madrid and Barcelona. Justice Minister Dolores Delgado said it was acting purely on judicial criteria. CONCILIATORY APPROACH While refusing to countenance any move toward Catalan independence, Sanchez has adopted a more conciliatory approach toward the region than his predecessor Mariano Rajoy. With the Socialists holding only 84 of 350 parliamentary seats, he is also relying on the support of Catalan lawmakers to get his 2019 budget passed through the house. The ERC’s Junqueras was deputy to the then Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont during the vote for independence last year. Puigdemont fled the country after Madrid took control of the regional government - which it handed back in December - and has been in self-imposed exile since. The prosecutor recommended sentences of up to 17 years on rebellion and misuse of funds charges for the other eight jailed Catalan politicians, and is seeking lesser charges for nine others accused of involvement in the campaign who are not in custody. The leaders’ defense team must present its case in the next few weeks and the trial is expected to begin in January. The prosecutor is also seeking up to 11 years in prison for four others, including the head of the Catalan police at the time of the independence declaration, in a separate High Court case.[SEP]Spanish prosecutors have called for prison sentences of up to 25 years for those accused of leading last year’s failed Catalan independence bid, amid opposition claims that the government has tried to influence the judiciary. The attorney general said the supreme court should try former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras, six other politicians and two rank-and-file leaders for rebellion for their role in an outlawed referendum held in October 2017, which was followed by a declaration of independence. Mr Junqueras, who has been in jail since, faces a possible 25-year prison sentence and could be barred from public office for up to 25 years if found guilty. He is also accused of misuse of public funds. Former Catalan parliamentary speaker Carme Forcadell and rank-and-file leaders Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez, who are all accused of rebellion and are also in custody, could face jail sentences of up to 17 years. Five former ministers in the Catalan government face jail terms of up to 16 years for rebellion and misuse of public funds, while another nine defendants face lesser charges. Meanwhile, former Catalan police chief Josep Lluís Trapero, who will be tried separately along with three others by the high court, could face a jail sentence of up to 11 years if found guilty of rebellion. However, there was controversy when equivalent charges presented by the state lawyer’s office, which works in conjunction with the justice ministry, were noticeably more lenient. The state lawyer did not call for any of the defendants to be tried for the most serious charge of rebellion, asking for a 12-year sentence for Mr Junqueras for sedition and misuse of public funds. The rebellion charge is particularly controversial as it implies that violence or the threat of it was used, something the independence movement insists was not the case. Nonetheless, the state lawyer’s position drew an angry response from the Catalan government. The region’s president, Quim Torra, said that Madrid had “missed an opportunity to take the judicial dimension out of a conflict that is political”. Meanwhile, unionist opposition parties claim that Socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez has been pressuring the judiciary to soften its case against the independence leaders because he needs the parliamentary support of Catalan nationalists. The state lawyer’s refusal to use the rebellion charge therefore drew strong criticism. Pablo Casado, leader of the conservative Popular Party, tweeted that it was “indecent that the government humiliates Spain by forcing the state lawyer to distance itself from the attorney general and not accuse the coup-mongers of rebellion”. Justice minister Dolores Delgado denied that the government had influenced the position of the state lawyer’s office, which, she said, was based on “technical, professional and judicial criteria”. The trial is expected to begin early next year. Several others accused of involvement in last year’s referendum who are not in the country, such as former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, are not facing charges because they cannot be tried in their absence.[SEP]MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s public prosecutor on Friday sought jail terms of up to 25 years for nine leaders of Catalonia’s independence movement, filing charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds over a failed secession bid that they spearheaded last year. But the State Attorney - a separate government-appointed body also prosecuting in the case - said rebellion charges should be dropped in favor of the lesser offence of sedition and that it would seek maximum sentences of 12 years. Madrid imposed direct rule on the wealthy northeastern region in October 2017 after it declared its independence on the basis of a referendum that Spanish courts ruled was unconstitutional. The nine politicians were jailed without bail for their role in that campaign and remain in custody pending trail. The prosecutor is also seeking lesser charges for another nine others accused of involvement in the campaign who have not been jailed ahead of the trial. The prosecutor sought 25 years in jail for Oriol Junqueras, the leader of pro-Catalan-independence party ERC, it said in a statement. It recommended sentences of up to 17 years on the same charges for the other eight Catalan politicians. The leaders’ defense team must present its case in the next few weeks and the trial is expected to begin in January. There was no immediate comment from the Catalan regional government. Its head Quim Torra will address the media on Friday afternoon.[SEP]Spain's public prosecutor on Friday called for charges against jailed Catalan political leaders involved in a push for independence for the north eastern region to include rebellion, disobedience and misappropriation of funds. MADRID: Spain's public prosecutor on Friday sought up to 25 years in jail for nine leaders of Catalonia's independence movement, filing charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds over an illegal secession bid they spearheaded last year. But the State Attorney - a separate government-appointed body also prosecuting in the case - said rebellion charges should be dropped in favour of the lesser offence of sedition and that it would seek maximum sentences of 12 years. The conservative government of Mariano Rajoy imposed direct rule on the wealthy northeastern region in October 2017 after it declared its independence on the basis of a referendum that Spanish courts ruled was unconstitutional. Rajoy's administration was ousted in a no-confidence vote in June and replaced by a Socialist government under Pedro Sanchez. While refusing to countenance any move towards Catalan independence, Sanchez has adopted a more conciliatory approach towards the region than his predecessor. With the Socialists holding only 84 of 350 parliamentary seats, he is also relying on the support of Catalan lawmakers to get his 2019 budget passed through the house. The nine Catalan politicians were jailed without bail for their role in last year's secession drive - which laid bare deep divisions between the region's pro- and anti-Spain camps - and remain in custody pending a Supreme Court trial. The prosecutor sought 25 years in jail for Oriol Junqueras, the leader of pro-Catalan-independence party ERC, it said in a statement. It recommended sentences of up to 17 years on the same charges for the other eight jailed Catalan politicians, and is seeking lesser charges for nine others accused of involvement in the campaign who are not in custody. There was no immediate comment from the Catalan regional government. Its head Quim Torra will address the media on Friday afternoon. The leaders' defence team must present its case in the next few weeks and the trial is expected to begin in January. The prosecutor is also seeking up to 11 years in prison for four others, including the head of the Catalan police at the time of the independence declaration, in a separate High Court case.[SEP]MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s State Attorney dropped a call for rebellion charges to be brought against jailed Catalan independence leaders on Friday, and said it would seek lesser charges of sedition and misappropriation of funds. Earlier, the Spanish prosecutor said it would seek rebellion charges for all nine jailed leaders, with a maximum sentence of 25 years for the leader of pro-Catalan-independence party ERC Oriol Junqueras. The State Attorney said it would seek up to 12 years for Junqueras and lesser sentences for the others accused.[SEP]The Spanish prosecutor’s office demands a 25-year prison sentence for the leader of the pro-independence Catalan party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ErC), Oriol Junqueras, for a challenge to the central government that resulted in the unilateral declaration of independence on October 27, 2017. Junqueras is charged with the Medieval crime of “rebellion”. After a year of investigations, the prosecutor presented the request for sentences, ranging from 25 years for former Catalan vice president to 16 for five former “advisors”: Jordi Turull, Raul Romeva, Joaquim Forn, Dolors Bassa and Josep Rull. For the leaders of Omnium Cultural and the Catalan National Assembly, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez, the prosecution requests 17 years in jail and a 17-year ban on holding public office, similar punishment is proposed for the former Catalan Parliament Speaker Carme Forcadell. All are charged with “rebellion“, a crime that carries a 30-year maximum sentence. For the three advisers who are not in detention – Carles Mundó, Maritxell Borrás and Santiago Vila – the requested sentence is limited to 7 years, since they are accused only of embezzlement.[SEP]MADRID: Spanish prosecutors called Friday (Nov 2) for Catalan separatist leaders to be jailed for up to 25 years on charges of rebellion or misuse of public funds over last year's failed secession bid. In a statement ahead of an upcoming Supreme Court trial, the prosecution service said it was seeking prison sentences against 12 Catalan leaders ranging from seven to 25 years, the latter jail term being sought for former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras. But in a sign Spain's socialist government disagreed, the attorney general's office announced it would ask for just 12 years jail for Junqueras, accusing him of sedition and misuse of public funds rather than the more serious charge of rebellion. The sensitive trial is expected to start in early 2019 - more than a year after Catalan leaders attempted to break from Spain in October 2017 by staging a referendum despite a court ban and subsequently proclaiming independence. Spain's then conservative government moved swiftly to depose the Catalan executive, dissolve the regional parliament and call snap local elections in December. Some Catalan leaders such as deposed regional president Carles Puigdemont fled abroad, while others like Junqueras remained and were put into custody pending the trial. Apart from Junqueras, prosecutors want two influential Catalan civic leaders, Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, and former regional parliamentary speaker Carme Forcadell jailed for 17 years. In a separate case, prosecutors said they were seeking four to 11 years jail against former regional police leaders including Catalonia's then police chief Josep Lluis Trapero, who is also accused of rebellion. Catalonia's current separatist leader Quim Torra reacted angrily against the jail terms sought for "good people, peaceful people." "Does anyone think that the two million independence supporters will just disappear by demanding (a total of) 200 years of jail for pro-independence leaders?" he asked. In its statement, the prosecution service said pro-independence leaders had planned to use all possible means to achieve secession, "including - knowing that the state wouldn't accept this situation - any violence needed to secure this criminal result". It said separatist leaders had instigated "big citizen mobilisations" that represented an "intimidating force" and had also used the regional police force of 17,000 agents, who followed their orders. The charge of rebellion has caused controversy in Spain, not just among those who support Catalan independence but further afield among legal experts. According to Spanish law, rebellion is "rising up in a violent and public manner", to among other things "breach, suspend or change the constitution" or "declare independence for part of the (Spanish) territory". Military officers behind a 1981 attempted coup in Spain were found guilty of rebellion, for instance. But many legal experts contest the use of rebellion in the Catalan case, saying there was no violence during the secession bid, bar that waged by Spanish police on Oct 1, 2017 as they tried to stop people from voting in the banned referendum. Spain's justice minister acknowledged the controversy on Friday, telling reporters there was a "legal, even social debate on what happened in Catalonia in September and October last year". "This debate also took place at the attorney general's office," Dolores Delgado said, pointing out that it had decided to press charges of sedition, misuse of public funds and disobedience against Catalan leaders, and not rebellion. She denied it was a political decision on the part of the Socialist government, which is in a minority in parliament and depends on other lawmakers, including from Catalan separatist parties, to pass bills or approve the budget.[SEP]Spanish prosecutors ask the Madrid court to sentence Catalan separatists leaders for up to 25 years on rebellion charges MADRID, Spain – Spanish prosecutors called Friday, November 2, for Catalan separatist leaders to be jailed for up to 25 years on charges of rebellion or misuse of public funds over last year's failed secession bid. In a statement ahead of an upcoming Supreme Court trial, the prosecution service said it was seeking prison sentences against 12 Catalan leaders ranging from seven to 25 years, the latter jail term being sought for former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras. But in a sign Spain's socialist government disagreed, the attorney general's office announced it would ask for just 12 years jail for Junqueras, accusing him of sedition and misuse of public funds rather than the more serious charge of rebellion. The sensitive trial is expected to start in early 2019 – more than a year after Catalan leaders attempted to break from Spain in October 2017 by staging a referendum despite a court ban and subsequently proclaiming independence. Spain's then conservative government moved swiftly to depose the Catalan executive, dissolve the regional parliament and call snap local elections in December. Some Catalan leaders like deposed regional president Carles Puigdemont fled abroad, while others like Junqueras remained and were put into custody pending the trial. Apart from Junqueras, prosecutors want two influential Catalan civic leaders, Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, and former regional parliamentary speaker Carme Forcadell jailed for 17 years. In a separate case, they said they were also seeking four to 11 years jail against former regional police leaders including Catalonia's then police chief Josep Lluis Trapero, whom they also accuse of rebellion. In its statement, the prosecution service said pro-independence leaders planned to use all possible means to achieve secession, "including -- knowing that the state wouldn't accept this situation – any violence needed to secure this criminal result." It said separatist leaders had instigated "big citizen mobilizations" that represented an "intimidating force" and had also used the regional police force, with its 17,000 agents, which followed their orders. The charge of rebellion has caused controversy in Spain, not just among those who support Catalan independence but further afield among legal experts. According to Spanish law, rebellion is "rising up in a violent and public manner," to among other things "breach, suspend or change the constitution" or "declare independence for part of the (Spanish) territory". Military officers behind a 1981 attempted coup in Spain were found guilty of rebellion, for instance. But many legal experts contest the use of rebellion in the Catalan case, saying there was no violence during the secession bid, bar that waged by Spanish police on October 1, 2017 as they tried to stop people from voting in the banned referendum. – Rappler.com[SEP]Spanish prosecutors called Friday for Catalan separatist leaders to be jailed for up to 25 years on charges of rebellion or misuse of public funds over last year’s failed secession bid. In a statement ahead of an upcoming Supreme Court trial, the prosecution service said it was seeking prison sentences against 12 Catalan leaders ranging from seven to 25 years, the latter jail term being sought for former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras. But in a sign Spain’s socialist government disagreed, the attorney general’s office announced it would ask for just 12 years jail for Junqueras, accusing him of sedition and misuse of public funds rather than the more serious charge of rebellion. The sensitive trial is expected to start in early 2019 — more than a year after Catalan leaders attempted to break away from Spain in October 2017 by staging a referendum despite a court ban and subsequently proclaiming independence. Spain’s then conservative government moved swiftly to depose the Catalan executive, dissolve the regional parliament and call snap local elections in December. Some Catalan leaders such as deposed regional president Carles Puigdemont fled abroad, while others like Junqueras remained and were put into custody pending the trial. “They can lock us up in here for years and years, but it will not weaken the desire for freedom,” Junqueras said in a letter on Thursday. Apart from Junqueras, prosecutors want two influential Catalan civic leaders, Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, and former regional parliamentary speaker Carme Forcadell jailed for 17 years. In a separate case, prosecutors said they were seeking four to 11 years jail against former regional police leaders including Catalonia’s then police chief Josep Lluis Trapero, who is also accused of rebellion. “Does anyone think that the two million independence supporters will just disappear by demanding (a total of) 200 years of jail for pro-independence leaders?” he asked. In its statement, the prosecution service said pro-independence leaders had planned to use all possible means to achieve secession, “including — knowing that the state wouldn’t accept this situation — any violence needed to secure this criminal result”. It said separatist leaders had instigated “big citizen mobilisations” that represented an “intimidating force” and had also used the regional police force of 17,000 agents, who followed their orders. The charge of rebellion has caused controversy in Spain, not just among those who support Catalan independence but further afield among legal experts. According to Spanish law, rebellion is “rising up in a violent and public manner,” to among other things “breach, suspend or change the constitution” or “declare independence for part of the (Spanish) territory”. Military officers behind a 1981 attempted coup in Spain were found guilty of rebellion, for instance. But many legal experts contest the use of rebellion in the Catalan case, saying there was no violence during the secession bid, except that used by Spanish police on October 1, 2017 as they tried to stop people from voting in the banned referendum. Spain’s justice minister acknowledged the controversy on Friday, telling reporters there was a “legal, even social debate on what happened in Catalonia in September and October last year”. “This debate also took place at the attorney general’s office,” Dolores Delgado said, pointing out that it had decided to press charges of sedition, misuse of public funds and disobedience against Catalan leaders, and not rebellion. She denied it was a political decision on the part of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist government, which is in a minority in parliament and depends on other lawmakers, including from Catalan separatist parties, to pass bills or approve the budget. In an act in front of the prison where Junqueras is being held, Catalan leader Torra said separatist parties were withdrawing support for the budget and would not vote. But Catalan parties with representation in Madrid will have more say in that decision and it was not immediately clear whether they would follow suit. The right-wing opposition quickly accused the government of bowing to separatist pressure to secure support in parliament. In a tweet, conservative lawmaker Pablo Casado accused premier Sanchez of being “hostage to coup plotters” and “no longer legitimate to lead the government”.[SEP]Spanish prosecutors are requesting that former Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras be imprisoned for 25 years for rebellion and misappropriation of public funds, the highest prison term being sought for separatist leaders who pushed for Catalan independence last year. The formal indictment of 18 politicians and activists issued Friday by Spain's public prosecutor's office accuses Junqueras of being the main promoter of an illegal Catalan independence referendum. The banned vote in the northeastern Catalonia region caused Spain's gravest political crisis in four decades of democracy. A Spanish Supreme Court probe into the turbulent events was wrapped up last month and the trial is expected to begin in early 2019. Seven politicians, including Junqueras, and two civil society activists are already in pre-trial custody in Catalan prisons.

The Spanish Attorney General seeks jail terms for Catalan independence leaders for the crime of rebellion with the highest requested penalty being 25 years against Oriol Junqueras. The State's Advocacy is asking for prison sentences for only the lesser crimes of sedition and embezzlement.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twitter Inc deleted more than 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in Tuesday’s U.S. election and wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company. A voting official hands back an early voter his ID in Valdosta, Georgia, U.S., October 24, 2018. REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant “We took action on relevant accounts and activity on Twitter,” a Twitter spokesman said in an email. The removals took place in late September and early October. Twitter removed more than 10,000 accounts, according to three sources familiar with the Democrats’ effort. The number is modest, considering that Twitter has previously deleted millions of accounts it determined were responsible for spreading misinformation in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Yet the removals represent an early win for a fledgling effort by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC, a party group that supports Democrats running for the U.S. House of Representatives. The DCCC launched the effort this year in response to the party’s inability to respond to millions of accounts on Twitter and other social media platforms that spread negative and false information about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other party candidates in 2016, three people familiar with the operation told Reuters. While the prevalence of misinformation campaigns have so far been modest in the run-up to the Congressional elections on Nov. 6, Democrats are hoping the flagging operation will help them react quickly if there is a flurry of such messages in the coming days. The Tweets included ones that discouraged Democratic men from voting, saying that would drown out the voice of women, according to two of the sources familiar with the flagging operation. The DCCC developed its own system for identifying and reporting malicious automated accounts on social media, according to the three party sources. The system was built in part from publicly available tools known as “Hoaxley” and “Botometer” developed by University of Indiana computer researchers. They allow a user to identify automated accounts, also known as bots, and analyse how they spread information on specific topics. “We made Hoaxley and Botometer free for anyone to use because people deserve to know what’s a bot and what’s not,” said Filippo Menczer, professor of informatics and computer science at the University of Indiana. The Democratic National Committee works with a group of contractors and partners to rapidly identify misinformation campaigns. They include RoBhat Labs, a firm whose website says it has developed technology capable of detecting bots and identifying political-bias in messages. The collaboration with RoBhat has already led to the discovery of malicious accounts and posts, which were referred to social media companies and other campaign officials, DNC Chief Technology Officer Raffi Krikorian said in email. Krikorian did not say whether the flagged posts were ultimately removed by Twitter. “We provide the DNC with reports about what we’re seeing in terms of bot activity and where it’s being amplified,” said Ash Bhat, co-founder of RoBhat Labs. “We can’t tell you who’s behind these different operations, Twitter hides that from us, but with the technology you known when and how it’s happening,” Bhat said.[SEP]Twitter said Friday that it had deleted thousands of automated accounts that were posting messages discouraging people from voting in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Most of the accounts were posing as Democrats, Twitter said. “We removed a series of accounts for engaging in attempts to share disinformation in an automated fashion – a violation of our policies. We stopped this quickly and at its source,” a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement provided to CNN Business. Twitter said that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had brought the accounts to their attention. “For the election this year we have established open lines of communication and direct, easy escalation paths for state election officials, DHS, and campaign organizations from both major parties,” the spokesperson said. The company said it believes the network of accounts was run from the United States. It would not share any details about what the accounts looked like, or how they were working to discourage voting. The accounts were taken down in late September and early October, the company said. Reuters was first to report on the account removals.[SEP]Twitter Inc deleted more than 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in U.S. election. The accounts wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company. “We took action on relevant accounts and activity on Twitter,” a Twitter spokesman said in an email. The removals took place in late September and early October. Twitter removed more than 10,000 accounts, according to three sources familiar with the Democrats’ effort. The number is modest, considering that Twitter has previously deleted millions of accounts it determined were responsible for spreading misinformation in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Yet the removals represent an early win for a fledgling effort by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC, a party group that supports Democrats running for the U.S. House of Representatives. The DCCC launched the effort this year in response to the party’s inability to respond to millions of accounts on Twitter and other social media platforms that spread negative and false information about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other party candidates in 2016, three people familiar with the operation told Reuters. While the prevalence of misinformation campaigns have so far been modest in the run-up to the Congressional elections on Nov. 6, Democrats are hoping the flagging operation will help them react quickly if there is a flurry of such messages in the coming days. The Tweets included ones that discouraged Democratic men from voting, saying that would drown out the voice of women, according to two of the sources familiar with the flagging operation. The DCCC developed its own system for identifying and reporting malicious automated accounts on social media, according to the three party sources. The system was built in part from publicly available tools known as “Hoaxley” and “Botometer” developed by University of Indiana computer researchers. They allow a user to identify automated accounts, also known as bots, and analyze how they spread information on specific topics. “We made Hoaxley and Botometer free for anyone to use because people deserve to know what’s a bot and what’s not,” said Filippo Menczer, professor of informatics and computer science at the University of Indiana. The Democratic National Committee works with a group of contractors and partners to rapidly identify misinformation campaigns. They include RoBhat Labs, a firm whose website says it has developed technology capable of detecting bots and identifying political-bias in messages. The collaboration with RoBhat has already led to the discovery of malicious accounts and posts, which were referred to social media companies and other campaign officials, DNC Chief Technology Officer Raffi Krikorian said in email.[SEP]Twitter said Friday that it had deleted thousands of automated accounts that were posting messages discouraging people from voting in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Most of the accounts were posing as Democrats, Twitter said. “We removed a series of accounts for engaging in attempts to share disinformation in an automated fashion – a violation of our policies. We stopped this quickly and at its source,” a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement provided to CNN Business. Twitter said that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) had brought the accounts to their attention. “For the election this year we have established open lines of communication and direct, easy escalation paths for state election officials, DHS, and campaign organizations from both major parties,” the spokesperson said. The company said it believes the network of accounts was run from the United States. It would not share any details about what the accounts looked like, or how they were working to discourage voting. The accounts were taken down in late September and early October, the company said. Democratic National Committee’s chief technology officer Raffi Krikorian said in a statement, “We applaud Twitter for taking this step to help ensure that voters get correct and timely information about how to make their voices heard on Election Day.” The DCCC did not provide comment. Reuters was first to report on the account removals.[SEP]Twitter has reportedly purged more than 10,000 bot accounts for attempts at discouraging voting. According to a new report in Reuters, Twitter removed the accounts, which were automatically posting "misleading" messages about voting, in September and October. The accounts made it appear as if the misleading information was coming from Democrats, which it was not. The accounts were reported to Twitter by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which is one of many organizations that has partnered with Twitter on election integrity efforts. In a statement, a Twitter spokesperson said some accounts had been removed, but declined to say how many: "For the election this year we have established open lines of communication and direct, easy escalation paths for state election officials, DHS, and campaign organizations from both major parties," the spokesperson said. "Our singular goal is to enforce our policies vigorously and protect conversational health on our service. We removed a series of accounts for engaging in attempts to share disinformation in an automated fashion — a violation of our policies. We stopped this quickly and at its source." Even so, a removal of 10,000 accounts isn't huge by Twitter standards. The company, which has undertaken a concerted effort to crack down on bots and spam, has removed as many as 1 million accounts per day, according to reports. But it does show that Twitter is taking the spread of misinformation in the run-up to the U.S. midterm elections more seriously than it has previously.[SEP]Twitter has deleted thousands of automated accounts that tried to discourage users from voting in the upcoming midterm elections, the company confirmed Friday. The accounts originated in the U.S. and were determined to be more mischievous than an organized plot. "We removed a series of accounts for engaging in attempts to share disinformation in an automated fashion — a violation of our policies," a Twitter spokesperson said. "We stopped this quickly and at its source. " The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) flagged the malicious accounts to Twitter officials, Reuters reports. The tweets included several that said male Democrats should refrain from voting to avoid drowning out the voices of women, sources told the news agency. "For the election this year we have established open lines of communication and direct, easy escalation paths for state election officials, DHS, and campaign organizations from both major parties," the Twitter spokesperson said. Earlier this year, Twitter reportedly suspended 70 million fake and suspicious accounts and identified 3,814 accounts that were believed to be propaganda from the Russian government-linked Internet Research Agency. The accounts were taken down in late September and early October, Reuters reports.[SEP]Twitter Inc deleted more than 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in Tuesday's U.S. election and wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company. "We took action on relevant accounts and activity on Twitter," a Twitter spokesman said in an email. The removals took place in late September and early October. The number of accounts removed is modest, considering that Twitter has previously deleted millions of accounts it determined were responsible for spreading misinformation in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Yet the removals represent an early win for a fledgling effort by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC, a party group that supports Democrats running for the U.S. House of Representatives. The DCCC launched the effort this year in response to the party's inability to respond to millions of accounts on Twitter and other social media platforms that spread negative and false information about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other party candidates in 2016, three people familiar with the operation told Reuters.[SEP]Twitter has removed more than 10,000 accounts aiming to discourage people from voting in the US midterm elections on Tuesday, according to Reuters. A Twitter representative confirmed the social media site deleted several automated accounts sharing misinformation, but couldn't confirm the 10,000 figure. The company removed the accounts in September and October, Reuters reports. The accounts were reportedly made to look like they were from Democrats, but the party reported the tweets to Twitter. The accounts also appeared to be domestic. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee couldn't immediately be reached for comment. "For the election this year we have established open lines of communication and direct, easy escalation paths for state election officials, DHS, and campaign organizations from both major parties," a Twitter representative said. "We removed a series of accounts for engaging in attempts to share disinformation in an automated fashion - a violation of our policies. We stopped this quickly and at its source." Twitter has been working to step up its fight against fake accounts. In July, it was reported that the social media company was suspending 1 million accounts a day in its fight against disinformation. In a June blog post, Twitter said it's "now removing 214 percent more accounts for violating our spam policies on a year-on-year basis." Twitter's efforts to combat bots and trolls comes as it deals with revelations that Russian-linked social media troll accounts may have influenced the 2016 US presidential election.[SEP]Twitter removed more than 10,000 automated accounts, or “bots,” for posting messages purportedly sent by Democrats discouraging people from voting in next week’s midterm races, Reuters reported Friday. The suspicious tweets were initially spotted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, a group that supports party candidates seeking terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, and subsequently brought them to Twitter’s attention prior to their being removed in late September and early October, the report said. “We took action on relevant accounts and activity on Twitter,” a Twitter spokesperson told Reuters. The tweets were detected as the results of an effort initiated earlier this year by Democrats in the wake of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other candidates being targeted during the 2016 election by bots, hackers and internet trolls traced to the Russian government, three people familiar with the DCCC’s operation told Reuters. Using publicly available tools known as “Hoaxley” and “Botometer,” the DCCC developed a system for detecting and reporting suspected automated social media activity, Democratic sources told Reuters. Among the posts identified by the DCCC’s system were tweets that specifically discouraged Democratic men from voting in the Nov. 6 midterms, “by arguing that their ballots would drown out those cast by women,” the report said. The DCCC’s flagging ultimately resulted in Twitter purging more than 10,000 accounts from the social networking service, Reuters reported, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Representatives for Twitter did not immediately return a message confirming the number of accounts affected. In addition to hacking Democratic targets including the DCCC and leaking internal documents leaked during the 2016 race, Russian operatives weaponized Twitter and other social media platforms to sow discord and attack Mrs. Clinton’s campaign, according to U.S. officials. Moscow has denied the allegations. Twitter previously said it detected a total of 50,258 automated accounts that were identified as Russian-linked and responsible for tweeting election-related content during the 2016 race. Russians employed by the Internet Research Agency, a company operated by an oligarch and friend of President Vladimir Putin, also meddled in the race by spreading disinformation and stirring debate on social networking services, U.S. officials said previously. Twitter ultimately traced their activities during the 2016 election to 3,841 accounts responsible for engaging with roughly 1.4 million users. “Activity that attempts to manipulate or disrupt Twitter’s service is not allowed. We remove this when we see it,” Twitter said earlier this week.[SEP]Twitter on Friday said it has deleted thousands of automated accounts that were posing as belonging to Democrats while trying to spread false information and discourage people from voting in the upcoming midterm elections. “We stopped this quickly and at its source,” a spokesperson for the company told BuzzFeed News. Twitter would not confirm how many accounts were deleted. But Reuters reported the company deleted more than 10,000 accounts after they were flagged by Democrats. Twitter said it has been working closely with both major political parties, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, to monitor any efforts at interfering in Tuesday’s elections, where control of both houses of Congress could be affected. The deleted accounts appeared to be domestic in origin, and coordinated mischief rather than international interference, Twitter added. “Our singular goal is to enforce our policies vigorously and protect conversational health on our service,” the company spokesperson said in a statement. “We removed a series of accounts for engaging in attempts to share disinformation in an automated fashion — a violation of our policies.” According to Reuters, the accounts were flagged by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Officials there did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Twitter deletes 10,000 bot accounts that were discouraging people from voting in the midterm elections in the United States.

So-called insider attacks have long been a problem for coalition forces in Afghanistan. At their peak in 2012, 61 coalition soldiers were killed by such attacks. Major Taylor decided to join the military someday after the Sept. 11 attacks while attending Brigham Young University, according to a profile published in January in The Deseret News, a Salt Lake City newspaper. His five brothers also joined the Army in the years after the 2001 attacks, it said. His wife, Jennie Taylor, said in the article that service was an important part of their lives, and an example for their seven children. “I hope they know that in our family, we help,” she said. “In our family, we do what we can. If it’s something we can do, and the call comes to serve, we say yes.” Major Taylor urged others to action as well, saying on Facebook in January that whether “reading to children at a school, or simply helping a neighbor, there are ways all around us to brighten someone’s day.” Last Sunday in what appeared to be his last Facebook post, he called on all Americans to vote. “Whether the Republicans or the Democrats win,” he said, it is important “that we all remember that we have far more as Americans that unites us than divides us.” Accolades poured out for Major Taylor late Saturday across social media. “He was the best of men with the ability to see potential and possibility in everything around him,” North Ogden’s website said in announcing his death. It added, “He was patriotic to the core and a shining example of what an American politician should be.” Mitt Romney, the 2012 presidential candidate who is now running for the Senate in Utah, said on Twitter that he was “heartbroken” over the news.[SEP]NORTH OGDEN, Utah – The mayor of a Utah city was killed during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state’s National Guard, the Salt Lake Tribune and other media reported. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor died Saturday in an apparent “insider attack” in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, the Tribune reported. Another U.S. service member is being treated for wounds sustained in the attack, American military officials said. The Utah National Guard has identified the service member killed as a member of the Guard. The Guard member’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. But Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox wrote on his Facebook page that Taylor, 39, has been killed. “Devastating news. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor was killed today while serving in Afghanistan,” Cox said. “I hate this. I’m struggling for words. I love Mayor Taylor, his amazing wife Jennie and his seven sweet kids. Utah weeps for them today. This war has once again cost us the best blood of a generation. We must rally around his family.” U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch issued a statement Saturday about Taylor’s death on Twitter. “Brent was a hero, a patriot, a wonderful father, and a dear friend. News of his death in Afghanistan is devastating. My prayers and love are with Jennie and his 7 young children. His service will always be remembered,” Hatch said. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert plans to hold a news conference on Sunday to discuss the death. Taylor was deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Utah National Guard for what was expected to be a 12-month tour of duty. Taylor, an officer in the National Guard, previously served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. At the time of his deployment in January, Taylor told local media that, as an intelligence officer, he will be assigned to serve on an advisory team training the staff of an Afghan commando battalion. “Right now there is a need for my experience and skills to serve in our nation’s long-lasting war in Afghanistan,” he said. “President Trump has ordered an increase in troops, and part of the new strategy focuses on expanding the capabilities of the Afghan commando units.” Taylor became mayor of North Ogden, a city of about 17,000 people 46 miles north of Salt Lake City, in 2013. The Tribune reported that on the day of his deployment in mid-January, North Ogden police escorted Taylor and his family around town as hundreds of residents lined the streets to see him off.[SEP]NORTH OGDEN, Utah — The mayor of a Utah city was killed during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard, authorities said. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor died Saturday in an apparent "insider attack" in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Another U.S. service member whose name was not immediately released was being treated for wounds sustained in the attack, U.S. military officials said. Ogden posted a message on Facebook days before his death about voting, freedom and unity. In a statement Saturday night, Utah Gov. Herbert said he was "heartbroken at the news" of Taylor's death and felt "completely humbled by the service and the ultimate sacrifice offered by this brave and selfless soldier." "Devastating news," Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox wrote in a statement. ""I hate this. I'm struggling for words. I love Mayor Taylor, his amazing wife Jennie and his seven sweet kids. Utah weeps for them today. This war has once again cost us the best blood of a generation. We must rally around his family." Taylor, 39, was deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Utah National Guard for what was expected to be a 12-month tour of duty. Taylor, an officer in the National Guard, previously served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. "Brent was a hero, a patriot, a wonderful father, and a dear friend," U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said on Twitter. "News of his death in Afghanistan is devastating. My prayers and love are with Jennie and his 7 young children. His service will always be remembered." At the time of his deployment in January, Taylor told local media that, as an intelligence officer, he will be assigned to serve on an advisory team training the staff of an Afghan commando battalion. "Right now there is a need for my experience and skills to serve in our nation's long-lasting war in Afghanistan," he said. "President Trump has ordered an increase in troops, and part of the new strategy focuses on expanding the capabilities of the Afghan commando units." Taylor became mayor of North Ogden, a city of about 17,000 people 46 miles north of Salt Lake City, in 2013. The Tribune reported that on the day of his deployment in mid-January, North Ogden police escorted Taylor and his family around town as hundreds of residents lined the streets to see him off. Herbert scheduled a Sunday news conference with Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton, the adjutant general of the state's National Guard. Taylor and his wife celebrated their anniversary in September.[SEP]A U.S. soldier was killed Saturday in Kabul, Afghanistan, in what authorities are calling an insider attack. The soldier was Major Brent Taylor, and he was both an officer in the Utah National Guard and the mayor of North Ogden, Utah. Taylor, 39, had been the town's mayor since 2013, and a member of the city council before that. North Ogden is a town of about 19,000 people, a bedroom community 40 miles north of Salt Lake City. "Brent Taylor was a dynamic individual," said Brent Chugg, who has served as North Ogden's temporary mayor during Taylor's deployment. "Very forward-thinking. He accomplished great things for our city." Taylor was a longtime member of the Utah National Guard, and in January, he was deployed to Afghanistan. He had served an earlier tour there as a combat adviser to the Afghan Border Police, and completed two tours in Iraq. Chugg told NPR that he was devastated to learn yesterday that Taylor had been killed. "I've been trying to fill in for him while he's been gone as mayor, and he has big shoes to fill." When Taylor left Utah for Afghanistan, North Ogden schoolchildren lined the streets and cheered for him as he waved from a motorcade. The U.S. Army says that Taylor was shot by a member of the Afghan military, who was then immediately killed by other Afghan forces. Taylor had been supporting special operations forces in the region. Another service member, who has not been named, was wounded in the attack. Taylor is the 38th U.S. military member killed in action in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2015. Since October 2001, 2,270 U.S. service members have died there. Chugg said that townspeople are reeling from the mayor's death. "They love the man. He is well-liked by everyone in North Ogden and everybody loves his family," he said. "He was a man of faith, very devoted to his church. Was devoted to his position in the city. He accomplished some great projects here. ... I just can't say enough good enough about him. A great friend." Other Utah politicians shared their sorrow about the news. "I'm struggling for words," Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox wrote on Twitter. "I love Mayor Taylor, his amazing wife Jennie and his 7 sweet kids. Utah weeps for them today. This war has once again cost us the best blood of a generation. We must rally around his family. Thank you for your sacrifice my friend." In a press conference Sunday, Major General Jefferson Burton, who leads the Utah National Guard, said that Taylor had been training members of the Afghan army. "He was with folks he was helping and training. That's what's so painful about this. It's bitter," Burton said, according to The Associated Press. "I do believe that Major Taylor felt he was among friends, with people he was working with." "For me personally, Brent typified the citizen soldier, who served so diligently in his community — as well as felt this call to wear a uniform and serve wherever the nation needed him to go," Burton said. "He's a heavy loss for us, and will be missed." In a speech last year for Veteran's Day, Taylor listed a number of contributions the U.S. has made to the world. Chief among them: democracy. He thanked the veterans of North Ogden who were gathered there. "The sacrifices of you and so many of your comrades," Taylor said, "have made it possible for America to be a source of light, scientific growth, and human progress throughout its entire history. I thank you, and I pray always that God will bless America." Taylor was supposed to return home and resume his post as mayor in January.[SEP]DRAPER — Utah National Guard officials will be holding a news conference to release more details about the death of Brent Taylor, North Ogden mayor and major in Utah's Army National Guard. Taylor, 39, took an unprecedented one-year leave of absence from his post as mayor for his deployment to Afghanistan in January. But months away from his return, Taylor was killed during an apparent insider attack Saturday in Kabul. National media reported one service member was killed and another was wounded "in an insider attack" at the Kabul Military Training center, where a member of the Afghan security forces opened fire on them, officials told the Washington Post. The attacker was then killed by Afghan forces. Taylor leaves behind his wife, Jennie, and seven children. This story will be updated.[SEP]DRAPER, Utah (AP) — The Latest on a Utah city mayor killed during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard (all times local): Military officials say a major in Utah's Army National Guard who was also the mayor of a city north of Salt Lake City was killed in Afghanistan after being shot by a member of the Afghan security forces. They say Brent Taylor was in the country to train Afghan commandos and was shot Saturday by one of the trainees at the Kabul military training center. The attacker was then killed by Afghan forces. U.S. military officials say another military member whose name has not been made public was wounded during the attack. The 39-year-old Taylor was on a one-year leave of absence from his job as mayor of North Ogden for his deployment to Afghanistan. He was scheduled to return in January. Maj. Gen. Jefferson S. Burton, the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, told reporters Sunday that Taylor's mission was to help train and build the capacity of the Afghan national army. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says Taylor loved the people of Afghanistan and was there to help. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says he is heartbroken the death of North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Taylor died Saturday in an apparent "insider attack" in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Herbert in a statement says Taylor gave "the ultimate sacrifice" and was a "brave and selfless soldier." U.S. military officials say another service member whose name hasn't been released is being treated for wounds sustained in the attack. Additional information is scheduled to be released later Sunday at a news conference with Herbert and Maj. Gen. Jefferson S. Burton, the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard. The 39-year-old Taylor deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Guard for what was expected to be a 12-month tour of duty. He previously served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. Taylor in 2013 became mayor of North Ogden, a city of about 17,000 people 46 miles (74 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City. Authorities say the mayor of a Utah city has been killed during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor died Saturday in an apparent "insider attack" in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. U.S. military officials say another U.S. service member whose name hasn't been released is being treated for wounds sustained in the attack. But Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox wrote on his Facebook page that Taylor has been killed. The 39-year-old Taylor was deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Utah National Guard for what was expected to be a 12-month tour of duty. He previously served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. Taylor in 2013 became mayor of North Ogden, a city of about 17,000 people 46 miles (74 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City.[SEP]NORTH OGDEN, Utah (AP) — A Utah mayor who was also a Utah Army National Guard major training commandos in Afghanistan was fatally shot by one of his Afghan trainees, officials said Sunday. Brent Taylor, 39, had taken a yearlong leave of absence as mayor of North Ogden north of Salt Lake City for his deployment to Afghanistan. He was a military intelligence officer with Joint Force Headquarters and was expected to return to his mayoral job in January. Another U.S. military member whose name was not immediately made public was wounded in Saturday’s attack that killed Taylor, who died from wounds from small arms fire, military officials said. Maj. Gen. Jefferson S. Burton, the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, told reporters that Taylor’s mission was to help train and build the capacity of the Afghan national army. “He was with folks he was helping and training. That’s what’s so painful about this. It’s bitter,” Burton said. “I do believe that Major Taylor felt he was among friends, with people he was working with.” Utah media outlets cited a statement from NATO saying that Taylor was shot by one of the commandos being trained and that the attacker was killed by Afghan forces. Taylor leaves behind a wife and seven children. His remains are scheduled to arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Monday evening. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Taylor “was there to help. He was a leader. He loved the people of Afghanistan… This is a sad day for Utah, for America.” “Brent was a hero, a patriot, a wonderful father, and a dear friend,” U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said on Twitter. “News of his death in Afghanistan is devastating. My prayers and love are with Jennie and his seven young children. His service will always be remembered.” Taylor served two tours in Iraq and was on his second tour in Afghanistan. Taylor in January when he was being deployed told local media that he was assigned to serve on an advisory team training the staff of an Afghan commando battalion. Hundreds of residents of North Ogden lined the street to see him off as police escorted him and his family around North Ogden, a community of about 17,000. Taylor became the city’s mayor in 2013.[SEP]The Latest: Funeral plans are pending for Utah Guard major NORTH OGDEN, Utah (AP) — The Latest on a Utah city mayor killed during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard (all times local): The remains of Utah mayor who was also a major in the Utah Army National Guard and killed in Afghanistan are scheduled to arrive Monday evening at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Authorities say funeral plans still are pending for 39-year-old Brent Taylor. Officials say he was training commandos in Afghanistan and died when a member of the Afghan security forces shot him on Saturday. Taylor had taken a yearlong leave of absence from his job as the mayor of the Utah city of North Ogden for his deployment to Afghanistan. He was a military intelligence officer with Joint Force Headquarters and was expected to return to his mayor's job in January. Taylor leaves behind a wife and seven children. Military officials say a major in Utah's Army National Guard who was also the mayor of a city north of Salt Lake City was killed in Afghanistan after being shot by a member of the Afghan security forces. They say Brent Taylor was in the country to train Afghan commandos and was shot Saturday by one of the trainees at the Kabul military training center. The attacker was then killed by Afghan forces. U.S. military officials say another military member whose name has not been made public was wounded during the attack. The 39-year-old Taylor was on a one-year leave of absence from his job as mayor of North Ogden for his deployment to Afghanistan. He was scheduled to return in January. Maj. Gen. Jefferson S. Burton, the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, told reporters Sunday that Taylor's mission was to help train and build the capacity of the Afghan national army. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says Taylor loved the people of Afghanistan and was there to help. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says he is heartbroken the death of North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Taylor died Saturday in an apparent "insider attack" in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Herbert in a statement says Taylor gave "the ultimate sacrifice" and was a "brave and selfless soldier." U.S. military officials say another service member whose name hasn't been released is being treated for wounds sustained in the attack. Additional information is scheduled to be released later Sunday at a news conference with Herbert and Maj. Gen. Jefferson S. Burton, the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard. The 39-year-old Taylor deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Guard for what was expected to be a 12-month tour of duty. He previously served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. Taylor in 2013 became mayor of North Ogden, a city of about 17,000 people 46 miles (74 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City. Authorities say the mayor of a Utah city has been killed during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor died Saturday in an apparent "insider attack" in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. U.S. military officials say another U.S. service member whose name hasn't been released is being treated for wounds sustained in the attack. But Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox wrote on his Facebook page that Taylor has been killed. The 39-year-old Taylor was deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Utah National Guard for what was expected to be a 12-month tour of duty. He previously served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. Taylor in 2013 became mayor of North Ogden, a city of about 17,000 people 46 miles (74 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City.[SEP]NORTH OGDEN, Utah -- The mayor of a Utah city was killed during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard, the town's temporary mayor Brent Chugg confirmed to CBS Salt Lake City affiliate KUTV. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor died Saturday in an apparent "insider attack" in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Another U.S. service member is being treated for wounds sustained in the attack, American military officials said. The Utah National Guard has identified the service member killed as a member of the Guard. The Guard member's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. But Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox wrote on his Facebook page that Taylor, 39, has been killed. "Devastating news. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor was killed today while serving in Afghanistan," Cox said. "I hate this. I'm struggling for words. I love Mayor Taylor, his amazing wife Jennie and his seven sweet kids. Utah weeps for them today. This war has once again cost us the best blood of a generation. We must rally around his family." U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch issued a statement Saturday about Taylor's death on Twitter. "Brent was a hero, a patriot, a wonderful father, and a dear friend. News of his death in Afghanistan is devastating. My prayers and love are with Jennie and his 7 young children. His service will always be remembered," Hatch said. Republican Senate candidate Mitt Romney said he is "heartbroken with the tragic news." Utah Gov. Gary Herbert plans to hold a news conference on Sunday to discuss the death. Taylor was deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Utah National Guard for what was expected to be a 12-month tour of duty. Taylor, an officer in the National Guard, previously served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. At the time of his deployment in January, Taylor told local media that, as an intelligence officer, he will be assigned to serve on an advisory team training the staff of an Afghan commando battalion. "Right now there is a need for my experience and skills to serve in our nation's long-lasting war in Afghanistan," he said. "President Trump has ordered an increase in troops, and part of the new strategy focuses on expanding the capabilities of the Afghan commando units." Taylor became mayor of North Ogden, a city of about 17,000 people 46 miles north of Salt Lake City, in 2013. More than 2,400 Americans have been killed in the 17-year-old war, CBS News' Charlie D'Agata has reported. Earlier this year, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Bolyard was shot dead in an insider attack, killed by one of the Afghan security members he came to Afghanistan to train. That followed another insider attack that claimed the life of 20-year-old Army Cpl. Joseph Maciel in July.[SEP]NORTH OGDEN, Utah (FOX13)– The Mayor of North Ogden, Brent Taylor, has been killed in Afghanistan after being deployed to the country as part of the Utah National Guard. Taylor, who has served with the Utah National Guard since 2013, was deployed in January of this year. The Utah National Guard said in a statement Saturday that a service member died in an “insider attack” in Kabul on Nov. 3. Initial reports indicated that the attacker was a member of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, the statement said. “These reports also indicate the attacker was immediately killed by other Afghan Forces,” the statement said. “The incident is under investigation.” Utah Governor Gary Herbert and Maj. Gen. Jefferson S. Burton are planning to address the media at a press conference scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Utah National Guard’s Draper Headquarters. “Per Department of Defense policy, the name of the deceased service member will be released 24 hours after next of kin notification,” the statement said. “Additional information will be released as appropriate.” The Salt Lake Tribune confirmed Saturday that Taylor passed away. Taylor had seen multiple deployments to Iraq as well as deployments to Afghanistan. This time around, he was serving as an intelligence officer training Afghan forces. “Another month has flown by since my last update,” Taylor wrote in an update on his deployment in April. “Things are going great, and I absolutely love the dedicated US and Afghan soldiers I serve with every day.

An Afghan commando in Kabul kills Major Brent Taylor of the Utah National Guard, who was also the mayor of North Ogden, Utah.

Lion Air: Indonesian rescue diver dies while searching for victims of jet crash near Jakarta Updated An Indonesian rescue diver has died in the search for a passenger jet that crashed early this week near Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board, search and rescue agency Basarnas said on Saturday. Key points: Anto died around 4pm on Friday afternoon, but it was not immediately clear how he perished His family chose not to conduct an autopsy and asked for his remains to be buried immediately Anto had been involved in other missions including the search for an AirAsia jet that crashed off Borneo in 2014 News of the diver's death came as Indonesia's search and rescue chief said divers had reported seeing the fuselage and engines of the crashed Lion Air jet on the seafloor. "Syachrul Anto, 48, died on Friday while diving to search for victims of the crashed Lion [Air] aircraft," the agency said via its Instagram account, @sar_nasional. "Deepest condolences for the passing of a humanitarian hero from the Indonesian Diving Rescue Team," Basarnas chief Syaugi said in a news release. Mr Anto died at around 4:00pm on Friday, it said, but it was not immediately clear how he perished. Mr Anto's family chose not to conduct an autopsy and asked for his remains to be buried immediately, Basarnas spokesman Yusuf Latif told Reuters by text message. Among other missions, Mr Anto was also one of the main divers involved in the search for an AirAsia jet that crashed off Borneo in late 2014, he said. Rescue divers have played critical roles in recovering human remains for identification and finding out what happened to the near-new Boeing 737 MAX that crashed early on Monday into the Java Sea, 13 minutes after it took off from Jakarta. As of Saturday a total of 73 body bags, few containing intact remains, had been recovered from the site. More debris found by divers Divers have been searching for a second black box from the jet, as investigators try to get data from a partly-damaged recorder recovered from sunken wreckage on Thursday. Indonesia's search and rescue chief Muhammad Syaugi said that along with the fuselage, two engines and more landing gear had been found by divers. "I haven't seen it myself but I got information from some divers that they have seen the fuselage," he said. The flight data recorder was recovered on Thursday and Mr Syuagi said a "low ping signal" was detected by a sonar locator that could be the missing black box voice recorder. The pilot of flight JT610 had asked for, and received, permission to turn back to Jakarta, but what went wrong remains a mystery. "The team have been hearing the 'ping' sound from another black box for two days," Soerjanto Tjahjono told Reuters. The sea is only 30 metres deep at the crash site, but strong currents and nearby pipelines have hampered the search. While victims' relatives are desperate to know what happened, the investigation of the first crash of a Boeing 737 MAX is also the focus of scrutiny by the global aviation industry. Results of a preliminary investigation will be made public after 30 days, one official on the investigation team said. Indonesia is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets but its safety record has been patchy. Its transport safety panel investigated 137 serious aviation incidents from 2012 to 2017. Reuters Topics: disasters-and-accidents, accidents, air-and-space, indonesia First posted[SEP]Seats, wheels and other parts of a crashed Indonesian Lion Air jet were hauled from the depths Friday, as authorities analysed black box data that may explain why the new plane plummeted into the Java Sea, killing 189 people. Search teams have been scouring the seabed for the fuselage of the Boeing-737 MAX 8, which plunged into the waters off Indonesia’s northern coast shortly after takeoff Monday despite only having been in service a few months. “There is a lot of little debris, plane wheels, and seats — all totally destroyed and in pieces,” said Isswarto, commander of the Indonesian navy’s search-and-rescue division. Divers were searching an area about 25-35 metres deep, but have been finding fewer body parts than earlier in the week, he added. “They’re scattered everywhere and some may have been washed away by the current.” Dozens of body bags containing remains have been recovered from the crash site. Television images showed divers tying ropes to twisted plane parts scattered along the seafloor, as a pair of wheels from the jet were hauled aboard a navy ship. Search teams have also determined the location of part of the plane’s engine, authorities said. On Thursday, one of the plane’s black boxes was recovered, along with parts of its landing gear. The black box could offer investigators their best chance of discovering why such a new jet crashed. The devices help explain nearly 90 percent of all crashes, according to aviation experts. The devices record information about the speed, altitude and direction of the plane as well as flight crew conversations. The single-aisle Boeing plane, en route from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang city, is one of the world’s newest and most advanced commercial passenger jets. Boeing and US National Transportation Safety Board officials have joined the Indonesian team in sifting through twisted metal plane parts and piles of passengers’ torn clothing, shoes, wallets and phones. Indonesian president Joko Widodo returned Friday to the port where piles of recovered items are being sorted, while the search and rescue agency said the recovery effort would continue at least through Sunday. “After that, we’ll evaluate the situation,” agency head Muhammad Syaugi told reporters in Jakarta. Passengers’ remains are being sent to hospital for DNA identification, with the first funeral for one of the passengers held on Thursday. Many other victims have yet to be found although there are hopes more can be recovered from the bulk of the wreckage, including those who may still be strapped to their seats. Lion Air’s admission that the jet had a technical issue on a previous flight — as well its abrupt fatal dive — have raised questions about whether it had mechanical faults such as a speed-and-altitude system malfunction. Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee said it was interviewing people who flew on the plane the day before the fatal crash. Some passengers who said they were on that Bali-Jakarta flight have reported a frightening, erratic trip, an assertion that appears to be backed up by flight tracking data. The accident has also resurrected concerns about Indonesia’s poor air safety record which until recently saw its carriers facing years-long bans from entering European Union and US airspace. Indonesia has had nearly 40 fatal aviation accidents in the past 15 years, according to the Aviation Safety Network. Lion Air, Indonesia’s biggest budget carrier, has been involved in a number of incidents including a fatal 2004 crash. In 2014, an AirAsia crash in the Java Sea during stormy weather killed 162 people. The worst disaster in Indonesia’s aviation history left 234 dead in 1997 when an Airbus A-300B4 operated by national carrier Garuda Indonesia crashed in a smog-shrouded ravine in North Sumatra, just short of the airport.[SEP]Chairs, wheels and other parts of a crashed Indonesian Lion Air jet were hauled from the depths Friday, as authorities analysed black box data that may explain why the new plane plummeted into the Java Sea, killing 189 people. Search teams have been scouring the seabed for the fuselage of the Boeing-737 MAX 8, which plunged into the waters off Indonesia's northern coast shortly after takeoff Monday despite only having been in service a few months. "Today we will start diving (again) at the spot where we think the plane crashed," said Isswarto, commander of the Indonesian navy's search-and-rescue division. "There is a lot of little debris, plane wheels, and chairs -- all totally destroyed and in pieces." Divers were searching an area about 25-35 metres deep, but have been finding fewer body parts than earlier in the week, he added. "They're scattered everywhere and some may have been washed away by the current." Dozens of body bags containing remains have been recovered from the crash site so far. Television images showed divers tying ropes to twisted plane parts scattered along the seafloor. On Thursday, authorities said they had recovered one of the plane's black boxes, which airlines are required to install in jets, as well as parts of its landing gear. The black box could offer investigators their best chance of discovering why such a new jet crashed. The devices help explain nearly 90 percent of all crashes, according to aviation experts. The devices record information about the speed, altitude and direction of the plane as well as flight crew conversations. The single-aisle Boeing plane, en route from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang city, is one of the world's newest and most advanced commercial passenger jets. Boeing and US National Transportation Safety Board officials have joined the Indonesian team in sifting through twisted metal plane parts and piles of passengers' torn clothing, shoes, wallets and phones. Passengers' remains are being sent to hospital for DNA identification, with the first funeral for one of the passengers held on Thursday. But many other victims have yet to be found and there are hopes more can be recovered in the bulk of the wreckage, including those who may still be strapped to their seats. Lion Air's admission that the jet had a technical issue on a previous flight -- as well its abrupt fatal dive -- have raised questions about whether it had mechanical faults such as a speed-and-altitude system malfunction. The accident has resurrected concerns about Indonesia's poor air safety record which until recently saw its carriers facing years-long bans from entering European Union and US airspace. Indonesia has had nearly 40 fatal aviation accidents in the past 15 years, according to the Aviation Safety Network. Lion Air, Indonesia's biggest budget carrier, has been involved in a number of incidents including a fatal 2004 crash. In 2014, an AirAsia crash in the Java Sea during stormy weather killed 162 people.[SEP]An Indonesian rescue diver died in a search operation for a jet that crashed early this week near Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board, the search and rescue agency (Basarnas) said on Saturday. Syachrul Anto, 48, died on Friday while diving to search for victims of the crashed Lion Air aircraft, the agency said on Saturday. “Deepest condolences for the passing of a humanitarian hero from the Indonesian Diving Rescue Team,” Basarnas chief Muhammad Syaugi said in a news release. It was not immediately clear how Anto perished. Anto’s family had chosen not to conduct an autopsy and asked for his remains to be buried immediately, Basarnas spokesman Yusuf Latif told Reuters by text message. Among other missions, Anto was also one of the main divers involved in the search for an AirAsia jet that crashed off Borneo in late 2014. Rescue divers have been crucial in recovering human remains and pieces of the wrecked near-new Boeing Co. (BA.N) 737 MAX that smashed into the sea early on Monday, 13 minutes after it took off from Jakarta. As of Saturday a total of 73 body bags, few containing intact remains, had been recovered, but only four of the victims had been identified. Divers have been searching through debris on the muddy sea bed for a second black box from the jet, as investigators try to get data from a partly damaged recorder recovered on Thursday. The pilot of flight JT610 had asked for, and received, permission to turn back to Jakarta, but what went wrong remains a mystery. “The team have been hearing the ‘ping’ sound from another black box for two days,” Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of the transportation safety committee (KNKT), told Reuters on Friday. The sea is only 30 m (98 ft) deep at the crash site but strong currents and nearby pipelines have hampered the search. Visiting the search operation headquarters at Jakarta’s port on Friday, President Joko Widodo thanked rescue officials and the military involved and appealed for them to step up the search. “I ask for you to use all your might, all the technology available, to work fast to find anything else,” he said. While victims’ relatives are desperate to know what happened, the investigation of the first crash of a Boeing 737 MAX is also the focus of scrutiny by the global aviation industry. Preliminary investigation findings are expected to be made public after 30 days. Indonesia is one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets but its safety record has been patchy. Its transport safety panel investigated 137 serious aviation incidents from 2012 to 2017. “There’s still a lot we need to improve,” Air Transportation Director General Pramintohadi Sukarno said at a press conference on Saturday, referring to safety rules.[SEP]JAKARTA: An Indonesian rescue diver died in a search operation for a jet that crashed early this week near Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board, the search and rescue agency (Basarnas) said on Saturday. Syachrul Anto, 48, died on Friday while diving to search for victims of the crashed Lion Air aircraft, the agency said on Saturday. “Deepest condolences for the passing of a humanitarian hero from the Indonesian Diving Rescue Team,” Basarnas chief Muhammad Syaugi said in a news release. It was not immediately clear how Anto perished. Anto’s family had chosen not to conduct an autopsy and asked for his remains to be buried immediately, Basarnas spokesman Yusuf Latif told Reuters by text message. Among other missions, Anto was also one of the main divers involved in the search for an AirAsia jet that crashed off Borneo in late 2014. Rescue divers have been crucial in recovering human remains and pieces of the wrecked near-new Boeing Co. (BA.N) 737 MAX that smashed into the sea early on Monday, 13 minutes after it took off from Jakarta. As of Saturday a total of 73 body bags, few containing intact remains, had been recovered, but only four of the victims had been identified. Divers have been searching through debris on the muddy sea bed for a second black box from the jet, as investigators try to get data from a partly damaged recorder recovered on Thursday. The pilot of flight JT610 had asked for, and received, permission to turn back to Jakarta, but what went wrong remains a mystery. “The team have been hearing the ‘ping’ sound from another black box for two days,” Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of the transportation safety committee (KNKT), told Reuters on Friday.[SEP]JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian rescue diver died in the search for a passenger jet that crashed early this week near Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board, the search and rescue agency (Basarnas) said on Saturday. Syachrul Anto, 48, died on Friday while diving to search for victims of the crashed Lion (Air) aircraft,” the agency said on Saturday via its Instagram account sar_nasional. “Deepest condolences for the passing of a humanitarian hero from the Indonesian Diving Rescue Team,” Basarnas chief Syaugi said in a news release. Anto died at around 4 p.m. on Friday, it said. It was not immediately clear how Anto perished. Anto’s family had chosen not to conduct an autopsy and asked for his remains to be buried immediately, Basarnas spokesman Yusuf Latif told Reuters by text message. Among other missions, Anto was also one of the main divers involved in the search for an AirAsia jet that crashed off Borneo in late 2014, he said. Rescue divers have played critical roles in recovering human remains for identification and finding out what happened to the near-new Boeing Co. 737 MAX that crashed early on Monday into the Java Sea, 13 minutes after it took off from Jakarta. As of Saturday a total of 73 body bags, few containing intact remains, had been recovered from the site. Divers have been searching for a second black box from the jet, as investigators try to get data from a partly damaged recorder recovered from sunken wreckage on Thursday. The pilot of flight JT610 had asked for, and received, permission to turn back to Jakarta, but what went wrong remains a mystery. “The team have been hearing the ‘ping’ sound from another black box for two days,” Soerjanto Tjahjono told Reuters. The sea is only 30 m (98 ft) deep at the crash site but strong currents and nearby pipelines have hampered the search. While victims’ relatives are desperate to know what happened, the investigation of the first crash of a Boeing 737 MAX is also the focus of scrutiny by the global aviation industry. Results of a preliminary investigation will be made public after 30 days, one official on the investigation team said. Indonesia is one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets but its safety record has been patchy. Its transport safety panel investigated 137 serious aviation incidents from 2012 to 2017.[SEP]A rescue diver has died while searching the wreckage of a passenger plane that crashed earlier this week in Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board. Syachrul Anto, 48, was searching for victims of the Lion Air flight when he got into trouble yesterday. The search and rescue agency (Basarnas) confirmed his death today but did not give a specific cause. Basarnas chief Muhammad Syaugi said: ‘Deepest condolences for the passing of a humanitarian hero from the Indonesian Diving Rescue Team.’ Mr Anto’s family had chosen not to conduct an autopsy and asked for his remains to be buried immediately. Divers were searching through debris on the muddy sea bed for a second black box from the jet. MORE: Prince Charles vibes with local band while visiting Africa Flight JT610 crashed into the sea early on Monday, 13 minutes after it took off from Jakarta. The pilot of the Boeing 737 had turned back to Jakarta after requesting permission to do so from air traffic control. Rescuers have so far retrieved 73 body bags containing human remains but they have only managed to identify four people. President Joko Widodo encouraged rescuers to step the search for the dead, saying: ‘I ask for you to use all your might, all the technology available, to work fast to find anything else.’ He also thanked rescue crews for their hard work.[SEP]JAKARTA - An Indonesian diver died while recovering body parts from the ill-fated Lion Air plane which crashed into the sea killing 189 people, an official said Saturday. Syachrul Anto, 48, who died on Friday, was part of the team searching for body parts and debris from the jet in the Java Sea. “He was a volunteer with the Search and Rescue Agency,” Isswarto, commander of the Indonesian navy’s search and rescue division, told AFP. It is believed he died from decompression. “He was found by the SAR team, fainted. He was treated by our doctors, after he regained consciousness, we sent him to the chamber for decompression. “We have all the equipment, however God’s will says differently,” national search and rescue agency head Muhammad Syaugi said at a press conference. Anto had previously served in Palu which suffered an earthquake and tsunami in September and was also involved in recovering the bodies and debris from an Air Asia plane crash nearly four years ago. The Lion Air plane which crashed Monday was en route from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang city on Sumatra island. It plunged into the water just minutes after takeoff, killing everyone on board. At least 73 bags containing body parts have been retrieved from the waters so far but only four victims have been identified. Officials on Thursday retrieved the flight data recorder but are still searching for the second black box, the cockpit voice recorder, which could answer the question as to why the brand new Boeing-737 MAX 8 crashed. “We have heard a weak ‘ping’ ... the divers are still searching for it,” Syaugi said. Two days after the flight data recorder was recovered, investigators at Indonesia’s national transportation safety committee have yet to download the key data due to salt residue on the memory card. Nurcahyo Utomo, head of aircraft transport accident investigation at the NTSC said, said there were “some obstacles” and the process required more time than expected. The committee has been receiving help from their American counterparts at the US National Transportation Safety Board, but will be getting additional assistance from Australia, Utomo added. “This afternoon, investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will arrive to help download the black box data”, he said. Saudi Arabia has also asked for permission to send an observer, but to learn from the whole process and not to assist, Utomo added. Lion Air’s admission that the doomed jet had a technical issue on a previous flight - as well its abrupt fatal dive - have raised questions about whether it had mechanical faults specific to the new model. Founded in 1999, Lion Air is a budget airline operating in Indonesia and in some parts of Southeast Asia, Australia and the Middle East. But it has been plagued by safety concerns and customer complaints over unreliable scheduling and poor service. The carrier has been involved in a number of incidents including a fatal 2004 crash and a collision between two Lion Air planes at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport.[SEP]A 48-year-old Indonesian diver died while recovering the bodies of Lion Air plane crash victims. An official said on Saturday, November 3 that the deceased diver was part of the search team, which is assigned to recover the debris of jet and dead bodies in the Java Sea. The commander of the Indonesian navy's Search and Rescue division, Isswarto told AFP the diver, Syachrul Anto was a volunteer with the search and rescue Agency. Reports also stated that it is believed that he died from decompression. "He was found by the SAR team, fainted. He was treated by our doctors after he regained consciousness, we sent him to the chamber for decompression. We have all the equipment, however, God's will says differently," national search and rescue agency head Muhammad Syaugi said at a press conference. Earlier, Anto volunteered during Indonesia's devastating earthquake in Palu and tsunami in September 2018. He was also involved in recovering the bodies and debris from an Air Asia plane crash that happened almost four years ago. The Lion Air crashed into the sea minutes after it took off from Jakarta killing 189 people. On Thursday, November 1, officials recovered the flight data recorder but are still searching for the second black box, the cockpit voice recorder, which could answer the question as to why the brand new Boeing-737 MAX 8 crashed. As of now almost 73 bags containing body parts have been recovered from the sea and the officials identified only four victims.[SEP]AN Indonesian rescue diver has died in a search operation for a jet that crashed early this week near Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. News of the death of Syachrul Anto, 48, came on Saturday as authorities revealed divers had reported seeing the fuselage and engines of the crashed Lion Air jet on the sea floor and a ping locator had detected a signal possibly from the cockpit voice recorder. Anto died on Friday while diving to search for victims of the crashed plane, search and rescue agency Basarnas said. "Deepest condolences for the passing of a humanitarian hero from the Indonesian Diving Rescue Team," chief officer Muhammad Syaugi said in a news release. It was not immediately clear how Anto perished. His family had chosen not to conduct an autopsy and asked for his remains to be buried immediately, Basarnas spokesman Yusuf Latif told Reuters. Among other missions, Anto was also one of the main divers involved in the search for an AirAsia jet that crashed off Borneo in late 2014. Rescue divers have been crucial in recovering human remains and pieces of the wrecked near-new Boeing Co. 737 MAX that smashed into the sea early on Monday, 13 minutes after it took off from Jakarta. As of Saturday a total of 73 body bags, few containing intact remains, had been recovered but only four of the victims had been identified. Divers have been searching through debris on the muddy sea bed for a second black box from the jet, as investigators try to get data from a partly damaged recorder recovered on Thursday. The pilot of flight JT610 had asked for, and received, permission to turn back to Jakarta but what went wrong remains a mystery. "Two engines and more landing gear have been found," Syaugi said. "I haven't seen it myself but I got information from some divers that they have seen the fuselage," he said at a news conference at a Jakarta port where body bags, debris and passenger belongings are first taken. The sea is only 30 m deep at the crash site but strong currents and nearby pipelines have hampered the search. Visiting the search operation headquarters at Jakarta's port on Friday, President Joko Widodo thanked rescue officials and the military involved and appealed for them to step up the search.

An Indonesian Diving Rescue Team member dies while searching the debris from the passenger jet that crashed earlier this week near Jakarta.

Image copyright AFP Image caption The serious accident was a result of faulty brakes, according to the lorry driver More than a dozen people have been killed after a lorry lost control at a toll station in north-west China. Dozens more were injured when the vehicle collided with a line of waiting cars in Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu, on Saturday. The cause of the 31 vehicle pile-up is under investigation. However, according to China's Xinhua news, the lorry driver told authorities his brakes failed as he travelled down a hill towards the toll station. Xinhua puts the death toll at 15, with another 44 people injured. Image copyright AFP Image caption An aerial view shows the scale of the pile-up The crash comes less than a week after 13 people were killed when a bus plunged off a bridge and into a river in Chongqing , south-western China.[SEP]More than a dozen people have been killed after a lorry lost control at a toll station in north-west China. Dozens more were injured when the vehicle collided with a line of waiting cars waiting in Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu, on Saturday. The cause of the 31 vehicle pile-up is under investigation. However, according to China's Xinhua news, the lorry driver told authorities his brakes failed as he travelled down a hill towards the toll station. Xinhua puts the death toll at 15, with another 44 people injured. The crash comes less than a week after 13 people were killed when a bus plunged off a bridge and into a river in Chongqing , south-western China.[SEP]Officials said another 44 people were injured in the pile-up at the toll station which is close to Lanzhou, capital of Gansu. The pile-up occurred on Saturday after a heavy truck lost control and crashed into a line of vehicles waiting at a toll station on the Lanzhou-Haikou Expressway. (Photo: AP) Beijing: A highway pile-up involving at least 31 cars killed 15 people in northwest China's Gansu province, officials said, leaving dramatic scenes of twisted and burnt-out wreckage. The pile-up occurred on Saturday after a heavy truck lost control and crashed into a line of vehicles waiting at a toll station on the Lanzhou-Haikou Expressway, state-run China Daily reported on Sunday. Officials said another 44 people were injured in the pile-up at the toll station which is close to Lanzhou, capital of Gansu. Investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, the report said. Last week, 13 people were killed after a fist fight between a woman passenger and a driver caused a bus to plunge from a bridge into the mighty Yangtze River in southwest China. Deadly road accidents are common in China, where traffic regulations are often flouted or go unenforced. Violations of traffic laws were blamed for nearly 90 per cent of accidents that caused deaths or injuries that year.[SEP]Authorities in China say 15 people have been killed and 44 injured in a highway pile-up. The accident happened Saturday night after a heavy truck lost control and crashed into a line of vehicles waiting at a toll station in the northwestern province of Gansu. 31 vehicles were involved in the horror crash, and 10 of the 44 injured were in a serious condition as a result, China Daily reported. The driver of the truck, who sustained minor injuries, told police the vehicle had a brake failure as he was travelling downhill. He is being investigated and are under police watch as officers try to confirm the claim. Police confirmed the man lost control of the truck in the 17km downhill stretch, and hit the long line of cars about 7.21pm, China.org reported. In the meantime, Gansu provincial authorities have ordered dangerous sections of expressways to be inspected. Images show twisted metal and debris littering the road, while the toll station, which leads to Lanzhou, has been closed. The truck is reported to be the property of a logistics company in the Liaoning province. Last week, 15 people were killed after a bus to plunged off a high bridge into China's Yangtze River in the western city of Chongqing. In that previous crash, an eight-second surveillance video released by police showed the driver and a passenger arguing and grappling with each other in the moments before the bus suddenly veered across oncoming traffic and off the bridge.[SEP]At least 15 people have died after a truck lost control and ploughed into cars at a toll booth in northwest China. The driver of the articulated truck lost control on a downhill stretch of motorway in the city of Lanzhou and crashed into the line of 31 vehicles. As well as those killed, authorities said 44 people were hurt including 10 who suffered serious injuries. The truck driver is being investigated by police. Media reports say it was the first time the driver had driven on the stretch of road. State broadcaster CCTV aired video from the scene showing heavy snow and many crippled and twisted vehicles. Fatal road accidents are common in China where traffic regulations are often flouted or not enforced. Last week a scuffle between a bus driver and a passenger caused a bus to plunge from a bridge into a river in southwest China, killing all 15 people on board. Official statistics show that 58,000 people were killed in accidents across the country in 2015 alone. Drivers flouting traffic laws were blamed for almost 90% of accidents that caused deaths or injuries that year.[SEP]BEIJING: An out-of-control truck ploughed into a 31-car lineup in northwest China killing 15 people and injuring 44, authorities in the city of Lanzhou said yesterday. The accident occurred Saturday night as the driver of the heavy duty articulated truck lost control on a downhill stretch of expressway and collided with cars lining up at a toll booth, Lanzhou’s propaganda department said. Ten of the 44 hurt sustained serious injuries, authorities said. The big rig driver Li Feng was put under investigation and police watch, according to the official news agency Xinhua. The semi-trailer was registered to Li’s home northeastern Liaoning province, more than 2,000 kilometers from the scene of the accident. It was Li’s first time driving the stretch of road, the China Daily said. State broadcaster CCTV aired video from the scene showing heavy snow and many crippled and twisted vehicles. Deadly road accidents are common in China, where traffic regulations are often flouted or go unenforced. Last week a scuffle between a bus driver and a passenger caused a bus to plunge from a bridge into a river in southwest China, killing all 15 people on board. According to authorities 58,000 people were killed in accidents across the country in 2015 alone. Violations of traffic laws were blamed for nearly 90 percent of accidents that caused deaths or injuries that year._ AFP[SEP]At least 15 people were killed and 44 were injured after a heavy truck lost control and crashed into dozens of vehicles waiting at a toll booth on a highway near Lanzhou, a city in northwestern China, the police reported on Sunday. The accident took place on Saturday evening on the Lanzhou-Haikou expressway when a tower-crane truck lost control due to brake failure and crashed into waiting cars, according to the driver who suffered light injuries and is under police custody pending investigation.[SEP]LANZHOU (XINHUA) - The death toll in a 31-vehicle pile-up on an expressway in northwest China's Gansu Province on Saturday evening (Nov 3) has risen to 15, with 44 injured as of Sunday morning, local authorities said. Ten of the 44 injured people were seriously injured, according to local government sources, after a tower-crane truck lost control and crashed into a line of vehicles 50 metres away from the Lanzhou South Toll Station on the Lanzhou-Haikou Expressway at 7.21pm in Lanzhou. The truck driver, who was slightly injured in the crash, is under police watch and is being investigated. The driver said the vehicle had a brake failure in the continuous downhill section of the expressway. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The Gansu provincial authorities demanded an examination of dangerous sections of expressways across the province.[SEP]BEIJING — Authorities in China say at least 15 people have been killed and 44 injured in a highway pile-up. The accident Saturday night happened after a heavy truck lost control and crashed into a line of vehicles waiting at a toll station in the northwestern province of Gansu. Last week, 15 people were killed after a bus to plunged off a high bridge into China’s Yangtze River in the western city of Chongqing. In that previous crash, an eight-second surveillance video released by police showed the driver and a passenger arguing and grappling with each other in the moments before the bus suddenly veered across oncoming traffic and off the bridge.[SEP]Beijing, Nov 4 (IANS) At least 15 people were killed and 44 others injured after a heavy truck lost control and crashed into dozens of vehicles waiting at a toll booth on a highway near China’s Lanzhou city, the police said on Sunday. The accident took place on Saturday evening on the Lanzhou-Haikou expressway when a tower-crane truck lost control due to brake failure and crashed into waiting cars, reports Efe news. Ten of the injured were in critical condition and the toll could rise in the next few hours, the police said.

A lorry loses control at a toll station in Lanzhou, China, killing at least 15 people and injuring 44 others.

January 03, 2019 09:04 AM New charges have been filed against the man accused of hitting and killing three Girl Scouts and a mother in a hit-and-run in rural northwestern Wisconsin. The four were killed in November while they picked up trash along a Chippewa County highway. Vehicular homicide charges were filed against 21-year-old Colten Treu, who authorities say inhaled chemical vapors before he crashed his pickup truck into them.[SEP]Colten Treu, 21, and his roommate both told authorities there had been a fight for the wheel, but they differ in their accounts of what led to the intervention. In the moments before Colten Treu's black truck plowed into a group of Girl Scouts along the side of the highway, killing four, there had been a dramatic fight for control of the steering wheel. Treu and his passenger, John Stender Jr., both admitted to police that Stender grabbed the wheel after they had been inhaling fumes from a keyboard cleaner to get high, but each maintains a different reason for the intervention. According to Stender, he grabbed the wheel to correct Treu's driving after noticing Treu looked "out of it" and crossed over the center line, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Stender said Treu yelled at him, grabbed the wheel, and swerved hard, causing the car to jerk back in the direction of the Girl Scouts. "Mr Stender stated the next thing he recalled is waking up down the road," the complaint said, according to the Leader-Telegram. However, Treu claims he didn't pass out and said he had only taken two short huffs from the can of Dustoff both men were using before the crash. He told investigators Stender had been huffing heavily and grabbed the wheel causing Treu to lose control of the vehicle, the complaint said. After striking into the group of Girl Scouts who had been picking up trash along the rural highway as part of a service project, Treu fled the scene. The car was later found parked in a garage with "significant front-end damage, with weeds observed stuck in the front bumper," the criminal complaint said. Treu told investigators he saw the group of seven girls and five adults before he crashed into them Saturday around 11:40 a.m., the Leader-Telegram reports. Jayna S. Kelley, 9; Autumn A. Helgeson, 10; Haylee J. Hickle, 10; and Hickle's mother, Sara Jo Schneider, 32, were all killed in the crash. A fifth victim, Madalyn Zwiefelhofer, was taken to the hospital with severe injuries. According to the criminal complaint she suffered "traumatic aortic rupture, splenic laceration, pulmonary laceration, hematoma of the left anterior frontal lobe, acute kidney injury and acute hypoxic and hypercarbic respiratory failure." Treu was formally charged Tuesday with 11 counts, including four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, four counts of hit-and-run involving death, one count of hit-and-run causing great bodily harm, and one count of intentionally abusing hazardous materials and bail jumping. Stender has not been charged, and it's not clear yet whether any charges are expected for his involvement in the crash. [Photo: Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office][SEP]LAKE HALLIE, Wis. — A western Wisconsin community on Sunday was grieving the deaths of three Girl Scouts and an adult who were collecting trash along a rural highway when police say a pickup truck veered off the road and hit them before speeding away. Authorities have not released the names of the girls or the woman who were struck by the truck on Saturday in Lake Hallie, including the name of a fourth girl who survived but was in critical condition at a hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. The girls were members of Troop 3055 and were fourth-grade students at Halmstad Elementary School in adjoining Chippewa Falls, which is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Minneapolis. “Our hearts are broken for the girls and families of the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes,” CEO Sylvia Acevedo of Girl Scouts of the USA said in a statement Sunday. “The Girl Scout Movement everywhere stands with our sister Girl Scouts in Wisconsin to grieve and comfort one another in the wake of this terrible tragedy.” Lake Hallie police Sgt. Daniel Sokup said the pickup, a black Ford F-150, crossed a lane and veered into a roadside ditch, striking the victims. Other members of the troop were picking up trash from the opposite shoulder. The 21-year-old driver, Colten Treu of Chippewa Falls, sped off but later surrendered and will be charged with four counts of homicide, Sokup said. It was unclear Sunday if Treu had an attorney who could speak for him. Police misspelled Treu’s first name as “Colton” in initial news releases. Sokup said it was not immediately known if there were other factors that might have led the driver to leave the road. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the crash happened before a hill and there were no blind spots, and Sokup said it was “not an unsafe area.” But Cecily Spallees, a personal care attendant at a group home near the crash site, told the newspaper that drivers regularly speed on that stretch of road, which quickly changes from a 55-mph to a 35-mph zone. “I’m always telling one of my residents that he shouldn’t walk this strip at night,” Spallees said. “It’s not safe.” Troop 3055’s regional council, the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, expressed its condolences on Facebook and said a vigil will be held Sunday evening at the girls’ school.

Colten Treu faces charges of vehicular homicide and drug related charges after he drove his car into a group of Girl Scouts collecting trash by the road, killing 3 and a mother along a Wisconsin highway (KSTP) Treu claimed his passenger was huffing Dust-Off and caused the accident by grabbing the wheel as he saw the scouts (Oxygen)

This story is from November 3, 2018 PHOTO: The mother of a missing Kashmiri student (L) holds a picture of her son Ahtisham Bilal as his father (C... Read More Ahtesham Bilal Sofi SRINAGAR: The family of, the 17-year-old Sharda University student who reportedly has joined the Islamic State Jammu Kashmir (ISJK), Saturday appealed to terrorists to have "mercy on them" and let him to return home.Ahtesham's father Bilal Ahmad Sofi made the appeal in a video message that is being shared widely on social media.Bilal said his son was the "only male heir of an extended family" and asked the terrorist to allow him to return home."Have mercy on us and let him return. Allah will have mercy on you," he said.Ahtesham, a resident of Khanyar locality in downtown Srinagar, was a first-year graduation student at the university at Greater Noida. He went missing on October 28 after he left the varsity with official permission to go to Delhi, days after he was mistakenly roughed up during a scuffle between Indian and Afghan students in the campus.Later, pictures on social media showed Ahtesham dressed in a black outfit and claimed he had joined the ISJK, an outfit influenced by ISIS ideology."Your paradise is your parents, you are the only hope of 12 family members. Did you forget that this house has seen four deaths in the last two years," said Bilal in the fervent appeal with tears streaming down his face.The mother of the teenager also pleaded and begged her only son to return home as she wept inconsolably next to her husband.Following Ahtesham's disappearance, a missing complaint was registered at the Knowledge Park police station in Greater Noida as well as at Khanyar police station in Srinagar.[SEP]Ahtesham Bilal Sofi was a first year graduation student at Greater Noida's Sharda University Social media posts carrying alleged pictures of a Kashmiri teenager, who went missing from a private university in Uttar Pradesh days ago, on Friday claimed that he has joined a terror group in the Valley. Ahtesham Bilal Sofi, 17, a resident of downtown Srinagar, was a first year graduation student at Greater Noida's Sharda University. He went missing on October 28 after he left the university with official permission to go to Delhi. A missing complaint was registered in the case in Greater Noida as well as Srinagar, officials said. The pictures on social media showed Sofi dressed in a black outfit and claimed he had joined terrorist group ISJK, an outfit influenced by ISIS ideology. The UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) said it has been tracking the case since October 28 and has taken cognizance of the photos. "We are in touch with Jammu and Kashmir police. We are tracking the footprints of the boy from Greater Noida to Kashmir," Inspector General, ATS, Asim Arun told PTI. The Jammu and Kashmir police said they were "ascertaining" Sofi's presence in the Valley. The Gautam Buddh Nagar police, who had traced the last location of Sofi's mobile phone to terrorism-hit Pulwama district in South Kashmir, is also probing the matter. "A missing complaint was registered and police teams are working on the case," a senior official told PTI. According to the police in Noida, Sofi had left for Srinagar from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport in the afternoon of October 28 and reached Pulwama a few hours later. They said his mobile phone details showed that he last spoke to his father, who lives in Srinagar, at 4.30 pm, when his location was traced to Pulwama. However, he had told his father that he was is Delhi and was returning to the university by metro, the police said. Get Breaking news, live coverage, and Latest News from India and around the world on NDTV.com. Catch all the Live TV action on NDTV 24x7 and NDTV India. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram for latest news and live news updates.[SEP]Family members of a Kashmiri youth Ehtisham Bilal, who has purportedly joined the Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir, appealed their son to renounce terrorism and return home following a picture of him with the terrorist organisation's flag and an AK-47 was circulated online on Friday. In a video message, Bilal Ahmad Sofi, father of Ehtisham Bilal (23), urged him to return home. "Islam does not allow anybody to disobey his parents. I appeal and order you to return home. Seeing you on the social media wherein you have claimed allegiance to the Islamic State of Jammu Kashmir has disturbed me. Your ailing mother cannot live without you," he said. According to Free Press Kashmir, Sofi also pleaded to the militants, and Zakir Musa in particular, to send his son back and said, "My son is young and naive. For God’s sake send him home. Have mercy on us, Allah will bless you. This is an appeal from a helpless father." Bilal, a student at Sharda University, a private university in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida, disappeared on 28 October, after he left the varsity with official permission to leave for Delhi, days after he was mistakenly beaten up during a scuffle between Indian and Afghan students in the college campus. Before he went missing, one of his family members said that Bilal had called his cousin brother, another student at Sharda University, that he was boarding a metro and would reach the hostel by 8.30 pm. When he did not return till next morning, "a missing complaint was registered in the case at the Knowledge Park police station in Greater Noida as well as at Khanyar police station in Srinagar," officials said. On Friday, a video purportedly showing pictures of Bilal with ISI flag and also talking about how he was mercilessly beaten inside the university’s campus was circulated on social media. "This is a message to all who consider Jihad is a way of fighting," Bilal said. "Our blood is not white, we will give you tears of blood. I was looking into the eyes of those kufaar (non-Muslims) when they attacked me in groups like dogs, I felt I had delayed to be part of Jihad for long. But not anymore." The pictures showed Bilal dressed in a black outfit and claimed he had joined militant group Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir, an outfit influenced by Islamic State's ideology. According to News18, on the morning he went missing, Bilal called his father asking him for some money. "He called me at around 9.30 am. He asked me for Rs 1,000, saying he had to submit Rs 400 at the university for some trip they had to go on. I immediately called a friend and deposited Rs 5,000 to his account," Sofi recalled. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) said it has been tracking the case since 28 October and has taken cognisance of the photos. "We are in touch with Jammu and Kashmir Police. We are tracking the footprints of the boy from Greater Noida to Kashmir," Inspector General, ATS, Asim Arun told PTI. The officials said they were "ascertaining" Bilal's presence in the Valley. The Gautam Buddh Nagar police, who traced Bilal's mobile phone last location in militancy-hit Pulwama district in south Kashmir, is also probing the matter. On Saturday, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed his concern over Bilal reportedly taking up militancy.[SEP]A day after claimed that a Kashmiri student has joined a group in the Valley, the said that they cannot ascertain if the video showing him as a part of Islamic State of and Kashmir (ISJK) is fake and has become a Nineteen-year-old Sofi is a first-year graduation student at in Greater Noida. A resident of downtown Srinagar, Sofi reportedly went missing on October 28 after he left the varsity with official permission to visit "19-year-old is a student of the In October, he went to Later, a video surfaced showing him as a part of Islamic State of and Kashmir(ISJK). We cannot certify if the video is fake or morphed, and if he has become a terrorist," Uttar Pradesh of Police (DGP) OP Singh said at a press conference here. Singh informed that the matter would be further investigated by the and Kashmir Police, adding that the would keep a tap on the developments that might take place either at or in "We have shared information with the They will investigate it further. We are keeping a tap on the developments that may take place either at Sharda University (Greater Noida) or Jammu and Kashmir," he said. The showed the Kashmiri student dressed in a black outfit claiming that he had joined the group ISJK, an outfit influenced by Islamic State of and (ISIS) ideology. Earlier in the day, former Jammu and and Conference (NC) leader tweeted: "If this is genuine, it is hugely worrying. Sometimes seemingly small actions lead to huge consequences. If what happened to him at Sharda University has led him to choose such a destructive path it's even more tragic. One more life on the path to ruin and one more family in turmoil." Some claimed that a section of students in the campus had questioned Sofi's appearance and a tiff ensued.[SEP]Missing student Ehtisham Bilal, who was pursuing BTech at Sharda University in Greater Noida, has reportedly joined Jundul Khilafah, the Islamic State's (ISIS)'s Kashmir wing. Ehtisham went missing since Sunday and was last tracked in the sensitive Pulwama district of Kashmir after police took note of his phone calls. Ehtisham, in an audio message that has now gone viral on social media, has pledged allegiance to ISIS chief, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, reports Kashmir Dispatch. Ehtisham was reportedly beaten up by several students at Sharda University along with another Kashmiri student. After a fortnight, Ehtisham returned home and has joined the militant ranks. On Thursday, Ehtisham's father, Bilal Ahmad, a businessman by profession sought help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, J&K Governor, Satya Pal Malik and former Chief Ministers, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah in helping trace his son. He pleaded innocence on behalf of his son and said that Ehtisham was the only son he had. Ehtishama had called home on Sunday evening telling his father that he would board a metro to Noida from Delhi and that his sight-seeing trip had ended. However, Noida Police said that Ehtisham, in fact, called his father from Srinagar and that his last location, according to the call details, was traced to the volatile Pulwama district of South Kashmir. The police officials were quoted by The Times of India as saying that Ehtisham had pre-planned his travel to Srinagar and already booked a Go Air flight to Srinagar on October 26. The Noida Police further said that Ehtisham was also spotted at IGI Airport in New Delhi with the help of CCTV footage.[SEP]Jammu, Nov 3: Social media posts carrying pictures of a Kashmiri teenager, who went missing from a private university in Uttar Pradesh days ago, on Friday claimed that he has joined terrorism in the Valley. Ahtesham Bilal Sofi, 17, a resident of downtown Srinagar, was a first year graduation student at Greater Noida's Sharda University. He went missing on October 28 after he left the university with official permission to go to Delhi, days after he was mistakenly roughed up during a scuffle between Indian and Afghan students in the campus. A missing complaint was registered in the case in Greater Noida as well as Srinagar, officials said. The pictures on social media showed Sofi dressed in a black outfit and claimed he had joined terrorist group ISJK, an outfit influenced by ISIS ideology. The UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) said it has been tracking the case since October 28 and has taken cognisance of the photos. The Jammu and Kashmir police said they were "ascertaining" Sofi's presence in the Valley. The Gautam Buddh Nagar police, who had traced the last location of Sofi's mobile phone to terrorism-hit Pulwama district in South Kashmir, is also probing the matter. "A missing complaint was registered and police teams are working on the case," a senior official said. Also Read | 15 terrorists had moved into Kishtwar, days before BJP leader was killed According to the police in Noida, Sofi had left for Srinagar from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport in the afternoon of October 28 and reached Pulwama a few hours later. They said his mobile phone details showed that he last spoke to his father, who lives in Srinagar, at 4.30 pm, when his location was traced to Pulwama. However, he had told his father that he was is Delhi and was returning to the university by metro, the police said.[SEP]members of a Kashmiri youth, who has purportedly joined terror outfit Islamic State, on Saturday urged him to abjure violence and return home. Bilal Ahmad, in a video message to his son Ehtesham Bilal, who on Friday appeared on wielding a rifle and claiming allegiance to the Islamic State, appealed to him to return home. "Islam does not allow anybody to disobey his parents. I appeal and order you to return home. Seeing you on the wherein you have claimed allegiance to the Islamic State has disturbed me. Your ailing mother cannot live without you". Ehtesham's sister, Sadiqa, told her brother in the message, "I cannot live without you. For Allah's sake come back." A student at Sharda University, a private university in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida, disappeared on October 28, days after allegedly being beaten by a group of students on the campus.[SEP]A picture of a missing college student wielding a gun with an ISIS flag in the background has surfaced on social media, triggering concerns that he has joined the terrorist outfit. Ehtisham Bilal, a student at Sharda University, a private university in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida, disappeared on October 28, days after allegedly being beaten up by a group of students on the campus. The 19-year-old was pursuing a bachelor's degree in radiology and imaging technology at the university. A six-minute audio has released on social media, Ehtisham is heard announced that he has joined Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir and accepting ISIS chief Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi as his leader. The audio, carried with an image of Ehtisham donning a black dress and turban with the ISIS flag in the background, has gone viral. Ehtisham is a resident of Khanyar in downtown Srinagar. His parents released a video urging have him to shun the path of violence. His mother appealed to him to return home and requested "any group" which may have "kept Ehtisham" to release him. His father Bilal Ahmad, said that Islam doesn't allow anyone to disobey ones parents. "Islam does not allow anybody to disobey his parents. I appeal and order you to return home. Seeing you on the social media wherein you have claimed allegiance to the Islamic State has disturbed me. Your ailing mother cannot live without you," he said. Ehtisham's sister, Sadiqa, appealed to her brother, saying "I cannot live without you. For Allah's sake, come back." The police say that they are trying to "ascertain the facts" regarding Ehtisham allegedly joining ISIS. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has said that the possibility of Ehtisham joining the terrorist outfit is extremely "worrying". "If this is genuine it's hugely worrying. Sometimes seemingly small actions have huge consequences. If what happened to him at #ShardaUniversity has lead him to choose such a destructive path it's even more tragic. One more life on the path to ruin & one more family in turmoil," he tweeted.[SEP]Five days after a 17-year-old Kashmiri student went missing from a private university in Greater Noida, both Noida and Jammu and Kashmir Police remain clueless regarding his whereabouts, as the boy’s last location was traced to Jammu on Sunday. Earlier, there were speculations that the cell phone of Ehtisham Bilal, a first year student of Bachelor in Medical Imaging Technology (BMIT) in Sharda University, was traced to Kashmir. However J-K Police said that they are still ascertaining the information. “The actual missing report has been field in Greater Noida. We are in touch with police there. There are reports of his location in Kashmir. It has not been ascertained as yet. We are making efforts to search him,” said station house officer of Khanyar police station, Parvez Ahmad. Bilal, a native of Khanyar in downtown Srinagar, had shifted to Greater Noida three months ago after enrolling in Sharda University and was living in the varsity’s hostel at the Knowledge Park area in Greater Noida. On October 4, he was roughed up by a group of students who mistook him as an Afghan during a recent clash between Indian and Afghan students at Sharda University campus in Greater Noida. Police had lodged a first information report against 350 students of Sharda University for rioting. At around 10.30 am on Sunday (October 28), he reportedly informed his father that he was going on a ‘sight seeing’ trip to Delhi. At 4.39 pm, he again told him that he was about to board a Metro from Delhi to Noida. However, according to Noida Police, his call details showed his location in Delhi till 12 pm and in Jammu by 2.30 pm, thereby rising speculations that he caught a flight from Delhi. Noida Police said that they are scanning through the call details of Bilal’s cell phone to ascertain who all he spoke to in the last few days before his ‘disappearance’. “Looking at the call details, we can say for sure that his last phone call was made to his father Bilal Ahmad in Srinagar at 4.39 pm on Sunday. Apart from his father, he also made a few short spanned calls to his friends, but nothing suspicious was found. We are still probing the case,” said Arvind Pathak, station house officer, Knowledge Park police station. J&K police have also been looking into people who have been visiting Ehtisham in Kashmir. Sajad Shah, superintendent of police, north Srinagar, said he was not sure of any militancy connection of the missing boy. “He was friends with a youth Fahad Waza who joined militancy and was killed in an encounter at Fateh Kadal on October 17,” said Shah. SHO Parvez Ahmad also said that so far, no militancy connection has come to the fore. Meanwhile, Ehtisham’s parents held a sit-in at Press Colony in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk area, a day after the boy’s mother Irfana made an emotional video appeal, urging him to return home and saying that he should be “allowed to go if he is with anybody”. His father Bilal Ahmed said that Ehtisham had invited them to the campus on Diwali holidays starting November 3. “Me and my wife were planning to spend some days with him,” he said. Bilal said they were trying to involve police to get CCTV footage of Srinagar airport to confirm reports that he had come to the city. But airport security officials said they had not received any request from police concerned for the footage.[SEP]STATE TIMES NEWS SRINAGAR: Ehtisham Bilal, the 18-year-old student who went missing from Sharda University in Noida on October 28, has reportedly joined terrorist outfit Islamic State (IS)-Kashmir chapter. This was revealed after his picture and audio surfaced on the social media on Friday. Police officials, who did not rule out the possibility, said they were verifying the authenticity of the content that appeared on the social media. Have ‘mercy on us’: Parents to terrorists Srinagar: The family of Ehtesham Bilal Sofi, the 17-year-old Sharda University student who reportedly has joined the Islamic State Jammu Kashmir (ISJK), Saturday appealed to terrorists to have “mercy on us” and let him return home. Ehtesham’s father Bilal Ahmad Sofi made the appeal in a video message that is being shared widely on social media. Bilal said his son was the “only male heir of an extended family” and asked the terrorists to allow him return home. “Have mercy on us and let him return. Allah will have mercy on you,” he said. Ehtesham, a resident of Khanyar locality in downtown Srinagar, was a first-year graduation student at the university at Greater Noida. He went missing on October 28 after he left the varsity with official permission to go to Delhi, days after he was mistakenly roughed up during a scuffle between Indian and Afghan students in the campus. “Your paradise is your parents, you are the only hope of 12 family members. Did you forget that this house has seen four deaths in the last two years,” said Bilal in the fervent appeal with tears streaming down his face. The mother of the teenager also pleaded and begged her only son to return home as she wept inconsolably next to her husband. Following Ehtesham’s disappearance, a missing complaint was registered at the Knowledge Park police station in Greater Noida as well as at Khanyar police station in Srinagar. “We also saw the picture, but we are still verifying it,” a senior police official said. A day ago, the teenager’s family, which lives in Khanyar, gathered at Srinagar’s Press Colony and appealed to Governor Satya Pal Malik to help them in tracing him. The parents of the boy have been shattered by his mysterious disappearance and have held a series of protests appealing to the authorities to find him. In the picture, the boy is seen wearing black clothes and turban and his code name appears as Abu Muhammad Al-Inghamasi, where he pledges allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. “This is a message to all who consider jihad as a way of fighting,” a voice is heard saying in the six-minute audio message. “Our blood is not white. We will give you tears of blood. I was looking into the eyes of those ‘kufaar’ (non-Muslims) when they attacked me in groups like dogs. I felt I had delayed being part of jihad for long. But not anymore,” it says. Ehtisham was pursuing BSc in radiology and imaging technology at Sharda University. His family said on October 4, he was beaten up by some students on the campus, which turned into a controversy after a video went viral.

A 17-year-old Kashmir student who disappeared from Sharda University, Ahtesham Bilal Sofi, is found to have joined the Islamic State.

The Heisei Era in Japan is set to end when Emperor Akihito abdicates next year on April 30. Pinning down the end of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks’ current era of dominance in Japanese baseball is going to take a little bit more time. Because as they showed during this Japan Series, their grip on the throne is as strong as ever. Rick van den Hurk shut out the Hiroshima Carp for six innings and the Hawks scored runs on a squeeze bunt and a home run to capture another Japan Series title with a 2-0 win over the Carp in Game 6 in front of a crowd of 30,723 at Mazda Stadium on Saturday night. The Hawks poured out of the dugout after closer Yuito Mori retired Seiya Suzuki to end the game. They celebrated on the mound and tossed manager Kimiyasu Kudo into the air 15 times during the doage celebration. “It felt great and it made me happy,” Kudo said. “Our players have been working relentlessly since the end of the season.” Hiroshima native Yuki Yanagita, who won Game 5 with a sayonara home run, was the next to go airborne. “I’m just really, really happy,” Yanagita said. “That was my first time (getting a doage toss) since I was drafted.”Catcher Takuya Kai, who threw out all six runners who tried to steal bases, a Japan Series record for consecutive runners thrown out, was named MVP of the series. The victory gives the Hawks their second consecutive Japan Series title and their fourth in the last five seasons and fifth in the last eight. The franchise will go down as the final champion of the Heisei Era (which began Jan. 8, 1989), with its seventh crown during that period. “It’s a winning franchise,” Van den Hurk said. “That’s what the mindset is here with everything. That’s something I’m very grateful to be part of and very happy that we did it again.” They won this title after finishing second in the Pacific League, an unfamiliar position for the club in recent years. “We all play with the same rules and you can win the title as the second-place team,” first baseman Seiichi Uchikawa said. The Hawks played the Carp to a tie in Game 1 and lost Game 2. They then closed out the series by reeling off four straight wins, including all three at home. “Hiroshima is a tough team and my heart was always pounding with worry,” Kudo said. “This is the first time we’ve won coming out of second place (in the Pacific League) and we tried to do the best we could do and win the Japan Series. We played with that mindset.” Tetsuro Nishida drove in SoftBank’s first run with a squeeze bunt in the fourth and Yurisbel Gracial added to the lead with a solo homer in the fifth. Van den Hurk, relievers Shota Takeda and Shinya Kayama and Mori did the rest, limiting Hiroshima to just four hits. “Johnson is a great pitcher and we had a hard time scoring against him,” Gracial said, referring to Carp starter Kris Johnson. “So it felt great to be able to contribute with my bat.” For the Carp, it was more disappointment. The club has won the past three Central League pennants but has failed to finish any of those years off with a Japan Series title. “Our players gave their best until the very end,” Carp manager Koichi Ogata said. “We had a very good chance to win.” The Carp went down the same way they did in 2016 against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters — by losing all three road games and then falling at home in Game 6. Van den Hurk was the loser in Game 2 in Hiroshima and came back with a vengeance on Saturday night. The Dutch right-hander retired seven straight at one point and struck out 10 while allowing only three hits and a walk. “I was looking forward to putting the team in a position to win and I was able to do that,” he said. “When you go up against the Carp lineup and Johnson on the mound, there not much room for error. In a tight game, we were able to continue to pitch well and we did that the whole game. “That was great and obviously when you when the championship, that’s amazing.” Kai, meanwhile, kept the running game of the Carp, who led the CL with 95 stolen bases, in check with his powerful and accurate right arm, which has been dubbed the “Kai Cannon.” Kai threw himself into the record books in the first inning when he threw out Kosuke Tanaka trying to steal second for his fifth straight runner thrown out, which set a Japan Series record. Kai improved to 6-for-6 in the series when he threw out Tomohiro Abe in the second. With Van den Hurk and Johnson, pitchers whose time in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization overlapped briefly, controlling things on the mound, the game was scoreless entering the fourth. Yanagita drew a walk to start the frame and Akira Nakamura followed with a single. Uchikawa laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over and Nishida dropped down a squeeze to make the score 1-0. Gracial added to the lead in the fifth, connecting on a slider for a solo homer to left. Pitching with the lead seemed to put a charge into Van den Hurk, who struck out seven between the fourth and sixth innings. The bullpen took over from Van den Hurk to begin the seventh and pitched the Hawks to the title. The game was the last for celebrated Carp star Takahiro Arai, who will retire. Johnson, who was the winner in Game 2, took the loss in Game 6. The left-hander allowed two runs on three hits in six innings. Johnson struck out six and walked three. Staff writer Kaz Nagatsuka contributed to this report[SEP]TOKYO, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The Fukuoka Hawks defeated Hiroshima Carp 2-0 in the sixth game of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Japan Series on Saturday to retain the title with a 4-1-1 series win. Dutch pitcher Rick van den Hurk struck out 10 Carp players in six innings and Cuban Yurisbel Gracial hit a home run in the fifth on the way to victory. Closing pitcher Yuito Mori secured three straight outs in the ninth innings to wrap up the win. The Hawks clinched the best-of-seven series title with their fourth win on the spin, following a tie in the opening game of the series and a 5-1 victory for the Carp in the second. It is the ninth time the Hawks have won the Japan Series and the fourth time in the past five seasons. The result marks another crushing disappointing for the Carp, who topped the Central League regular season standings with .582 winning percentage. Hiroshima have not won the title since 1984 and have now lost in the Japan Series five times. (Reporting by Jack Tarrant; Editing by Ken Ferris)[SEP]The following story is a collaborative news effort between The Montclarion and The Whit. Original article written by Adam Grassani of The Montclarion. The 2018 Men’s Soccer New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament held its semifinal matchup Tuesday night at Montclair State University’s own MSU Soccer Park. On their home field, the first seed Montclair State Red Hawks got a win over the fourth seed Rowan University Profs 4-3. The former punched their ticket to the championship game and eliminated the latter from the NJAC Tournament for the third straight time. The Red Hawks’ head coach Todd Tumelty understood the pressure that comes with being the top seed in the tournament. “I think we always know that people are gunning for us, and I think the success that we’ve had over the last few years makes teams want to really beat us,” Tumelty said. “I always tell the guys, ‘You’re everyone’s number one game,’ and it’s tough to play when you’re everyone’s number one game.'” The game began with Rowan getting on the offensive early as Vincent Guzzo got the first shot on goal of the game just 1:40 in. Rowan would control possession of the ball throughout the majority of the first 19 minutes of the game, keeping the ball away from their net and on the other side of the field. Throughout those first 19 minutes, the Profs outshot the Red Hawks 6-3, three of those coming during a minute-long offensive buzz 18 minutes into the game. At this point in the game, everyone expected Rowan to be the team that would score first. The Red Hawks’ senior forward Rafael Terci had other ideas. While Rowan was on the offensive surge previously mentioned, the Red Hawks broke up a scoring chance and took the ball all the way downfield leading to the first goal of the game by Terci unassisted. Terci was then seen celebrating with his friend in the crowd after giving Montclair State the early 1-0 lead 19:21 into the game. “He mishit it, I guess, and it came to me and I just touched it in,” Terci said. “I told my friend before the game if I score to make sure he’s on the fence so I just ran over to him and we celebrated together.” It would not take long for Rowan to capitalize on the momentum they generated earlier in the game as they would tie the game up when Ryan Campbell, the leading scorer on the team and second in NJAC for goals and points, was awarded with a penalty shot at 30:14. Campbell fired a perfect shot to the upper left corner of the net, completely out of the reach of Montclair State Goalkeeper Mike Saalfrank, giving his team their first goal of the game to tie it 1-1. Rowan’s lead did not last long. Montclair State ended up tying the game with a penalty shot of their own from Chaz Burnett. Burnett would fire his shot to the lower left corner of the net. Profs’ goalkeeper Kyle Dennis appeared to get a piece of it but not enough as it went into the net to give Montclair State the 2-1 lead 31:00 in, and ultimately into halftime. In the second half, the Red Hawks would ultimately put their stamp on this game. At 50:09, Jake Seaman would control a rebound from Dennis and fire one low and in to extend the Red Hawks lead to 3-1. Just over four minutes later, Burnett would score his second of the game off an assist from Jose Huerta to make it 4-1 Montclair State with 35:35 left. However, the game was not over for the Rowan University Profs, not by a long shot. In the final 10 minutes of the game, Rowan would score twice. The first came from Shane Doherty, as he touched one in that slipped past Saalfrank. Kevin Pereira was credited with the assist. The second came once again from Ryan Campbell as he scored his second of the game off an assist from Primich to cut the Red Hawks lead down to 4-3. Rowan would get one last chance to tie it with less than a minute to go when Pereira fired a decent shot. However, it was saved by Saalfrank, who punted it away, allowing Montclair State to barely hold on for the win. “It’s not the way we wanted it to end, and we were hoping that we’d lock down and keep our defensive unit good,” Tumelty said. “We made some mistakes, and as the season gets on and goes on more and more, if you make mistakes, they’re going to come back and cost you. So that’s something we can take away and learn from today.” Despite the loss, the Profs are not hanging their heads. Not only did they nearly mount a comeback against the No. 7 ranked team in Division III, they outplayed Montclair State in several areas. The Profs outshot the Red Hawks 20-19 and dominated in corner kicks 10-2. Rowan head coach Scott Baker was not discouraged by losing to the first seed in the tournament, and was proud of the way his team fought and came back. “Montclair’s a great team, great opponent, tough to beat at home,” Baker said. “I think we fought hard. We came back.” Baker continually mentioned how difficult it was to be the opponent in the away field. “We came back from a tremendous defect, especially on an away field with such a tough opponent and obviously it didn’t go our way,” Baker said. “The calls didn’t go our way and we couldn’t catch a break late in the game.” The Red Hawks defeated second-seeded Ramapo College in the NJAC Championship Final, 5-0, to win their seventh conference title in the last 13 seasons. Montclair also earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship.[SEP]Hawks Take Down Lumberjacks to Claim 7AAAA Title DULUTH, Minn.- Hermantown is the new section 7AAAA football title holder after defeating defending champions Cloquet 20-14. The Hawks attacked first with a touchdown in the first few minutes of the game. But soon after the Lumberjacks would respond with a 7 yard touchdown from Andre Peters to tie up the game. Heading into halftime Cloquet held the lead 14-12 but in the second half the Hawks staged a comeback while holding the Lumberjacks to those two touchdowns. Hermantown is now the section 7AAAA champion and is headed to the state tournament.[SEP]The Mouat Hawks celebrate a big win on Saturday to qualify for the playoffs. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News) The W.J. Mouat Hawks faced a win and you’re in situation on Saturday afternoon at Latham Field. The only way the Hawks could guarantee one of two available playoff spots in the AAA’s Pacific conference was to defeat the West Vancouver Highlanders, and they did just that – winning 25-6 to finish an impressive 7-1 in regular season play. Mouat was led by, as they have been most of the season, by its two excellent running backs Ebiye Okoko and Nathan Hausermann. Okoko collected 120 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns, while Hausermann added 57 yards on the ground and one touchdown. Hausermann also returned a kick 80 yards to score a special teams major. Zack Badke led the way defensively with five tackles, while Everett Carter caught a late interception. The touchdown Mouat allowed was the first major they have allowed on home field since Sept. 7. The Hawks only allowed 12 points in five home games this season. Mouat now takes on the Notre Dame Jugglers in round one of the playoffs, and face a familiar foe in former Hawks head coach Dennis Kelly. Kelly was the head coach of the Mouat senior varsity program from 1987 to 2014, and helped lead the club to three provincial championships. He left to join the SFU Clan for that club’s offensive coordinator position in 2015, and then took over as head coach at Notre Dame in 2017. The time, date and location of the Hawks and Jugglers playoff game is still to be determined. Read Wednesday’s print edition of the Abbotsford News for more.

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks defeat the Hiroshima Toyo Carp to win the 2018 Japan Series.

MINYA, Egypt — Coptic Christians in the Egyptian town of Minya prepared to bury their dead on Saturday, a day after militants ambushed three buses carrying Christian pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery, killing seven and wounding 19. A priest and members of a Christian congregation prayed and chanted over a row of white coffins ahead of a funeral service for the dead. All but one of those killed were members of the same family, according to a list of the victims' names released by the church, which said a boy and a girl, ages 15 and 12 respectively, were among the dead. The local Islamic State group affiliate, which spearheads militants fighting security forces in the Sinai Peninsula, claimed responsibility for the attack south of Cairo in a statement. It said the attack was revenge for the imprisonment by Egyptian authorities of "our chaste sisters" without elaborating. The IS affiliate claimed that 13 Christians killed and another 18 wounded, but it was not immediately possible to independently verify the claim or reconcile the discrepancy in the number of dead and wounded given by the group and the church. The attack was likely to cast a dark shadow on one of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's showpieces — the World Youth Forum — which opens Saturday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and hopes to draw thousands of local and foreign youth to discuss upcoming projects, with Egypt's 63-year-old leader taking center stage. The Islamic State has repeatedly vowed to go after Egypt's Christians as punishment for their support of el-Sissi. As defense minister, el-Sissi led the military's 2013 ouster of an Islamist president, whose one-year rule proved divisive. It has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly attacks on Christians dating back to December 2016. El-Sissi, who has made the economy and security his top priorities since taking office in 2014, wrote on his Twitter account that Friday's attack was designed to harm the "nation's solid fabric" and pledged to continue fighting terrorism. He later offered his condolences when he spoke by telephone with Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt's Orthodox Christians and a close el-Sissi ally. In a somber message of his own, Tawadros said in a video clip released by the church that the latest attack would only make the Christians stronger. "I think that this is a terrorist act which is targeting Egypt through playing the card of the Copts," said Begemy Nassem Nasr, priest of the church of St. Mary in Minya. "We know that ... President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi is hosting the youth forum and they meant to embarrass him." Friday's attack is the second to target pilgrims heading to the St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in as many years, indicating that security measures in place since then are either inadequate or have become lax. The previous attack in May 2017 left nearly 30 people dead. It is also the latest by IS to target Christians in churches in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and Tanta in the Nile Delta north of the capital. Those attacks left at least 100 people dead and led to tighter security around Christian places of worship and Church-linked facilities. They have also underlined the vulnerability of minority Christians in a country where many Muslims have since the 1970s grown religiously conservative. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, said Friday's attackers used secondary dirt roads to reach the buses carrying the pilgrims, who were near the monastery at the time of the attack. Only pilgrims have been allowed on the main road leading to the monastery since last year's attack. The Interior Ministry maintained that only one bus was attacked, but the latest statement by the church said three buses were targeted and put the death toll at 7 and the wounded at 19, including two in critical condition. The Interior Ministry said police were pursuing the attackers, who fled the scene. Egypt's Christians, who account for some 10 percent of the country's 100 million people, complain of discrimination in the Muslim majority country. Christian activists say the church's alliance with el-Sissi has offered the ancient community a measure of protection but failed to end frequent acts of discrimination that boil over into violence against Christians, especially in rural Egypt. In Minya, the scene of Friday's attack, Christians constitute the highest percentage of the population — about 35 percent — of any Egyptian province. It's also in Minya where most acts of violence, like attacks on churches and Christian homes and businesses, take place.[SEP]MINYA, EGYPT—Hundreds of Egyptian Christians attended a funeral service Saturday after seven people were killed in an ambush by Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) militants of buses carrying pilgrims to a remote desert monastery. The service at Prince Tadros church in the central city of Minya was held amid tight security. Minya’s top cleric, Anba Makarios, led prayers over a row of six white coffins, all victims from the same family. A separate funeral was held for the seventh victim, a bus driver. Relatives of the victims cried and held each other for support. Some rested their heads on the coffins and wept. A list of the victims’ names released by the church said a 15-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were among the dead. Nineteen were wounded in the attack, according to the church. Aida Shehata, who was shot in her legs, said masked men opened fire on three buses from different directions. Two of the buses were able to speed away and reach the monastery, but the militants stopped the third one and killed the driver and six of the passengers, including her husband and his brother. “The driver tried to go to the monastery but they (the militants) were faster,” Shehata told a Coptic TV network. A Daesh affiliate based in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula claimed the attack, calling it revenge for the imprisonment of “our chaste sisters,” without elaborating. The attack cast a shadow on one of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s showpieces — the World Youth Forum — which opens Saturday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The forum is drawing thousands of local and foreign youth to discuss a wide range of topics, with Egypt’s 63-year-old leader taking centre stage. In an apparent effort to keep the attack from overshadowing the start of the three-day conference, two state-owned newspapers ran front-page banner headlines about the forum. Akhbar al-Youm ran a large photo of el-Sissi cycling in Sharm el-Sheikh. Its reference to the attack lower down in the page made no mention of casualties. Daesh has repeatedly targeted Egypt’s Christians as punishment for their support of el-Sissi, who led the military’s 2013 ouster of an elected but divisive Islamist president. El-Sissi, who has made security among his top priorities since taking office in 2014, wrote on his Twitter account that Friday’s attack was designed to harm the “nation’s solid fabric” and pledged to continue fighting terrorism. He later offered his condolences when he spoke by telephone with Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt’s Orthodox Christians and a close ally of the president. Begemy Nassem Nasr, the priest of the church of St. Mary in the central Egyptian city of Minya, near where the attack took place, suggested it was meant to embarrass el-Sissi as he hosted the youth forum. “I think that this is a terrorist act which is targeting Egypt through playing the card of the Copts,” he said. Friday’s attack was the second to target pilgrims heading to the St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in as many years, indicating that security measures put in place since then are inadequate. The previous attack in May 2017 left nearly 30 people dead. Daesh has also targeted Christian churches with a series of suicide bombings since December 2016 that have killed scores of people. The attacks led to tighter security around Christian places of worship and Church-linked facilities, where metal detectors and armed police are routinely deployed. They have also underlined the vulnerability of minority Christians in the conservative, Muslim-majority country. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, said Friday’s attackers used secondary dirt roads to reach the buses carrying the pilgrims, who were near the monastery at the time of the attack. Only pilgrims have been allowed on the main road leading to the monastery since last year’s attack. Some Christians in Minya said police negligence was partly to blame for the latest attack, saying they stopped providing armed escorts for pilgrims’ buses. “They should have escorted them. They know it is dangerous to leave them alone on that road,” said Youssef Attya, a 38-year-old health worker from Minya. The Interior Ministry said police were pursuing the attackers, who fled the scene. Egypt’s Christians, who account for some 10 per cent of the country’s 100 million people, have long complained of discrimination. Christian activists say the church’s alliance with el-Sissi has offered the ancient community a measure of protection, but sectarian violence still flares from time to time, especially in poorer and more rural areas. Christians make up some 35 per cent of the population in Minya, more than in any other governorate. The area has also seen the most acts of violence against Christians in recent years. Christians there accuse the local police of going easy on Muslim assailants, saying authorities prefer to resolve disputes through reconciliation rather than arresting and prosecuting those who commit crimes.[SEP]MINYA, Egypt (AP) — Islamic militants on Friday ambushed three buses carrying Christian pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery south of the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing seven and wounding 19, according to the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Interior Ministry. All but one of those killed were members of the same family, according to a list of the victims' names released by the church, which said among the dead were a boy and a girl, age 15 and 12 respectively. The local Islamic State affiliate which spearheads militants fighting security forces in the Sinai Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, according to SITE, a U.S.-based group that monitors and translates militants' statements. It said the attack was revenge for the imprisonment by Egyptian authorities of "our chaste sisters." It did not elaborate. It said the attack left 13 Christians killed and another 18 wounded, but it was not immediately possible to independently verify the claim or reconcile the discrepancy in the number of dead and wounded given by the group and the church. The Islamic State has repeatedly vowed to go after Egypt's Christians as punishment for their support of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. As defense minister, el-Sissi led the military's 2013 ouster of an Islamist president, whose one-year rule proved divisive. It has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly attacks on Christians dating back to December 2016. El-Sissi, who has made the economy and security his top priorities since taking office in 2014, wrote on his Twitter account that Friday's attack was designed to harm the "nation's solid fabric" and pledged to continue fighting terrorism. He later offered his condolences when he spoke by telephone with Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt's Orthodox Christians and a close el-Sissi ally. In a somber message of his own, Tawadros said in a video clip released by the church that the latest attack would only make the Christians stronger. "We also pray for the assailants. They are misled because all the grief, pain and frustration they cause will achieve absolutely nothing." The attack is likely to cast a dark shadow on one of el-Sissi's showpieces — the World Youth Forum — which opens Saturday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and hopes to draw thousands of local and foreign youth to discuss upcoming projects, with Egypt's 63-year-old leader taking center stage. "They want to embarrass el-Sissi and show that the state is unable to protect the Copts," said Fr. Begemy Naseem Nasr, the priest of the church of Saint Mary in Minya. "Egypt is the target here and we all know that." Friday's attack is the second to target pilgrims heading to the St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in as many years, indicating that security measures in place since then are either inadequate or have become lax. The previous attack in May 2017 left nearly 30 people dead. It is also the latest by IS to target Christians in churches in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and Tanta in the Nile Delta north of the capital. Those attacks left at least 100 people dead and led to tighter security around Christian places of worship and Church-linked facilities. They have also underlined the vulnerability of minority Christians in a country where many Muslims have since the 1970s grown religiously conservative. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, said Friday's attackers used secondary dirt roads to reach the buses carrying the pilgrims, who were near the monastery at the time of the attack. Only pilgrims have been allowed on the main road leading to the monastery since last year's attack. The Interior Ministry maintained that only one bus was attacked, but the latest statement by the church said three buses were targeted and put the death toll at 7 and the wounded at 19, including two in critical condition. The Interior Ministry said police were pursuing the attackers, who fled the scene. Egypt's Christians, who account for some 10 percent of the country's 100 million people, complain of discrimination in the Muslim majority country. Christian activists say the church's alliance with el-Sissi has offered the ancient community a measure of protection but failed to end frequent acts of discrimination that boil over into violence against Christians, especially in rural Egypt. In Minya, the scene of Friday's attack, Christians constitute the highest percentage of the population — about 35 percent — of any Egyptian province. It's also in Minya where most acts of violence, like attacks on churches and Christian homes and businesses, take place. Christians there often claim that the local police is soft on Muslims accused of attacking Christians and, in their pursuit of keeping the peace between the two communities, insist on resolving differences through tribal-like reconciliation meetings rather than rule of law. Friday's attack comes at a time when the church is still reeling from the July killing inside another desert monastery of its abbot. Two monks, one of whom has been defrocked, are on trial for the killing of the abbot, Bishop Epiphanius.[SEP]Coptic Christians chant slogans during a protest following an attack on a bus carrying Christian pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery, in Minya, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church and the Interior Ministry say Islamic militants have ambushed three buses carrying Christian pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery south of the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing at least seven and wounding a dozen more. (AP Photo/Mohammed Hakim) (Mohammed Hakim)[SEP]MINYA, Egypt (AP) — Coptic Christians in the Egyptian town of Minya prepared to bury their dead on Saturday, a day after militants ambushed three buses carrying Christian pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery, killing seven and wounding 19. A priest and members of a Christian congregation prayed and chanted over a row of white coffins ahead of a funeral service for the dead. All but one of those killed were members of the same family, according to a list of the victims' names released by the church, which said a boy and a girl, ages 15 and 12 respectively, were among the dead. The local Islamic State group affiliate, which spearheads militants fighting security forces in the Sinai Peninsula, claimed responsibility for the attack south of Cairo in a statement. It said the attack was revenge for the imprisonment by Egyptian authorities of "our chaste sisters" without elaborating. The IS affiliate claimed that 13 Christians killed and another 18 wounded, but it was not immediately possible to independently verify the claim or reconcile the discrepancy in the number of dead and wounded given by the group and the church. The attack was likely to cast a dark shadow on one of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's showpieces — the World Youth Forum — which opens Saturday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and hopes to draw thousands of local and foreign youth to discuss upcoming projects, with Egypt's 63-year-old leader taking center stage. The Islamic State has repeatedly vowed to go after Egypt's Christians as punishment for their support of el-Sissi. As defense minister, el-Sissi led the military's 2013 ouster of an Islamist president, whose one-year rule proved divisive. It has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly attacks on Christians dating back to December 2016. El-Sissi, who has made the economy and security his top priorities since taking office in 2014, wrote on his Twitter account that Friday's attack was designed to harm the "nation's solid fabric" and pledged to continue fighting terrorism. He later offered his condolences when he spoke by telephone with Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt's Orthodox Christians and a close el-Sissi ally. In a somber message of his own, Tawadros said in a video clip released by the church that the latest attack would only make the Christians stronger. "I think that this is a terrorist act which is targeting Egypt through playing the card of the Copts," said Begemy Nassem Nasr, priest of the church of St. Mary in Minya. "We know that ... President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi is hosting the youth forum and they meant to embarrass him." Friday's attack is the second to target pilgrims heading to the St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in as many years, indicating that security measures in place since then are either inadequate or have become lax. The previous attack in May 2017 left nearly 30 people dead. It is also the latest by IS to target Christians in churches in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and Tanta in the Nile Delta north of the capital. Those attacks left at least 100 people dead and led to tighter security around Christian places of worship and Church-linked facilities. They have also underlined the vulnerability of minority Christians in a country where many Muslims have since the 1970s grown religiously conservative. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, said Friday's attackers used secondary dirt roads to reach the buses carrying the pilgrims, who were near the monastery at the time of the attack. Only pilgrims have been allowed on the main road leading to the monastery since last year's attack. The Interior Ministry maintained that only one bus was attacked, but the latest statement by the church said three buses were targeted and put the death toll at 7 and the wounded at 19, including two in critical condition. The Interior Ministry said police were pursuing the attackers, who fled the scene. Egypt's Christians, who account for some 10 percent of the country's 100 million people, complain of discrimination in the Muslim majority country. Christian activists say the church's alliance with el-Sissi has offered the ancient community a measure of protection but failed to end frequent acts of discrimination that boil over into violence against Christians, especially in rural Egypt. In Minya, the scene of Friday's attack, Christians constitute the highest percentage of the population — about 35 percent — of any Egyptian province. It's also in Minya where most acts of violence, like attacks on churches and Christian homes and businesses, take place. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[SEP]Christians in Egypt bury their dead after attack MINYA, Egypt (AP) — Hundreds of Egyptian Christians attended a funeral service Saturday after seven people were killed in an ambush by Islamic State militants of buses carrying pilgrims to a remote desert monastery. The service at Prince Tadros church in the central city of Minya was held amid tight security. Minya's top cleric, Anba Makarios, led prayers over a row of six white coffins, all victims from the same family. A separate funeral was held for the seventh victim, a bus driver. Relatives of the victims cried and held each other for support. Some rested their heads on the coffins and wept. A list of the victims' names released by the church said a 15-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were among the dead. Nineteen were wounded in the attack, according to the church. Aida Shehata, who was shot in her legs, said masked men opened fire on three buses from different directions. Two of the buses were able to speed away and reach the monastery, but the militants stopped the third one and killed the driver and six of the passengers, including her husband and his brother. "The driver tried to go to the monastery but they (the militants) were faster," Shehata told a Coptic TV network. An Islamic State affiliate based in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula claimed the attack, calling it revenge for the imprisonment of "our chaste sisters," without elaborating. The attack cast a shadow on one of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's showpieces — the World Youth Forum — which opens Saturday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The forum is drawing thousands of local and foreign youth to discuss a wide range of topics, with Egypt's 63-year-old leader taking center stage. In an apparent effort to keep the attack from overshadowing the start of the three-day conference, two state-owned newspapers ran front-page banner headlines about the forum. Akhbar al-Youm ran a large photo of el-Sissi cycling in Sharm el-Sheikh. Its reference to the attack lower down in the page made no mention of casualties. IS has repeatedly targeted Egypt's Christians as punishment for their support of el-Sissi, who led the military's 2013 ouster of an elected but divisive Islamist president. El-Sissi, who has made security among his top priorities since taking office in 2014, wrote on his Twitter account that Friday's attack was designed to harm the "nation's solid fabric" and pledged to continue fighting terrorism. He later offered his condolences when he spoke by telephone with Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt's Orthodox Christians and a close ally of the president. Begemy Nassem Nasr, the priest of the church of St. Mary in the central Egyptian city of Minya, near where the attack took place, suggested it was meant to embarrass el-Sissi as he hosted the youth forum. "I think that this is a terrorist act which is targeting Egypt through playing the card of the Copts," he said. Friday's attack was the second to target pilgrims heading to the St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in as many years, indicating that security measures put in place since then are inadequate. The previous attack in May 2017 left nearly 30 people dead. IS has also targeted Christian churches with a series of suicide bombings since December 2016 that have killed scores of people. The attacks led to tighter security around Christian places of worship and Church-linked facilities, where metal detectors and armed police are routinely deployed. They have also underlined the vulnerability of minority Christians in the conservative, Muslim-majority country. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, said Friday's attackers used secondary dirt roads to reach the buses carrying the pilgrims, who were near the monastery at the time of the attack. Only pilgrims have been allowed on the main road leading to the monastery since last year's attack. Some Christians in Minya said police negligence was partly to blame for the latest attack, saying they stopped providing armed escorts for pilgrims' buses. "They should have escorted them. They know it is dangerous to leave them alone on that road," said Youssef Attya, a 38-year-old health worker from Minya. The Interior Ministry said police were pursuing the attackers, who fled the scene. Egypt's Christians, who account for some 10 percent of the country's 100 million people, have long complained of discrimination. Christian activists say the church's alliance with el-Sissi has offered the ancient community a measure of protection, but sectarian violence still flares from time to time, especially in poorer and more rural areas. Christians make up some 35 percent of the population in Minya, more than in any other governorate. The area has also seen the most acts of violence against Christians in recent years. Christians there accuse the local police of going easy on Muslim assailants, saying authorities prefer to resolve disputes through reconciliation rather than arresting and prosecuting those who commit crimes.[SEP]By Samy Magdy and Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press MINYA, Egypt (AP) — Islamic militants on Friday ambushed three buses carrying Christian pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery south of the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing seven and wounding 19, according to the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Interior Ministry. All but one of those killed were members of the same family, according to a list of the victims’ names released by the church, which said among the dead were a boy and a girl, age 15 and 12 respectively. The local Islamic State affiliate which spearheads militants fighting security forces in the Sinai Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, according to SITE, a U.S.-based group that monitors and translates militants’ statements. It said the attack was revenge for the imprisonment by Egyptian authorities of “our chaste sisters.” It did not elaborate. It said the attack left 13 Christians killed and another 18 wounded, but it was not immediately possible to independently verify the claim or reconcile the discrepancy in the number of dead and wounded given by the group and the church. The Islamic State has repeatedly vowed to go after Egypt’s Christians as punishment for their support of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. As defense minister, el-Sissi led the military’s 2013 ouster of an Islamist president, whose one-year rule proved divisive. It has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly attacks on Christians dating back to December 2016. El-Sissi, who has made the economy and security his top priorities since taking office in 2014, wrote on his Twitter account that Friday’s attack was designed to harm the “nation’s solid fabric” and pledged to continue fighting terrorism. He later offered his condolences when he spoke by telephone with Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt’s Orthodox Christians and a close el-Sissi ally. In a somber message of his own, Tawadros said in a video clip released by the church that the latest attack would only make the Christians stronger. “We also pray for the assailants. They are misled because all the grief, pain and frustration they cause will achieve absolutely nothing.” The attack is likely to cast a dark shadow on one of el-Sissi’s showpieces — the World Youth Forum — which opens Saturday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and hopes to draw thousands of local and foreign youth to discuss upcoming projects, with Egypt’s 63-year-old leader taking center stage. “They want to embarrass el-Sissi and show that the state is unable to protect the Copts,” said Fr. Begemy Naseem Nasr, the priest of the church of Saint Mary in Minya. “Egypt is the target here and we all know that.” Friday’s attack is the second to target pilgrims heading to the St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in as many years, indicating that security measures in place since then are either inadequate or have become lax. The previous attack in May 2017 left nearly 30 people dead. It is also the latest by IS to target Christians in churches in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and Tanta in the Nile Delta north of the capital. Those attacks left at least 100 people dead and led to tighter security around Christian places of worship and Church-linked facilities. They have also underlined the vulnerability of minority Christians in a country where many Muslims have since the 1970s grown religiously conservative. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, said Friday’s attackers used secondary dirt roads to reach the buses carrying the pilgrims, who were near the monastery at the time of the attack. Only pilgrims have been allowed on the main road leading to the monastery since last year’s attack. The Interior Ministry maintained that only one bus was attacked, but the latest statement by the church said three buses were targeted and put the death toll at 7 and the wounded at 19, including two in critical condition. The Interior Ministry said police were pursuing the attackers, who fled the scene. Egypt’s Christians, who account for some 10 percent of the country’s 100 million people, complain of discrimination in the Muslim majority country. Christian activists say the church’s alliance with el-Sissi has offered the ancient community a measure of protection but failed to end frequent acts of discrimination that boil over into violence against Christians, especially in rural Egypt. In Minya, the scene of Friday’s attack, Christians constitute the highest percentage of the population — about 35 percent — of any Egyptian province. It’s also in Minya where most acts of violence, like attacks on churches and Christian homes and businesses, take place. Christians there often claim that the local police is soft on Muslims accused of attacking Christians and, in their pursuit of keeping the peace between the two communities, insist on resolving differences through tribal-like reconciliation meetings rather than rule of law. Friday’s attack comes at a time when the church is still reeling from the July killing inside another desert monastery of its abbot. Two monks, one of whom has been defrocked, are on trial for the killing of the abbot, Bishop Epiphanius. © 2018, The Village Reporter and/or Associated Press (AP). All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.[SEP]Coptic Christians chant slogans during a protest following an attack on a bus carrying Christian pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery, in Minya, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church and the Interior Ministry say Islamic militants have ambushed three buses carrying Christian pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery south of the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing at least seven and wounding a dozen more. (AP Photo/Mohammed Hakim) (Mohammed Hakim)[SEP]MINYA, Egypt (AP) — Hundreds of Egyptian Coptic Christians gathered Saturday for a funeral service south of Cairo to bid farewell to six of seven people killed the previous day when militants ambushed three buses carrying pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery. The service at Prince Tadros church in the city of Minya was held amid tight security and presided over by Minya’s top cleric, Anba Makarios. He and members of the congregation prayed and chanted over a row of six white coffins. Relatives of the victims cried and held each other for support. All but one of those killed were members of the same family, according to a list of the victims’ names released by the church, which said a boy and a girl, ages 15 and 12 respectively, were among the dead. A total of 19 were wounded in the attack, according to the Coptic Orthodox Church. The local Islamic State group affiliate, which spearheads militants fighting security forces in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, claimed responsibility for the attack south of Cairo. It said the attack was revenge for the imprisonment by Egyptian authorities of “our chaste sisters” but did not elaborate. The IS affiliate claimed that 13 Christians were killed and another 18 wounded, but it was not immediately possible to independently verify the claim or reconcile the discrepancy in the number of dead and wounded given by the group and the church. The attack was likely to cast a dark shadow on one of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s showpieces — the World Youth Forum — which opens Saturday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The forum is drawing thousands of local and foreign youth to discuss a wide range of topics, with Egypt’s 63-year-old leader taking center stage. The Islamic State has repeatedly vowed to go after Egypt’s Christians as punishment for their support of el-Sissi. As defense minister, el-Sissi led the military’s 2013 ouster of an Islamist president, whose one-year rule proved divisive. The group has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly attacks on Christians dating back to December 2016. El-Sissi, who has made security among his top priorities since taking office in 2014, wrote on his Twitter account that Friday’s attack was designed to harm the “nation’s solid fabric” and pledged to continue fighting terrorism. He later offered his condolences when he spoke by telephone with Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt’s Orthodox Christians and a close el-Sissi ally. In a somber message of his own, Tawadros said in a video clip released by the church that the latest attack would only make the Christians stronger. “I think that this is a terrorist act which is targeting Egypt through playing the card of the Copts,” said Begemy Nassem Nasr, priest of the church of St. Mary in Minya. “We know that … President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi is hosting the youth forum and they meant to embarrass him.” Embarrassingly, Friday’s attack is the second to target pilgrims heading to the St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in as many years, indicating that security measures put in place since then are either inadequate or have become lax. The previous attack in May 2017 left nearly 30 people dead. It was the latest in a string of IS assaults against Christians. Previous ones targeted churches packed with worshippers in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and Tanta in the Nile Delta north of the capital, leaving at least 100 people dead. The attacks led to tighter security around Christian places of worship and Church-linked facilities, where metal detectors and armed police are routinely deployed. They have also underlined the vulnerability of minority Christians in a country where many Muslims have since the 1970s grown religiously conservative and less tolerant of non-Muslims. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, said Friday’s attackers used secondary dirt roads to reach the buses carrying the pilgrims, who were near the monastery at the time of the attack. Only pilgrims have been allowed on the main road leading to the monastery since last year’s attack. Some Christians in Minya said police negligence was partly to blame for the latest attack, arguing that they stopped providing armed escorts for pilgrims’ buses headed to the old monastery. “They should have escorted them. They know it is dangerous to leave them alone on that road,” said Youssef Attya, a 38-year-old health worker from Minya. The Interior Ministry said police were pursuing the attackers, who fled the scene. Egypt’s Christians, who account for some 10 percent of the country’s 100 million people, complain of discrimination in the Muslim majority country. Christian activists say the church’s alliance with el-Sissi has offered the ancient community a measure of protection but failed to end frequent acts of discrimination that boil over into violence against Christians, especially in rural Egypt. In Minya, the scene of Friday’s attack, Christians constitute the highest percentage of the population — about 35 percent — of any Egyptian province. It’s also in Minya where most acts of violence, like attacks on churches and Christian homes and businesses, take place. Christians there accuse the local police of being soft on Muslims who attack them and complain that, in their pursuit of keeping the peace between the two communities, they insist on resolving sectarian disputes through tribal-like reconciliation meetings rather than rule of law. ___ By SAMY MAGDY and HAMZA HENDAWI , Associated Press Hendawi reported from Cairo.[SEP]IS attack on Christian pilgrims in Egypt kills 7, wounds 19 MINYA, Egypt (AP) — Islamic militants on Friday ambushed three buses carrying Christian pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery south of the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing seven and wounding 19, according to the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Interior Ministry. All but one of those killed were members of the same family, according to a list of the victims' names released by the church, which said among the dead were a boy and a girl, age 15 and 12 respectively. The local Islamic State affiliate which spearheads militants fighting security forces in the Sinai Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, according to SITE, a U.S.-based group that monitors and translates militants' statements. It said the attack was revenge for the imprisonment by Egyptian authorities of "our chaste sisters." It did not elaborate. It said the attack left 13 Christians killed and another 18 wounded, but it was not immediately possible to independently verify the claim or reconcile the discrepancy in the number of dead and wounded given by the group and the church. The Islamic State has repeatedly vowed to go after Egypt's Christians as punishment for their support of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. As defense minister, el-Sissi led the military's 2013 ouster of an Islamist president, whose one-year rule proved divisive. It has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly attacks on Christians dating back to December 2016. El-Sissi, who has made the economy and security his top priorities since taking office in 2014, wrote on his Twitter account that Friday's attack was designed to harm the "nation's solid fabric" and pledged to continue fighting terrorism. He later offered his condolences when he spoke by telephone with Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt's Orthodox Christians and a close el-Sissi ally. In a somber message of his own, Tawadros said in a video clip released by the church that the latest attack would only make the Christians stronger. "We also pray for the assailants. They are misled because all the grief, pain and frustration they cause will achieve absolutely nothing." The attack is likely to cast a dark shadow on one of el-Sissi's showpieces — the World Youth Forum — which opens Saturday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and hopes to draw thousands of local and foreign youth to discuss upcoming projects, with Egypt's 63-year-old leader taking center stage. "They want to embarrass el-Sissi and show that the state is unable to protect the Copts," said Fr. Begemy Naseem Nasr, the priest of the church of Saint Mary in Minya. "Egypt is the target here and we all know that." Friday's attack is the second to target pilgrims heading to the St. Samuel the Confessor monastery in as many years, indicating that security measures in place since then are either inadequate or have become lax. The previous attack in May 2017 left nearly 30 people dead. It is also the latest by IS to target Christians in churches in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and Tanta in the Nile Delta north of the capital. Those attacks left at least 100 people dead and led to tighter security around Christian places of worship and Church-linked facilities. They have also underlined the vulnerability of minority Christians in a country where many Muslims have since the 1970s grown religiously conservative. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, said Friday's attackers used secondary dirt roads to reach the buses carrying the pilgrims, who were near the monastery at the time of the attack. Only pilgrims have been allowed on the main road leading to the monastery since last year's attack. The Interior Ministry maintained that only one bus was attacked, but the latest statement by the church said three buses were targeted and put the death toll at 7 and the wounded at 19, including two in critical condition. The Interior Ministry said police were pursuing the attackers, who fled the scene. Egypt's Christians, who account for some 10 percent of the country's 100 million people, complain of discrimination in the Muslim majority country. Christian activists say the church's alliance with el-Sissi has offered the ancient community a measure of protection but failed to end frequent acts of discrimination that boil over into violence against Christians, especially in rural Egypt. In Minya, the scene of Friday's attack, Christians constitute the highest percentage of the population — about 35 percent — of any Egyptian province. It's also in Minya where most acts of violence, like attacks on churches and Christian homes and businesses, take place. Christians there often claim that the local police is soft on Muslims accused of attacking Christians and, in their pursuit of keeping the peace between the two communities, insist on resolving differences through tribal-like reconciliation meetings rather than rule of law. Friday's attack comes at a time when the church is still reeling from the July killing inside another desert monastery of its abbot. Two monks, one of whom has been defrocked, are on trial for the killing of the abbot, Bishop Epiphanius.

Egyptian Police kill 19 Islamist militants accused of involvement in an attack on Coptic Christians in central Egypt two days ago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Ross Edgley said he had to swim hard against the tide to reach Margate, but it was amazing to hear the crowd An adventurer from Grantham has become the first person to swim 1,780-miles around Great Britain. Ross Edgley, 33, was joined by 300 swimmers for the last mile before he arrived in Margate at about 09:00 GMT. Edgley left the Kent town on 1 June, and has not set foot on land since, swimming for up to 12 hours a day and eating more than 500 bananas. He has battled strong tides and currents in cold water, braved storms, jellyfish and swimming in late autumn. The effort has taken its toll on his body, resulting in shoulder pain, wetsuit chafing and his tongue has partially disintegrated from salt water exposure. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ross Edgley has spent 155 days making the journey around the coast Back on dry land, Edgley told the BBC that despite needing to learn to walk again after so long in the water he is still "not quite bored of swimming" and looking for his next challenge. Supported in his swim by Cornish sailor Matthew Knight from his catamaran Hecate, Edgley revealed that at times the tides helped him to swim at speeds of up to 8.7 knots. "That's a dolphin's cruising speed," he laughed. The swimmer held back tears as scores of supporters who had turned out to greet him in Margate gave him a rousing cheer. He said getting that kind of reception made it all worthwhile, adding: "There's not many places you come in and people are asking you to sign bananas." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Scores of people turned out for Edgley's arrival in Margate - and many joined him in the water Edgley set a new record 74 days into his challenge, for the longest staged sea swim, according to the World Open Water Swimming Association. He is already in the Guinness Book of World Records after completing a rope climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest in 19 hours in April 2016. That was two months after doing a marathon while pulling a car. But an attempt in 2017 to swim the 24.8 miles between Martinique and St Lucia while pulling a 100lb tree trunk ended in disappointment.[SEP]After 5 months, British swimmer Ross Edgley completed a feat never done before. In 157 days, Edgley swam around the mainland of Great Britain, completing his goal on Sunday. Red Bull sponsored the swim, and documented the great feat of strength, posting videos to their YouTube channel along the way. Ross Edgley began his journey on June 1 in Margate, a southeastern England town on the coast. The swim finished in the same city, only this time Edgley had about 300 other swimmers finishing the journey with him, and cheering him on. “I won’t lie, getting a tad bit emotional now knowing it’s coming to an end,” Said Ross Edgley in a Instagram post on Friday. Over the last five months, Ross Edgley swam 1,791 miles, and endured many issues along the way. Not only did he deal with rough waters, and ocean wild life, including jelly fish stings, and the occasional shark, but he also dealt with neck chaffing from his wet suit. Still nothing stopped Edgley from completing his goal. Not once did he take a break on land, instead resting on a support boat in between six hours of non-stop swimming. While on the boat, Ross Edgley would catch up on sleeping and eating. His daily calorie intake was up to 15,000 calories a day. This helped fuel his journey, along with breaks on the boat in order to roll out his tired muscles. Edgley also had to deal with something called “salt mouth,” which is when salt builds up on the tongue, causing the tongue to dry out. Edgley had pieces of his tongue flaking off during the swim, but still pushed through to the end. In August, Great Britain recognized his swim as the longest staged sea swim, without using flippers, or any other aid, in history. Red Bull was along for the entire ride, keeping track of Edgley’s progress, and posting videos to their YouTube channel. In one of the posted videos, Ross Edgley explains his motivation for the swim saying, “It’s my hope that people remember the Great Britain Swim as an example or experiment in both mental and physical fortitude.”[SEP]Adventurer Ross Edgley first to swim around Britain (BBC) — An adventurer from Grantham has become the first person to swim 1,780-miles around Great Britain. Ross Edgley, 33, was joined by 300 swimmers for the last mile before he arrived in Margate at about 09:00 GMT. Edgley left the Kent town on 1 June, and has not set foot on land since, swimming for up to 12 hours a day and eating more than 500 bananas. He has battled strong tides and currents in cold water, braved storms, jellyfish and swimming in late autumn. The effort has taken its toll on his body, resulting in shoulder pain, wetsuit chafing and his tongue has partially disintegrated from salt water exposure. Back on dry land, Edgley told the BBC that despite needing to learn to walk again after so long in the water he is still “not quite bored of swimming” and looking for his next challenge. Supported in his swim by Cornish sailor Matthew Knight from his catamaran Hecate, Edgley revealed that at times the tides helped him to swim at speeds of up to 8.7 knots. The swimmer held back tears as scores of supporters who had turned out to greet him in Margate gave him a rousing cheer. He said getting that kind of reception made it all worthwhile, adding: “There’s not many places you come in and people are asking you to sign bananas.” Edgley set a new record 74 days into his challenge, for the longest staged sea swim, according to the World Open Water Swimming Association. He is already in the Guinness Book of World Records after completing a rope climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest in 19 hours in April 2016. That was two months after doing a marathon while pulling a car. But an attempt in 2017 to swim the 24.8 miles between Martinique and St Lucia while pulling a 100lb tree trunk ended in disappointment.[SEP]Grantham’s very own strongman Ross Edgley has become the first swimmer to swim around Great Britain after spending 23 weeks at sea. The 33-year-old from Grantham crossed the finish line off the coast of Margate, Kent - in the same spot he set off from five months ago - just before 9am this morning, after swimming 1,792 miles - the equivalent of swimming The Channel 85 times. He was joined by 300 swimmers including Dale Nix and Paul Letchworth from Grantham, for his final mile. Ross left Margate on June 1 and has not set foot on land since. He has battled against strong tides, storms and endured 37 jellyfish stings, eventually growing a beard to prevent more stings. He has also eaten more than 600 bananas and used three kilograms of Vaseline for chaffing. Not content with just breaking one record, Ross entered the Guinness Book of World Records on August 14 when he became the first British person to swim the length of Great Britain, completing the 900 mile distance from Lands’ End to John O’Groats in a record time of 62 days. Despite swimming for up to 12 hours a day, Ross was happy to speak to the Journal from his boat in September. He said: “The support from the Grantham contingent has been phenomenal. When you look at where everyone is watching from on social media, there is people from all over the world, but Grantham is always there." We will have more details including an interview with the man himself over the next few days and in Friday's Grantham Journal.[SEP]An adventurer from Grantham has become the first person to swim 1,780-miles around Great Britain. Ross Edgley, 33, was joined by 300 swimmers for the last mile before he arrived in Margate at about 09:00 GMT. Edgley left the Kent town on 1 June, and has not set foot on land since, swimming for up to 12 hours a day and eating more than 500 bananas. He has battled strong tides and currents in cold water, braved storms, jellyfish and swimming in late autumn.[SEP]LONDON — A 33-year-old British endurance athlete stepped ashore on an English beach Sunday, becoming the first person to swim around the coast of Great Britain. Ross Edgley spent 157 days in the water and covered 1,791 miles (2,883 kilometers). He swam in six-hour stints, sleeping in his support boat. He was joined for the final mile by hundreds of fellow swimmers, coming ashore at Margate in southeast England — the spot where he began his journey on June 1. Edgley, who had hoped to finish in 100 days, told family members who gathered on the beach to greet him: “Sorry I’m late.” He said his main feeling on walking up the beach was “relief. I was really worried that my legs would give way.” The World Open Water Swimming Association says Edgley endured spells of wild weather and was stung by jellyfish 37 times during his swim, which was sponsored by the energy drink Red Bull. Organizers said Edgley also broke records for the longest staged sea swim – doubling the previous 73 days – and for the fastest swim between Britain’s southernmost and northernmost points, Land’s End and John O’Groats. He covered the distance in 62 days.[SEP]Adventurer Ross Edgley is poised to become the first swimmer to complete a circumnavigation of Great Britain. The 33-year-old, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, will be joined for the final mile of his 1,780-mile, 155-day Great British Swim around the mainland by 300 swimmers in Margate on Sunday. Edgley left the Kent town on June 1, swimming in a clockwise direction, and has not set foot on land since, swimming up to 12 hours a day, including through the night. He has battled strong tides and currents in cold water, storms, jellyfish and swimming into winter. His efforts have taken their toll on his body, including shoulder pain and wetsuit chafing. Edgley’s odyssey was compared from the outset to the feat of Captain Matthew Webb, who in 1875 became the first person to swim the English Channel. But, while more than 1,900 swimmers have since made the crossing, few are likely to follow in Edgley’s wake. His mantra on challenges is that one must be naive enough to start and stubborn enough to finish. He has shown stubbornness in spades. Edgley had predicted that the swim, with Cornish sailor Matthew Knight supporting from his catamaran Hecate, would take 100 days. He entered the Guinness Book of World Records on August 14, 74 days into the challenge, for the longest staged sea swim, according to the World Open Water Swimming Association. But Edgley, then at the Isle of Skye, knew the record would only stand if he completed his journey to Margate. Eighty-two days later, he will. Edgley has chronicled his journey on social media and weekly vlogs for Red Bull, which is backing the challenge, and he has gathered a large following of admirers, in awe of his success. He has expended an estimated half-a-million calories. One constant source of fuel has been bananas, with Edgley eating more than 500 on the adventure. His positive disposition has impressed many, even when swimming through the sewage-like waters of the Humber. Edgley is already in the Guinness Book of World Records. In April 2016, he completed a rope climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest in 19 hours, two months after doing a marathon while pulling a car. But he has also experienced disappointment. In 2017, he attempted to swim the 24.8 miles (40km) between Martinique and St Lucia while pulling a 100lb (45.3kg) tree trunk.[SEP]Edgley becomes first man to swim around Britain LONDON: Adventurer Ross Edgley became the first man to swim around the coast of mainland Britain as he completed a 1,780 mile-trip to make a triumphant return to dry land in Margate on Sunday. The 33-year-old, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, had left the Kent town on June 1, swimming in a clockwise direction. He had not set foot on land once and slept in a support boat. Edgley, who swam up to 12 hours a day, battled through strong tides, hundreds of jellyfish stings and had to cope with a disintegrating tongue caused by salt water during his Great British Swim. He expended an estimated 500,000 calories during the journey, and ate more than 500 bananas to provide him with a constant source of energy.[SEP](CNN) — After spending 157 days at sea, 33-year-old Ross Edgleyman came ashore Sunday and became the first person to swim around the mainland of Great Britain, according to Red Bull, the company that documented his feat. Ross Edgley started the 1,791-mile trek June 1 in Margate, a coastal town in southeast England. On Sunday morning, he returned to the same location and was met by 300 other people who swam the last half mile with him. “I won’t lie, getting a tad emotional now knowing it’s coming to an end,” he posted on Instagram on Friday. For the past five months, Edgley has endured rough seas, jellyfish stings, sharks and icy waters. He never set foot on land throughout his journey and instead rested on a support boat between his six-hour swims, according to Red Bull. He and the company called his effort The Great British Swim. Edgley faced health issues ranging from chaffing around his neck from his wetsuit and “salt mouth.” That condition is caused by the buildup of salt on his tongue, which made pieces of his tongue flake off. But nothing stopped him from completing his race. In August, his path around Great Britain was recognized as the Longest Staged Sea Swim propelled only by muscle power (no flippers). Red Bull documented his journey since the beginning with weekly vlogs posted to their YouTube channel. “It’s my hope that people remember the Great British Swim as an example or experiment in both mental and physical fortitude,” he said in a vlog posted by Red Bull on Thursday.[SEP]Ross Edgley's feet have not touched dry land for five months. He's become the first person to swim the entire coast of Great Britain. The 33-year-old battled injury, tides and jellyfish stings during his epic endurance swim.

Ross Edgley becomes the first person to swim around Great Britain. The 1,780-mile (2,860 km) swim lasted 156 days.

Maltempo: 12 morti tra il Palermitano e l’Agrigentino. Il presidente del Consiglio, Giuseppe Conte, in Sicilia. Il maltempo flagella ancora la Sicilia, e provoca 12 morti, tra le province di Palermo ed Agrigento. Ed il presidente del Consiglio, Giuseppe Conte, si precipita nell’Isola, per testimoniare solidarietà ed annunciare sostegno. Nel Palermitano, nei pressi dell’autostrada Palermo – Catania, al confine tra i comuni di Altavilla Milicia e Casteldaccia, una villa è stata investita, travolta e sommersa dall’acqua del fiume Milicia, che è straripato. Le persone all’interno, due famiglie riunite per trascorrere insieme la serata del sabato, sono morte annegate. Un uomo e una bambina, usciti per comperare dei dolci, si sono fatalmente salvati. Un altro uomo, Giuseppe Giordano, fuori dalla casa, ha lanciato l’allarme con il telefonino cellulare aggrappandosi a un albero. E adesso racconta: “Mi sono accorto che l’acqua stava entrando a casa. A tutti ho detto: andiamo subito via. Ma, appena ho aperto la porta, sono stato investito da un fiume d’acqua che mi ha catapultato fuori. Mi sono aggrappato a un albero. Così sono sopravvissuto”. Le vittime, di Palermo, Santa Flavia e Bagheria, sono nove: Rachele Giordano, di 1 anno di età, Francesco Rughò, 3 anni, Federico Giordano, 15 anni, la madre Stefania Catanzaro, 32 anni, e moglie di uno dei tre sopravvissuti, Giuseppe Giordano, il nonno Antonino Giordano, 65 anni, e la moglie Matilde Comito, 57 anni, il figlio Marco Giordano, di 32 anni, e la sorella Monia Giordano, 40 anni. Poi Nunzia Flamia, 65 anni. E poi, ancora in provincia di Palermo, a Vicari, è stato scoperto morto un uomo, Alessandro Scavone, 44 anni, imprenditore agricolo, consigliere comunale a Salemi, impegnato alla ricerca di un amico disperso, a bordo di un’automobile investita dall’acqua del fiume San Leonardo. E’ invece disperso Giuseppe Liotta, 40 anni, medico palermitano diretto all’ospedale di Corleone per il turno di lavoro: la sua automobile è stata trovata tra Ficuzza e Corleone, in contrada Raviotta, lungo la statale 118, interrotta tra smottamenti ed allagamenti. E poi, in provincia di Agrigento, un uomo e una donna da tempo residenti in Germania, a Francoforte, verosimilmente a Cammarata per un soggiorno in occasione delle festività dei Santi e dei Defunti, a bordo di un’automobile noleggiata sono stati investiti da una frana e sbalzati in un burrone profondo circa 30 metri, in contrada San Martino, a Cammarata. Le vittime sono Cosimo Fustaino, 54 anni, originario di Valledolmo, e la moglie, una tedesca di 47 anni. E ad Agrigento città nel corso della tarda serata di sabato ha imperversato l’incubo dello straripamento del fiume Akragas, che costeggia il versante ovest, tra contrada Sant’Anna, viale Emporium, Villaggio Peruzzo e poi sfocia nei pressi del porticciolo di San Leone. Intorno alle ore 22:30 il Comune ha diffuso l’avviso urgente di sgombero delle abitazioni confinanti con l’argine e la foce del fiume, precisando che tale sgombero sarebbe stato “solo precauzionale”. Vigili del fuoco, Protezione civile comunale, Forze dell’ordine ed Amministrazione comunale hanno materialmente collaborato nella evacuazione di circa 25 famiglie impaurite, tra via dell’Olimpo, via Apollo e in parte viale Emporium. Poi l’esondazione, come confermato dalla Protezione civile, ha invertito la rotta, rientrando progressivamente dalla mezzanotte in poi.[SEP]Ten people, including a family of nine, have died in floods around Palermo on the southern Italian island of Sicily, rescue services said on Sunday as fierce storms continue to exact a deadly toll. They said the bodies of the family, including children aged 1, 3 and 15, were found in their house in Casteldaccia next to a small river which had burst its banks. Three other members of the same family were able to escape, according to the Agi news agency. Separately, a man was found dead in his car while two other people are missing. Earlier this week in Sicily, floods closed many roads and mayors ordered schools, public parks and underpasses shut. Italy, especially in the north and around Venice, has been hit by a series of strong storms which have claimed at least 20 lives and caused massive damage and disruption. Trees covering the mountains in the Dolomites range were reduced to matchsticks, flattened by winds that tore through the Veneto region on Thursday. "It's like after an earthquake," Veneto governor Luca Zaia said. "Thousands of hectares of forest were razed to the ground, as if by a giant electric saw." Italy's civil protection agency described the weather lashing the country this week as "one of the most complex meteorological situations of the past 50 to 60 years". 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Italy’s civil protection agency said it was still looking for a doctor who had been on his way to work at a hospital Saturday night and was missing. High winds and heavy rain have devastated parts of the country over the past week, causing the worst flooding in at least a decade in Venice, damages of more than 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion) in Veneto and landslides that have cut off villages, authorities said. The situation in Sicily is “dramatic,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Sunday. Conte will call a cabinet meeting to announce a state of emergency in affected regions, he said at a press conference in Palermo, Sicily. Italy’s civil protection agency continues to monitor the situation, issuing weather warnings via Twitter, while volunteers from the Italian Red Cross work to rescue people. Several of last week’s deaths were caused by falling trees as winds as strong as 190 kilometers per hour (118 mph) toppled acres of woodland, including the famous “Violin Forest” that provided wood for violin maker Antonio Stradivarius’ instruments. Two young people died south of Rome when a tree hit their car. Another was hit by a falling tree while walking in Naples. Around 300,000 trees were flattened after winds swept through the Val d’Assa in the Asiago plateau, Roberto Ciambetti, president of the Veneto regional council, told CNN. “Tens of thousands of tall trees were felled like toothpicks,” he said. Much of Venice was under water last week as strong winds drove the high tide to one of the highest levels ever recorded/ St. Mark’s Square became a lake, and floodwater spilled across the ancient marble floors of St. Mark’s Basilica. “In a single day, the basilica aged 20 years, but perhaps this is an optimistic consideration,” Carlo Alberto Tesserin, head of the board responsible for St. Mark’s Basilica, said in a statement. Floodwaters also covered several dozen square meters of the 1,000-year-old marble pavement in front of the alter of the Madonna Nicopeia, a 12th-century icon, and submerged the Baptistery and the Zen Chapel, Tesserin said. This week’s flooding was caused by a seasonal high tide and a strong low-pressure system in southern Europe that brought strong winds from the south and pushed water up the Adriatic Sea into Venice. This is the peak time of the year for seasonal flooding known as acqua alta, or high water, in the city. Flooding at high tide has become much more common in Venice because of climate change — a problem that will continue to worsen as seas rise because of increasing temperatures and melting ice sheets, according to CNN meteorologists. Work to install innovative underwater flood barriers to protect Venice from serious flooding, known as the Moses Project, has been underway for years. However, it has not yet been completed, thanks in part to corruption and spiraling costs. A spokesman for the civil protection agency in Venice told CNN that the Moses system could have mitigated the impact of salt water on the city’s historic sites. “Of course if the Moses project was completed the damages we are seeing now would not have happened,” he said, “but the project was not completed because of the high cost.” The spokesman for the mayor’s office called for the project to be completed. “The Moses project is important to the Venetians,” he said. “This infrastructure must be completed to avoid extraordinary waters, like what happened on Monday.” A spokeswoman for the New Venice Consortium, which is responsible for the Moses system, told CNN: “The work on the Moses began in 2003. At the moment it is 92-93% concluded.” Venice also has a system in place to monitor tides and warn of high water levels.[SEP]ROME (AFP) - Ten people, including a family of nine, have died in floods around Palermo, on the southern Italian island of Sicily, rescue services said on Sunday (Nov 4). They said the bodies of the family, including children aged one, three and 15, were found in their house in Casteldaccia next to a small river which had burst its banks. A man was found separately in his car, while two other people are missing, they said, as Italy grapples with fierce storms which have already claimed at least 20 lives this week.[SEP]Storms, floods in Sicily kill at least 10 people; 2 missing ROME (AP) — Rainstorms lashing Sicily have killed at least 10 people, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said before heading Sunday for the stricken Mediterranean island. State radio said nine of those victims were in a home that was flooded by a rapidly swelling river in the countryside near Palermo. The radio report said one man survived the house flood late Saturday night by clinging to a tree. The survivor used his cellphone to call for help but it was too late for the others, including a one-year-old baby and a three-year-old child. The victims were from two families who had gathered in the country villa for the weekend. Another confirmed fatality was a man whose body was found on a guardrail along a Palermo-area road after floodwaters swept away his car, Italian news reports said. State TV also said two people were killed by the storm in the outskirts of Agrigento, a Sicilian tourist town famed for its ancient Greek temples. If confirmed, those deaths would raise the overall death toll in Sicily to 12. At least two persons were missing Sunday in other incidents in Sicily after floodwaters swept away their cars, including that of a doctor heading to the hospital of the hill town of Corleone. Storms had battered northern Italy earlier in the week, killing at least 15 people, uprooting millions of trees near Alpine valleys and leaving several Italian villages without electricity or road access for days. In Casteldaccia, the hamlet where the river flooded the home in Sicily, neighbor Maria Concetta Alfano said she, her husband and their adult disabled daughter fled after barking dogs drew their attention to the rising waters in the Milicia River, the Italian news agency ANSA said. It quoted the husband, Andrea Cardenale, as saying as he drove away as "water was up to the hood of the car." Rescuers worked Sunday to retrieve the bodes in the home.[SEP]Nine people have died after a rain-swollen river flooded a home in the countryside near Palermo, Sicily, Italian state radio said. Nine people have died after a rain-swollen river flooded a home in the countryside near Palermo, Sicily, Italian state radio said. Heavy rains have lashed Sicily, a southern Italian island, several days after storms ravaged much of northern Italy. State radio said one person survived the flood late on Saturday night by clinging to a tree. Reports added that the victims were from two families who were spending the weekend together. The Italian news agency Ansa said two people were missing on Sunday in other incidents near Sicily after floodwaters swept away their cars, including that of a doctor heading to a Corleone hospital. Italy’s earlier storms in the north killed at least 15 people, flattened or uprooted millions of trees near Alpine valleys and left several villages without electricity or road access for days.[SEP]ROME — Italian state radio says a rain-swollen river in the countryside near Palermo, Sicily, has flooded a home, killing nine people. Heavy rains lashed Sicily, a southern Italian island, on Saturday, several days after storms ravaged much of northern Italy. State radio said one person survived the flood late Saturday night by clinging to a tree, and that the victims were from two families spending the weekend together. The Italian news agency ANSA said two people were missing Sunday in other incidents near Sicily after floodwaters swept away their cars, including that of a doctor heading to a Corleone hospital. Italy's earlier storms in the north killed at least 15 people, flattened or uprooted millions of trees near Alpine valleys and left several villages without electricity or road access for days.[SEP]Storms, floods in Sicily kill at least 12 people; 2 missing ROME (AP) — Storms lashing Sicily have killed at least 12 people with torrential floods, Italian authorities said as the country's leader headed Sunday to the stricken Mediterranean island. Divers pulled out nine of those victims from a home flooded by a rapidly swelling river in the countryside near Palermo. State TV broadcaster RaiNews24 said the sole survivor of the flood that ravaged the home with water and mud was the owner, who had just stepped outside to walk the family dogs Saturday when the torrent hit. News reports said the man at first clung to a tree, then ended up on the roof of a nearby house. He used his cellphone to call for help but it was too late for the others, who included a one-year-old baby, a three-year-old child and a teenager. The victims were from two families who had gathered in the country villa for the weekend. A man's body was also found on a guardrail along a Palermo-area road after floodwaters swept away his car, Italian news reports said. Across the island, in the town of Cammarata, near Agrigento, the fire department said its divers were working to recover the bodies of two people swept away while driving on a road near the flooding Saraceno River. Also in Agrigento province, firefighters rescued 14 people from a hotel in the town of Montevago, which was threatened by floodwaters from the Belice River. Agrigento, famed for the ruins of ancient Greek temples, is a popular tourist destination. Elsewhere in Sicily, at least two other people were missing Sunday after floodwaters swept away their cars, including a doctor heading to the hospital in the hill town of Corleone. Other storms had battered northern Italy earlier in the week, killing at least 15 people, uprooting millions of trees near Alpine valleys and leaving several Italian villages without electricity or road access for days. In Casteldaccia, the hamlet where the river flooded the home in Sicily, neighbor Maria Concetta Alfano said she, her husband and their adult disabled daughter fled after barking dogs drew their attention to the rising waters in the Milicia River, the Italian news agency ANSA said. It quoted the husband, Andrea Cardenale, as saying he drove away as "water was up to the hood of the car." Rescuers retrieved the bodies from the home. A Sicilian prosecutor opened an investigation to determine if any human error, such as possible inadequate drainage of the river, might have played a role in the deaths. Frances D'Emilio is on twitter at www.twitter.com/fdemilio.[SEP]MILAN (Reuters) - Two families were killed in the same house in Sicily when the torrential rains and high winds lashing Italy caused a river to burst its banks, drowning the nine people inside. Rushing water filled the villa in Casteldaccia in the province of Palermo in moments, wiping out the families who were spending Saturday night there. A father and his daughter escaped harm because they had left the house to do some shopping while a third person climbed a tree to survive. The tragedy brings the number of people killed in Sicily this weekend to at least 12 after three other people died in their cars when hit by torrents of water. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte spoke of “an immense tragedy” during a visit on Sunday to affected areas in Sicily. He said a cabinet meeting would be convened this week to declare a state of emergency and come up with the first package of aid for areas affected. Heavy rains and gale-force winds have battered Italy for several days, uprooting millions of trees and cutting off villages and roads. Italy’s Civil Protection Agency said deaths caused by the wave of bad weather stood at 17, excluding the fatalities in Sicily. Some of the worst damage has been recorded in the northern regions of Trentino and Veneto. On Saturday the governor of Veneto, Luca Zaia, said storm damage in the region amounted to at least a billion euros. During a visit on Sunday to badly-hit areas in the north, Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said 250 million euros ($285 million) had already been earmarked for relief. He said the government would be asking to use special EU funds. Salvini, who is also deputy prime minister, said a rough estimate of how much it would cost to safeguard Italy against such events was 40 billion euros.

Heavy floods affect Palermo in Sicily, Italy, killing twelve people. The total death toll of the floods and strong winds in the country rises to 31 people.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Supporters of independence remained defiant despite the result Voters in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia have rejected a bid for independence. Final results showed that 56.4% chose to remain part of France while 43.6% voted to leave - a tighter result than some polls had predicted. Turnout was about 81%. The vote was promised in a 1988 deal that put an end to a violent campaign for independence. President Emmanuel Macron said it showed "confidence in the French republic". "I have to tell you how proud I am that we have finally passed this historic step together," he added. The referendum passed peacefully but some unrest was reported after polls closed. Cars and a shop were set ablaze in the capital, Nouméa, local media reported, and the high commissioner's office said some roads were closed by protesters. Image copyright AFP Image caption There were some disturbances after the result became clear New Caledonia has large deposits of nickel, a vital component in manufacturing electronics, and is seen by France as a strategic political and economic asset in the region. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The New Caledonia referendum is the climax of 20 years of peace It is one of the UN's 17 "non-self governing territories" - where the process of decolonisation has not been completed. About 175,000 people were eligible to vote in Sunday's referendum New Caledonia, east of Australia, where indigenous Kanaks make up 39.1% of the population. French nationalism is strong among the territory's ethnic Europeans - constituting 27.1% of the population - and observers say even some Kanaks back staying part of France. The remaining third of the population of New Caledonia's 268,000 inhabitants are also largely said to oppose independence. The remote islands receive about €1.3bn (£1.1bn; $1.5bn) from the French government every year. Image copyright AFP Image caption Pro-independence groups said they wanted "a multicultural, peaceful nation" Image copyright AFP Image caption President Emmanuel Macron, in a televised speech, said the result was "a sign of confidence in the French republic" During a visit to Nouméa in May, Mr Macron said that France would be "less beautiful without New Caledonia". France first claimed the islands in 1853 and once used them as a penal colony. In the 1980s there were deadly clashes between French forces and Kanaks. The climax of that conflict came when Kanak separatists killed four French gendarmes and took another 23 hostage in a cave. The subsequent French assault cost the lives of 19 Kanaks and two soldiers. Image copyright AFP Image caption About 80% of those eligible voted In 1988 representatives from the both pro- and anti-independence camps agreed to end the violence and eventually hold a self-determination referendum. A No vote may not spell the end of the independence drive. Two further referendums on independence can still be held before 2022. A Yes vote would have made New Caledonia the first French territory to break away since Djibouti (1977) and Vanuatu (1980). New Caledonia is represented in the French parliament by two deputies and two senators. It has a congress which elects an executive with powers over some policy areas - notably policing, education and local laws.[SEP]While heavily dependent on state handouts, the Pacific islands of New Caledonia have long felt overlooked by Paris. But the French government has hailed the “vote of confidence”. Home to 269,000 people, New Caledonia is one of a handful of French island outposts – a legacy of the country's 19th-century empire – which retain strategic importance. “The New Caledonians have chosen to remain French… It is a vote of confidence in the French republic, its future and its values,” President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised speech from the Elysée Palace, as he expressed his “immense pride” that the French had “taken this step together”. More than 80 percent of the nearly 175,000 registered voters went to the polls, ignoring a call to boycott the ballot by some leaders of the indigenous Kanak separatist groups. Separatists has repeatedly urged voters to choose self-determination for ‘Kanaky,’ their name for New Caledonia, and free themselves from the shackles of the “colonial” authorities in Paris. Voters had been asked the question: “Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?” Some 56.7 percent of voters said “no,” while 43.3 percent said “yes”. But the unexpectedly tight result shows that separatists have expanded their influence, and could demand greater autonomy from the mainland despite the “no” vote. A “yes” vote would have deprived Paris of a foothold in the Indo-Pacific region where China is gaining ground, and dented the pride of France, a former colonial power whose reach once spanned the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Ocean. Many also feared the referendum would re-ignite tensions between the Kanak people and the white population, which has settled since France annexed the islands in 1853. More than 1,000 gendarmes were deployed to the streets to maintain order, and the carrying of firearms and the sale of alcohol were banned during the weekend. However few violent incidents were reported. Several cars – seven, according to police sources – were torched in the hours following the announcement of the result. Mr Macron said he understood the disappointment of those who had voted in favour of independence, but added that the French state would ensure “liberty, equality and fraternity” for everyone. “The only loser is the temptation of contempt, division, violence and fear; the only winner is the process of peace and the spirit of dialogue,” the 40-year-old leader said. Located some 18,000 kilometres from the French mainland, New Caledonia is home to a quarter of the world’s known supplies of nickel – a vital electronics component. Despite this, islanders are heavily dependent on state handouts – £1.14bn (€1.3 billion) a year – especially the native Kanak community, which is plagued by high school dropout rates, chronic unemployment and poor housing conditions. These differences caused ethnic tensions in the 1980s which claimed more than 70 lives. This led to the 1998 Noumea Accord which paved the way for a steady devolution of powers as well as Sunday's referendum.[SEP]By The Associated Press PARIS (AP) — French President Macron: A majority of voters in New Caledonia have chosen to remain part of France. PARIS (AP) — French President Macron: A majority of voters in New Caledonia have chosen to remain part of France. Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.[SEP]Foreign Minister Marise Payne has offered her congratulations to New Caledonia in the wake of a vote against independence, vowing to help the islands integrate into the Pacific region. New Caledonians voted against independence from France in a long-awaited referendum, with Senator Payne acknowledging the efforts made to ensure the vote could occur. "As New Caledonians enter the next phase of their history, Australia will remain a steadfast friend and partner of both New Caledonia and France," she said in a statement on Monday.[SEP]There are fears that the referendum could reignite old tensions between indigenous Kanak people and whites who have settled on the islands, which are home to a quarter of the world's known nickel supplies, a vital component in electronics manufacturing. Ringed by dazzling white beaches and turquoise waters, New Caledonia is one of a handful of French island outposts scattered around the globe -- a legacy of the country's 19th-century empire-building -- which retain strategic importance. The referendum will be a test of the appeal of remaining part of France for such far-flung territories, which are heavily dependent on state handouts but where many feel overlooked by Paris. Both French Guiana in South America and the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte have been rocked since last year by major protests over living standards and perceived neglect. Yet few expect New Caledonia, home to 269,000 people, to vote for independence from France, which claimed the archipelago in 1853. Indigenous people make up less than half of the electorate, and not all of them want to break free from Paris, 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles) away. "We have everything we need with France -- schools, hospitals," said Marceline Bolo, a housewife in the Noumea suburbs, describing herself as "proud to be French". Surveys suggest between 60 and 69 percent will vote against a split in Sunday's vote, the culmination of a two-decade process that has seen powers devolved to local authorities. Hundreds of separatists turned out for a final rally in Noumea on Tuesday, waving a sea of colourful Kanak flags to a backdrop of local Kaneka music. Over the noise of the crowd, Roch Wamytan, leader of the separatist UC-FLNKS alliance, urged Kanaks to seek self-determination from "colonist" France, which he said was hanging on to "the last shreds of its empire". Yet many "no" voters point to the 1.3 billion euros the French state pours into New Caledonia's coffers every year, fearing for the economy if the archipelago was to go it alone. Others worry that China could use an independent New Caledonia as a vehicle for its growing influence in the Pacific, following major investment in Vanuatu, another territory which broke from France in 1980. New Caledonia already runs its own affairs in many areas, although defence, foreign affairs and higher education are still decided by Paris. "We are already a semi-independent country -- we exercise many powers, so it wouldn't be a leap into the unknown," said Paul Neaouytine, head of the northern province, a separatist stronghold. Others say this is precisely the reason why New Caledonia does not need to split from France. "I don't really understand why we're having such a vote," said retired doctor Rene Gagnolet, resolutely opposed to independence, as he sat in Noumea's market. The referendum will only serve to "whet the appetites of some against us whites", he predicted. His table-mate and former patient Sosefo Taofifenua, part of a large minority hailing from another French Pacific territory, Wallis and Futuna, was meanwhile torn. "My heart is voting with the Kanaks, but my head tells me to stay French," the 72-year-old said, still unsure if he will vote on Sunday. Decades of resentment, not least over the thousands of hectares (acres) of land seized from indigenous people by colonisers, boiled over into deadly clashes in the 1980s. The violence, which claimed more than 70 lives, led to the 1998 Noumea Accord which paved the way for devolution and efforts to redress the economic balance.. Yet sharp inequalities remain and New Caledonia's former high commissioner Alain Christnacht, who helped draft the 1998 deal, worries the referendum could revive old animosities. "Kanaks are working as managers, doctors, engineers, airline pilots. Society has moved forward a lot," he said. "But there is also, among Kanaks, a faint concern that immigration will bring them to just 20 or 10 percent of the population, like the Maoris in New Zealand or Aboriginal Australians," he added. "A common society is under construction there, but it's a fragile one." Under the 1998 deal, in the event of a "no" vote two further referendums on independence could still be held before 2022.[SEP]New Caledonia in Pacific to vote on independence from France PARIS (AP) — New Caledonia, a French archipelago in the South Pacific, is preparing for an independence referendum — the last step in a three-decades-long decolonization effort. Sunday's vote is key to settling tensions between the native Kanaks, who once suffered from strict segregation policies, and descendants of European colonizers. It is also a test of the depth of the links between France and the territory, which lies east of Australia and has about 270,000 inhabitants. Voters have to answer the question "Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?" Observers say that, based on past electoral results and polls, voters are likely to back remaining in France. The territory enjoys a large degree of autonomy, but relies on the French state for its defense, police, foreign affairs, justice and education. The referendum is the result of a process that started 30 years ago after years of violence that pitched pro-independence Kanak activists against those willing to remain in France. In 1988, 19 Kanak tribesmen died after they took French police hostage in a cave on the New Caledonian island of Ouvea. Four soldiers were also killed. The violence represented a "tremendous shock" and a "key moment" for France, French historian Isabelle Merle said. "This is the first time a carefully thought-through peaceful decolonization process has been considered," she said. The Ouvea events prompted a peace deal that year between rival loyalist and pro-independence factions that laid the ground for the referendum. Visiting the territory in May, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the "pain of colonization" and paid tribute to the courage of those involved in the peace process. He also handed the Caledonian government a document that stated the archipelago became a French possession in 1853 — a gesture intended to symbolize the final chapter in the period of colonization. "We are no longer in a time of possession, but a time of choice", he said. Under French colonial rule, the Kanaks were forced to live on reserves in remote areas, pay specific taxes and do mandatory work for very low wages. They had to respect curfews and were not allowed into some places reserved for European settlers. Merle, whose researches focus on France's decolonization process, said this led to "a big gap between the local communities." "In the whole French colonial emprise, the Kanaks have probably been those who have been despised the most, in the sense that they were seen as savages," she said. Today the Kanaks represent about 40 percent of New Caledonia's population, while people of European descent make up about 27 percent. Others include those who emigrated from Asia and other Pacific islands. Long used as a prison colony, New Caledonia remains an important part of France's overseas holdings that stretch from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean and the northeast coast of Canada. Together, they enable France to lay claim to the world's second largest maritime domain — the area within 200 nautical miles from the coast in which each country is sovereign and can exploit natural resources — almost equivalent to that of the United States. New Caledonia's turquoise lagoons are a tourism magnet, and its mines contain a quarter of the world's known nickel supplies, a metal used in electronics manufacturing and many other industries. But like other French overseas territories, the territory suffers from much higher unemployment and poverty than in the mainland, and many residents share a feeling of being neglected by Paris. French overseas economies are largely dependent on the French state. France's global budget for overseas amounts to 17 billion euros ($19,3 billion) this year, including 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) for New Caledonia, according to a Senate report. Once the second largest colonial empire in the world after Britain, French power had extended to west and north Africa, southeast Asia and islands in the Caribbean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, reaching its height between the World Wars. In 1939, five percent of the world's population was living under French rule. Most of France's African and Asian colonies broke free in the 1950s and 1960s. The vote in New Caledonia is the first time a self-determination referendum is being held on a French territory since Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, voted for independence in 1977. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will travel to New Caledonia the day after the vote to discuss the archipelago's future with local politicians. Whatever the referendum's result, Merle said pro-independence Kanaks will keep pushing for New Caledonia to be its own country.[SEP]French President Emmanuel Macron says the majority of New Caledonians who voted in a referendum on independence chose to remain part of France. In a televised address from Paris, Macron pledged "there is no other path than that of dialogue" on the future of the South Pacific archipelago that has been part of France since 1853. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will meet with officials in New Caledonia to discuss future plans. The referendum was the result of a process that started 30 years ago to end years of violence between supporters and opponents of separating from France.[SEP]Voters were asked the question “Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?” A “yes” vote would have seen Paris without a strong position in the Indo-Pacific region where China is expanding its presence and hit the pride of a former colonial power whose reach once spanned the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Pacific Ocean. Based on early results and with a participation rate of nearly 80%, the “No” vote stood at 56.9% around 1400 CET, local TV station NC La 1ere said on its website. “The New Caledonians have chosen to remain French…It is a vote of confidence in the French republic, its future, and its values,” President Emmanuel Macron said in a speech on French television. It’s the first vote on independence in French territory to be held since Djibouti in the Horn of Africa voted in favour of independence in 1977. During a previous trip to the archipelago in May, Macron acknowledged the “pains of colonisation” and saluted the “dignified” campaign for autonomy led by the indigenous Kanaks. He and his administration have sought to strike a neutral tone on the vote. Voters were asked the question “Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?” Despite lying over sixteen thousand kilometres away off the coast of eastern Australia, French nationalism is strong among the island population of 268,000. However, the Kanak people are mainly pro-independent, and turn-out is expected to be high. Nevertheless, early indications are that the islands will stay with France, which subsidises New Caledonia’s economy to the tune of 1.5 billion euros a year.[SEP]Voters in New Caledonia are deciding whether the French territory in the South Pacific should break free from the European country that claimed it in the mid-19th century. A referendum being held on Sunday marks a milestone in the process of the archipelago's decolonization and will help define New Caledonia's future as an independent country or as a continuing extension of France. More than 174,000 registered voters are invited to answer the question: "Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?" Observers expect a majority to favor remaining a part of France, based on opinion polls and previous election results. Polling stations open at 8 a.m. (10 p.m. Saturday in mainland France; 9 p.m. GMT) and close 10 hours later. Results are expected later Sunday. New Caledonia, a cluster of islands, is home to about 270,000 people. They include the native Kanaks, who represent about 40 percent of the population, people of European descent (about 27 percent) and others from Asian countries and Pacific islands. It relies on France for defense, law enforcement, foreign affairs, justice and education, yet has a large degree of autonomy. New Caledonia receives about 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in French state subsidies every year, and many fear the economy would suffer if ties are severed. The referendum is the result of a process that started 30 years ago to end years of violence between supporters and opponents of separating from France. The violence, which overall claimed more than 70 lives, prompted a 1988 deal between rival loyalist and pro-independence factions. Another agreement a decade later included plans for an independence referendum. Most Kanaks have tended to back independence, while most descendants of European settlers have favored keeping the French connection. To ensure security during the vote, additional police were sent to New Caledonia. Authorities also banned the carrying of firearms and alcohol sales immediately before and during the vote. If voters say no to independence Sunday, the 1998 agreement allows two more self-determination referendums to be held by 2022.[SEP]NOUMEA, Nov 5 — Islanders on the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia yesterday rejected independence in a referendum that revealed weaker-than-expected support for Paris in the resource-rich and strategic outpost. On the final count, 56.4 per cent of people rejected the proposition that New Caledonia — some 18,000km from the French mainland — become independent. Turnout was high at 80.63 per cent. President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “immense pride that we have taken this historic step together” in an address to the nation, adding it was “a sign of confidence in the French republic, in its future and its values.” The island is home to a quarter of the world’s known supplies of nickel — a vital electronics component — and is a foothold for France in the Pacific where China is gaining influence. But the winning margin in New Caledonia, sometimes referred to in France as “the pebble”, might cause some concern in Paris, as well as in Australia which has been alarmed by Beijing’s designs in the Pacific and its investment in island nations. Polls beforehand had forecast an emphatic 63-75 per cent of New Caledonians would vote “no” when asked if the archipelago should “attain full sovereignty and become independent”. Under a 1998 deal called the Noumea Accord to devolve powers to the territory, two further votes on independence can be held by 2022 — a right independence leaders look set to invoke. “We’re a short step away from victory and there are still two votes to come,” Alosio Sako, head of the separatist movement FLNKS, said after the results were announced. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe arrived on the island today where he will meet political forces on both sides of the independence vote to discuss the future of the territory. As well as being home to French troops and being a source of nickel, the territory gives France a large, exclusive economic zone in the Pacific and rich fishing resources. Macron visited island in May but largely stayed clear of the campaign. However, he has raised concerns over increasing Chinese influence in the Pacific, where Beijing has invested heavily in Vanuatu, a territory which broke from France and Britain in 1980. Accusing the US of “turning its back on the region in recent months”, Macron said China was “building its hegemony step by step” — suggesting an independent New Caledonia could be Beijing’s next target. During visits to New Delhi and Canberra since taking power last year, Macron has talked up France’s Pacific presence to propose an axis of democratic Asian maritime powers that would include India and Australia. There were fears that the referendum in New Caledonia could inflame tensions between indigenous Kanak people, who tend to favour independence, and the white population which has settled since France annexed the islands in 1853. Several cars were burned and a couple of incidents of stone-throwing were reported late last night, local authorities said, but the vote was otherwise peaceful. Tensions in New Caledonia boiled over into ethnic strife in the 1980s which claimed more than 70 lives. That led to the 1998 Noumea Accord which paved the way for a steady devolution of powers, as well as yesterday’s referendum and possibly two others before 2022. In recent years, France has faced protests and calls for independence in several of its overseas territories, which are a legacy of the country’s colonial history and are sometimes dubbed “the confetti of the French empire”. French Guiana in South America and the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte have been rocked by major protests over living standards and perceived neglect. Closer to home, the Paris government also faces renewed calls for independence from nationalists on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, which have been rebuffed by Macron. Separatists had urged Kanak voters to choose self-determination for Kanaky, their name for New Caledonia, and throw off the shackles of the “colonial” authorities in Paris. The Kanak community is economically disadvantaged compared with the white population and plagued by high school dropout rates, chronic unemployment and poor housing conditions. But indigenous people make up less than 50 per cent of the electorate and some Kanaks back staying part of France, not least due to the 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) the French state hands to the islands every year. Going it alone, “I’m not sure we have all the assets we’d need to succeed,” said Marc Gnipate, a 62-year-old pensioner. — AFP

New Caledonians vote against becoming an independent country from France.

El titular del Juzgado de Instrucción número 13 de BarcelonaJuan Antonio Ramírez Sunyer ha fallecido esta pasada madrugada a los 71 años. Sufría una grave enfermedad por la que fue operado hace unos meses en el hospital Clínico de Barcelona que se había agravado en las últimas semanas. En un comunicado, el Tribunal Superior de Justícia de Catalunya ha comunicado su defunción y añade que, "en nombre de los magistrados y magistradas, de los jueces y juezas de Cataluña traslada su pésame a la familia y amigos". Su situación era tan delicada y la causa por posible desobediencia y malversación del proceso independentista en el 1-O que instruía tan compleja, con más de 40 investigados, que hace unos días la Comisión Permanente del Consejo General del Poder Judicial (CGPJ) decidió de forma integral reforzar el juzgado por lo que un juez se encargaría de llevar todas las causas y dejaría a Ramírez Sunyer sólo la relacionada con los preparativos del referéndum. La causa, que acumula miles de folios, sigue activa ya que la Guardia Civil va aportando informes y los abogados de los imputados solicitando en recursos su archivo. En los últimos meses, la investigación se centraba en contabilizar si la Generalitat había presuntamente malversado fondos públicos con el 1-O y su cuantificación, lo que había empujado al juez a imputar a la interventora general ya que desconfiaba de sus informes en los que se aseguraba que no se destinó dinero para las votaciones tras la decisión del Tribunal Constitucional de suspenderlas. En un comunicado la Asociación Profesional de la Magistratura en Cataluña ha remarcado que Ramírez Sunyer llevaba meses de "lucha contra una larga enfermedad y sin abandonar en ningún momento las obligaciones propias de su puesto de trabajo". "Juan Antonio ha de ser para todos los miembros de la carrera judicial, un ejemplo de profesionalidad y de voluntad de servicio público, de independencia y de rigor, un Magistrado que antepuso el ejercicio de la judicatura a muchas otras cosas, incluso a su propia salud", señala la entidad. Además, indican que "nos sentimos orgullosos de pertenecer a un colectivo que cuenta con personas de la talla de Juan Antonio. Lamentamos profundamente su fallecimiento, y queremos hacer llegar a sus familiares nuestro más sentido pésame, al tiempo de que expresamos nuestra total convicción de que por fin se encontrará descansando en el lugar que merece, junto a Dios". La Fiscalía General del Estado ha lamentado el fallecimiento del magistrado y remarcan "su extraordinaria capacidad de trabajo, defensa de la legalidad y el orden constitucional, constituyen un legado para todos los que trabajamos en la Justicia". También el fiscal superior de Cataluña, Francisco Bañeres, expresó su pesar por el fallecimiento de Ramírez Sunyer y aseguró que su trayectoria profesional "fue un ejemplo de compromiso y dedicación en el ejercicio de la función judicial en la que se desenvolvió siempre con la mayor consideración y respeto para con todos los que, de una u otra manera, se relacionaron con su actividad".[SEP]Beginning Dec. 29, Judge Adrienne Grover will take over as presiding judge of the Superior Court for 2009 and 2010. She assumes the position after serving as assistant presiding judge/presiding judge-elect for two years. Judge Russell Scott, who served as presiding judge in 2007 and 2008, will remain part of court leadership next year in the role of past presiding judge. The presiding judge is elected to a two-year term by all of the Superior Court judges. With the assistance of Court Executive Officer Connie Mazzei, the presiding judge is responsible for leading the court, establishing policies, assigning cases and allocating court resources in a manner that promotes access to justice and enhances service to the public. New Monterey Neighborhood Association is hosting a meeting for residents from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hilltop Park Center. Bring finger food to share; beverages will be provided. Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital is hosting a holiday gathering for women with cancer from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cislini Plaza Conference Room. At the gathering, called “Look Good … Feel Better,” oncologist Dr. Laura Stampleman will answer questions about appearance-related effects of cancer treatment. Cosmetology professionals will be available to work with the women on skin care, makeup application, wig care and nail care. Free makeup and wig selection will be available to patients. Dinner will be provided. The session is free.

The leading judge presiding over the investigation of the 2017 Catalan independence referendum and the director of the Operation Anubis Juan Antonio Ramírez Sunyer dies suddenly at the age of 71.

Image copyright FACEBOOK/UAKATERYNA A prominent Ukrainian anti-corruption activist has died, three months after she was injured in an acid attack. Kateryna Handzyuk, 33, suffered burns over 40% of her body and severe eye damage as a result of the assault on 31 July in the southern city of Kherson. Ms Handzyuk, who was also a Kherson city council member, had undergone 11 operations in the capital Kiev. President Petro Poroshenko on Sunday called for the killers to be punished. Five suspects are already in custody. The exact cause of Ms Handzyuk's death was not immediately known, but reports in local media suggested it was a blood clot. In September, the activist - who also campaigned against Russian-backed separatism - posted a video in which she urged Ukrainians to fight rampant corruption. "I know I look bad now. But at least I'm being treated," she said. "And I definitely know that I look much better than justice in Ukraine. Because nobody is treating it." The death of the activist on Sunday triggered an avalanche of reactions on social media in Ukraine, with many users expressing shock.[SEP]A Ukrainian anti-corruption activist has died from wounds caused by an acid attack, sparking local protests and concern from European officials over growing violence against civil society. Kateryna Handzyuk’s investigations into police graft and political corruption in her native Kherson, a Black Sea port, had angered local officials. In late July, a man doused her with a litre of sulphuric acid when she left her house. Handzyuk suffered burns to more than 30% of her body. She continued to speak out against corruption from her hospital bed and called for a thorough investigation into her attackers. She had 11 operations before she finally succumbed to her injuries on Sunday. The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, called for the attackers to be punished. Five suspects have been arrested, including a former police officer believed to have led the assault. But it does not appear any of those arrested ordered the attack. Meanwhile, local anger has surged. Several hundred supporters of Handzyuk gathered by the interior ministry in downtown Kiev on Sunday evening to demand that police found the killers. Members of the European commission on Monday demanded a vigorous investigation into Handzyuk’s death. “Attacks against #civilsociety activists are unacceptable. The perpetrators of this vicious crime must be brought to justice,” wrote Johannes Hahn, EU commissioner for European neighbourhood and enlargement negotiations, on Twitter. The attack on Handzyuk in July came on the same day as the death of another activist who had been shot. Vitaly Oleshko, a veteran of the conflict in south-east Ukraine, had also complained about government corruption in his native Berdyansk. He was shot in the back with a hunting rifle. Similar attacks have highlighted the pressure being put on civil organisations in Ukraine, where corrupt politicians and sharp-elbowed businessmen are suspected of curbing scrutiny with gangland methods. Handzyuk was a well-known activist who was also a member of Kherson’s city council. In one of her investigations, she accused a local police official, Artem Antoschuk, of taking a 3% cut of all local business deals and government contracts. Speaking with Ukrainian broadcaster Hromadske from her hospital bed in late September, she said she believed the attack against her was an attempted assassination. “Why do I consider this an attempt to kill me?” said Handzyuk. “Because they poured the acid on my head. If they wanted just to scare me, it would be on the arms, legs, face.” Handzyuk added that she was still in deep pain from the acid, saying one had to “be patient”. She called on the presidential administration to provide political pressure to investigate attacks against local activists. “So many attacks in such a short period of time have gone without punishment and with the connivance of the police,” she said. “I think we have to speak loudly about this at the Bankova [Ukraine’s presidential administration],.”[SEP]KYIV -- Kateryna Handzyuk, a Ukrainian civic activist and adviser to the mayor of the Black Sea port city of Kherson, has died from wounds she suffered from an acid attack, authorities confirmed on November 4. The 33-year-old Handzyuk, who was known for her scathing criticism of police corruption, was doused with sulfuric acid outside of her Kherson home on July 31 by an unknown attacker. Her death comes amid a wave of attacks against Ukraine’s civic activists, with rights campaigners claiming law-enforcement agencies have failed to thoroughly investigate the cases and may even be complicit in some of the attacks. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, speaking during his trip in Turkey, expressed his condolences to Handzyuk’s family and called on law-enforcement agencies to do everything in their power to bring her killer to justice. Handzyuk suffered severe burns to nearly 40 percent of her body and lost sight in one of her eyes after the acid attack, according to doctors who treated her at a burn center in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Doctors performed 11 surgical operations to try to save her life. From her hospital bed, Handzyuk vowed to track down her attackers. Police initially listed the case as hooliganism but changed it to attempted murder committed with extreme cruelty after public outcry. Ukrainian lawmaker Olena Sotnyk on November 4 renewed her previous call for a special investigative committee to be formed in parliament to probe her case. Local and international civil society groups have recorded at least 55 unsolved attacks against activists, including on Handzyuk, since 2017. In recent months, protesters demanding a proper police response have gathered outside government buildings across the country in a campaign dubbed “silence kills.” Yuriy Lutsenko, Ukraine’s prosecutor general and a presidential appointee, caused uproar after one of the protests in September, when he said activists were themselves partly to blame because they “stir up” an “atmosphere of total hatred toward the authorities.” Handzyuk was stinging in her criticism of police corruption. In September 2017, she accused Artem Antoshchuk, a department head in the Kherson Regional Police, of demanding a 3 percent cut from all contracts and tenders in the region. The accusation led to a fierce court battle, which she won. Police have arrested several suspects believed to have carried out the attack, but no information about who ordered the assault has been uncovered. Stills from a CCTV camera published by local media appear to show the alleged attacker running away from the scene of the crime. Six weeks before her death, Handzyuk recorded a video message for Hromadske TV from her hospital bed. Wrapped in bandages, she said she was certain the attack was meant to kill her. “Why do I consider it to be assassination attempt? Because the acid was poured on my head,” she said. “If someone wanted to warn or silence me, they could have targeted my arms, legs, or face -- anywhere. But they poured a liter of acid on my head.” Before she signed off, she added: “Yes, I know that I look bad now. But I’m sure that I look much better than law and justice in Ukraine,” she said. “Because they aren’t treated by anyone.”[SEP]Ukrainian anti-corruption campaigner Kateryna Gandzyuk, seriously injured in an acid attack in July, has died in hospital, supporters and the government said Sunday. "Katya (Kateryna) is dead. Details will be available in a while," posted a Facebook group that publishes updates about Gandzyuk's health and news on the investigation into the shock attack in the ex-Soviet country. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko confirmed the news and offered condolences to Gandzyuk's relatives at a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Turkey's Antalya, where he is on an official visit. "I appeal to law enforcement officers to do everything possible so that the murderers of Kateryna Gandzyuk are found, put on trial and punished," Poroshenko tweeted. Johannes Hahn, the EU commissioner responsible for bloc enlargement negotiations and neighbourhood policy, said he was saddened by the news from Ukraine. Gandzyuk, 33, who worked as an adviser to the mayor of Ukraine's southern city Kherson, was leaving home early on the morning of July 31 when a man poured about a litre of acid over her and ran away. Gandzyuk was immediately hospitalised in a serious condition, with burns on 30 percent of her body, including her upper torso, arms, and face. Gandzyuk was an outspoken critic of corrupt practices in law enforcement agencies, particularly the police. The country has seen an increase in attacks on anti-corruption activists and campaigners. Journalist Pavel Sheremet was killed by a car bomb in 2016 while driving near his home in Kiev. In 2017, the stabbed body of human rights activist Iryna Nozdrovska was found in a river outside Kiev. In July, Vitaliy Oleshko, a former volunteer fighter in the rebel Ukrainian east and a local activist, was shot dead outside a hotel in the southeastern city of Berdyansk.[SEP]Hundreds of protesters congregated in the Ukrainian capital Sunday following the death of a prominent anti-corruption activist who was targeted in an acid attack this summer. Kateryna Handziuk died Sunday in a hospital where she was receiving treatment following an acid attack on July 31, the Associated Press reports. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called on the country’s authorities to “do everything possible to find the murderers, to punish them, and put them on the defendants’ bench,” Voice of America reports. Handziuk, 33, was a prominent activist and aide to the mayor of the southern Ukrainian port city of Kherson. She suffered severe burns to nearly 40% of her body and lost sight in one of her eyes after being doused with sulfuric acid, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. From her hospital bed, Handziuk had vowed to find her attackers. “Yes, I know that I look bad now,” she wryly told supporters in September, according to RFE/RFL. “But I’m sure that I look much better than law and justice in Ukraine.” Police have detained five suspects, but the investigation has not identified a ringleader. In August, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko alleged that separatist organizations were behind the incident, according to AP. Handziuk’s death is the latest blow to political activists and human rights defenders in Ukraine, who have been targeted in a string of recent attacks. In September, activist Oleg Mykhailyk was shot near his home in Odessa, local newspaper The Kyiv reported. Mykhailyk was the leader of the “Syla Lyudey” (Power of the People) civil society group and an outspoken critic of Odessa mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov, according to the . Demonstrations calling for investigations into the attacks have become known as the “Silence Kills” campaign. In a statement posted by the U.S. Embassy in Kiev’s Twitter account Sunday, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch expressed her “condolences and deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Kateryna Handziuk” and reiterated calls for “the Ukrainian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.”[SEP]KIEV, Ukraine — Several hundred people have gathered outside the Ukrainian Interior Ministry headquarters after the death of an anti-corruption activist who was attacked with acid three months ago. Kateryna Handziuk died on Sunday in a hospital where she was being treated for burns from the July 31 attack. Police detained five people in the case, including the alleged assailant. They have not identified anyone suspected of ordering the attack on Handziuk, who was an aide to the mayor of the city of Kherson as well as an activist. The people honouring Handziuk on Sunday called for intensified efforts to find those responsible. Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said in August that separatist organizations were believed to have been involved, with the aim of destabilizing southern Ukraine. Kherson is a significant port city.[SEP]Ukrainian anti-corruption activist Kateryna Handziuk died on Sunday from injuries suffered in an acid attack, increasing pressure on officials who are accused of doing little to stop violence against the country’s embattled civil society. Ms Handziuk underwent at least 11 operations since July 31st, when someone poured sulphuric acid over her head as she left home for work in the southern city of Kherson, where she was also an adviser to the local mayor. Five men have been detained over the attack, but Ms Handziuk shared the scepticism of many observers over whether they were actually linked to the crime, and whether police and officials really wanted to catch the culprits. Despite suffering burns to about 35 per cent of her body, Ms Handziuk (33) corresponded with journalists from hospital in Kiev and recently made a short video address condemning the state of Ukraine’s justice system. “Yes, I know that I look bad now,” she told Ukraine’s Hromadske television, speaking with difficulty and with her raw wounds clearly visible. “But at least I’m being treated. And I’m sure I look better than justice and the judicial system in Ukraine, because no one is making them better,” she said in late September. “There have been over 40 attacks [on activists] in the last year. Who ordered these attacks? Who is covering up for those who ordered them? Why are investigations being blocked?” she asked. In other interviews, Ms Handziuk said it was pointless to complain about graft and other crimes to the police in Kherson, because the service was intertwined with crime gangs and corrupt politicians, who in turn could act with impunity as long as they showed loyalty and delivered votes to their party bosses in Kiev. Four years after Ukrainians revolted against corruption and oligarchic rule, Ms Handziuk’s death will ramp up pressure on politicians finally to crack down on endemic graft ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections next year. President Petro Poroshenko on Sunday called on law enforcement agencies “to do everything possible to ensure that the killers are found . . . and punished.” “Something is not right . . . when the best people are losing their lives in a daily battle,” she added. Journalists face similar dangers to activists in Ukraine, where their national union says 143 reporters have been attacked since the start of 2017, with only 14 of those cases going to court.[SEP]KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Several hundred people have gathered outside the Ukrainian Interior Ministry headquarters after the death of an anti-corruption activist who was attacked with acid three months ago. Kateryna Handziuk died on Sunday… KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Several hundred people have gathered outside the Ukrainian Interior Ministry headquarters after the death of an anti-corruption activist who was attacked with acid three months ago. Kateryna Handziuk died on Sunday in a hospital where she was being treated for burns from the July 31 attack. Police detained five people in the case, including the alleged assailant. They have not identified anyone suspected of ordering the attack on Handziuk, who was an aide to the mayor of the city of Kherson as well as an activist. The people honoring Handziuk on Sunday called for intensified efforts to find those responsible. Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said in August that separatist organizations were believed to have been involved, with the aim of destabilizing southern Ukraine. Kherson is a significant port city. Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.[SEP]Ukraine’s leaders face domestic and international demands to protect its civil society and end the impunity of powerful criminals, following the death of activist Kateryna Handziuk from injuries suffered in an acid attack. Ms Handziuk (33) died on Sunday, three months after someone poured sulphuric acid over her head outside her home in the southern city of Kherson, where she was an adviser to the mayor and campaigned against police and political corruption. From her hospital bed in Kiev, she had called for urgent action over the assaults on more than 40 Ukrainian activists in the past year, and expressed doubts about whether five men arrested for the attack on her were actually involved in it. There have also been more than 140 attacks on journalists in Ukraine since the start of 2017, and only 14 of those cases have gone to court, adding to a sense that police and officials are unable or unwilling to defend those who expose the lucrative links between politics, business, security and crime in Ukraine. “We expect the Ukrainian authorities to redouble their efforts to quickly and thoroughly investigate this crime and bring those responsible to justice,” a spokesman for the European Commission said on Monday. “Moreover, tangible steps are needed to prevent attacks against civil society activists and investigative journalists in Ukraine,” Ukrainian media quoted him as saying. The US ambassador to Kiev, Marie Yovanovitch, urged Ukraine to “bring the perpetrators to justice, including those who ordered the attack [on Ms Handziuk]”. Similar demands came from other western states that are helping Ukraine counter deep economic problems and Russian aggression, ramping up pressure on Kiev’s leaders ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections next year. President Petro Poroshenko and his allies insist they are committed to fighting crime and corruption, but high-profile murders remain unsolved and no senior officials or businessmen have been jailed since the 2014 Maidan revolution, when Ukrainians rallied in huge numbers for a more equitable society. While Mr Poroshenko and his government have made some economic reforms on pain of losing western cash, anti-corruption efforts are repeatedly stymied and activists and journalists face growing pressure from thugs and courts alike. A group of reformist deputies in Ukraine’s parliament say they have been trying for almost a fortnight to have parliament create a temporary investigative committee to look into the recent violence against activists. “The two biggest parliamentary groups – the Petro Poroshenko Bloc and People’s Front – which control all the security and law-enforcement agencies in the country, ignored the creation of the committee,” said deputy Mustafa Nayyem. Dozens of civil society groups, meanwhile, jointly demanded the sacking of Kherson police chiefs for “sabotaging the investigation into the attack” on Ms Handziuk, as well as the resignation of Ukraine’s interior minister and prosecutor general for “sabotaging the reform of law-enforcement agencies in Ukraine”.[SEP]Anti-corruption campaigner Kateryna (Katya) Gandzyuk, injured in an acid attack in July, died in a hospital, supporters and the Ukrainian government confirmed. “Katya is dead. Details will be available in a while,” posted a Facebook group that publishes updates about Gandzyuk‘s health and news on the investigation into the crime. President Petro Poroshenko confirmed the news and offered condolences to Gandzyuk‘s relatives at a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Turkey’s Antalya, where he is on an official visit. “I appeal to law enforcement officers to do everything possible so that the murderers of Kateryna Gandzyuk are found, put on trial and punished,” “Katya’s death is a judgement of the system, with all its “reforms,” empty bravado, worthless praise...” wrote Yulia Timoshenko in her Twitter micro blog.

Kateryna Handzyuk, an anti-corruption activist, dies of the injuries that she suffered in an acid attack on 31 July in Kherson.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Sheikh Ali Salman, pictured in 2014, has been in prison since 2015 Bahrain's opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been handed a life sentence after the Court of Appeal found him guilty of spying for Qatar. The ruling comes just months after the Bahraini High Court of First Tier acquitted Salman of the charge of "colluding" with the rival state. Bahrain cut ties with Qatar in 2017. Human rights group Amnesty has described the decision as a "travesty of justice" amid Bahrain's "continued crackdown on dissent". "This verdict... demonstrates the Bahraini authorities' relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent," Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director Heba Morayef said. "Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression." Ali Salman, who led the now outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, was accused of plotting with Qatar to stoke anti-government unrest in 2011, along with fellow opposition leaders Hassan Sultan and Ali al-Aswad. They have also received life sentences. Why now? Bahrain's public prosecutor said the three men were jailed for "acts of hostility" against Bahrain and "communicating with Qatari officials... to overthrow constitutional order", according to news agency AFP. But the accusations, which date back seven years, only came to light last year - after Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt cut links with Qatar. The allies accused the emirate of supporting terrorist groups and of being too close to Iran - allegations the emirate has vigorously denied. At the time, Wefaq said the allegations were an attempt by the Bahraini government to smear it and prolong the imprisonment of its leader, who has been in custody since 2015. What happened in 2011? Demonstrators - mainly led by the majority Shia community - took to the streets in February 2011, demanding more democracy as part of pro-democracy uprisings across the Arab world. But the royal Al Khalifa family, who hold most of the political and military posts, managed to suppress the protests with the help of neighbouring countries, most importantly Saudi Arabia. The unrest left at least 30 civilians and five policemen dead. Ever since, the Sunni-ruled Bahrain has been wracked by unrest. In response, Bahrain - a key ally of the United States and the UK, which both have naval bases in the country - has outlawed opposition groups, while hundreds of government critics have been jailed. Strategically important By Yolande Knell, BBC News Most people in the tiny Gulf country are Shia Muslims but it is ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family that controls top government posts. As leader of the main Shiite opposition party, Sheikh Ali Salman was among those calling for democratic reforms including a constitutional monarchy and elected prime minister. Al-Wefaq had the biggest bloc in parliament before the 2011 protests but its members resigned when those were suppressed. Later the party was banned - along with other religious and secular opposition groups. Dozens of clerics and activists have been jailed. Before this verdict, Sheikh Ali Salman was already imprisoned on charges of inciting hatred. Human rights groups accuse the international community of failing to speak out about abuses in Bahrain because of its strategically important location and value as a defence and security hub.[SEP]Bahrain's opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been handed a life sentence after the Court of Appeal found him guilty of spying for Qatar. The ruling comes just months after the Bahraini High Court of First Tier acquitted Salman of the charge of "colluding" with the rival state. Human rights group Amnesty has described the decision as a "travesty of justice" amid Bahrain's "continued crackdown on dissent". "This verdict... demonstrates the Bahraini authorities' relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent," Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director Heba Morayef said. "Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression." • Why Qatar is the focus of terrorism claims Ali Salman, who led the now outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, was accused of plotting with Qatar to stoke anti-government unrest in 2011, along with fellow opposition leaders Hassan Sultan and Ali al-Aswad. The accusation emerged after Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt cut links with Qatar in June 2017, accusing the emirate of supporting terrorist groups and of being too close to Iran - allegations the emirate has vigorously denied. At the time, Wefaq said the allegations were an attempt by the Bahraini government to smear it and prolong the imprisonment of its leader, who has been in custody since 2015. Sunni-ruled Bahrain has been wracked by unrest since security forces crushed pro-democracy protests mainly led by the majority Shia community six years ago. But the royal family of Al Khalifa managed to suppress the protests with the help of neighbouring countries, most importantly Saudi Arabia. Ali Salman can still appeal against the decision.[SEP]Bahrain's opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been handed a life sentence after the Court of Appeal found him guilty of spying for Qatar. The ruling comes just months after the Bahraini High Court of First Tier acquitted Salman of the charge of "colluding" with the rival state. Human rights group Amnesty has described the decision as a "travesty of justice" amid Bahrain's "continued crackdown on dissent". "This verdict... demonstrates the Bahraini authorities' relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent," Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director Heba Morayef said. "Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression." • Why Qatar is the focus of terrorism claims Ali Salman, who led the now outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, was accused of plotting with Qatar to stoke anti-government unrest in 2011, along with fellow opposition leaders Hassan Sultan and Ali al-Aswad. They have also received life sentences. Bahrain's public prosecutor said the three men were jailed for "acts of hostility" against Bahrain and "communicating with Qatari officials... to overthrow constitutional order", according to news agency AFP. But the accusations, which date back seven years, only came to light last year - after Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt cut links with Qatar. The allies accused the emirate of supporting terrorist groups and of being too close to Iran - allegations the emirate has vigorously denied. At the time, Wefaq said the allegations were an attempt by the Bahraini government to smear it and prolong the imprisonment of its leader, who has been in custody since 2015. Demonstrators - mainly led by the majority Shia community - took to the streets in February 2011, demanding more democracy as part of pro-democracy uprisings across the Arab world. But the royal Al Khalifa family, who hold most of the political and military posts, managed to suppress the protests with the help of neighbouring countries, most importantly Saudi Arabia. The unrest left at least 30 civilians and five policemen dead. Ever since, the Sunni-ruled Bahrain has been wracked by unrest. In response, Bahrain - a key ally of the United States and the UK, which both have naval bases in the country - has outlawed opposition groups, while hundreds of government critics have been jailed.[SEP]A Bahrain appeals court sentenced the leader of the now-shuttered Shiite opposition to life in prison on Sunday for spying for regional rival Qatar. Sheikh Ali Salman, the head of the dissolved Al-Wefaq movement, had been acquitted by Bahrain's High Criminal Court in June alongside two prominent aides, Sheikh Hassan Ali Juma Sultan and Ali Mahdi Ali al-Aswad, who were tried in absentia. The court on Sunday overruled the previous acquittal and sentenced all three to life in prison for transferring confidential information and receiving financial support from Qatar. Human rights group Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) condemned the appeals court decision. "This is a political persecution and it can't happen without authorization by the highest authority" of the ruling Al Khalifa family, said BIRD's director of advocacy, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei. Responding to the verdict, Amnesty International said it demonstrated Bahrain's "relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent." "Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression," Middle East and North Africa Director Heba Morayef said. Sheikh Ali Salman, who is already serving a four year prison sentence for insulting the Interior Ministry and inciting hatred, was charged in November 2017 with conspiring with Qatar to carry out "hostile acts" against Bahrain. The charges relate to an alleged recording of a telephone conversation Sheikh Salman had in 2011 with Qatar's former prime minister and foreign minister, which was broadcast on Bahraini television in August 2017. The audio recording was released just two months after Bahrain, alongside Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, cut off relations with Qatar over its ties with Shiite Iran and the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, both of which the Gulf monarchies view as a threat. Bahrain, where a Sunni minority rules over a Shiite majority, has been rocked by unrest since authorities backed by reinforcements from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates carried out a bloody crackdown on Arab Spring protests in 2011. Sheikh Salman was a prominent figure in the protests demanding greater freedoms and a constitutional monarchy. The Al-Wefaq movement was dissolved by court order in 2016. Other parties including the main secular opposition, the National Democratic Action Society (Waad), have also been outlawed. Waad's leader Nabeel Rajab is currently in jail for criticizing the government in a case condemned by the UN and human rights groups as a case of political persecution. Bahrain accuses Iran of fomenting Shiite armed opposition amid a spate of attacks on security forces and infrastructure. Bahrain is strategically located in the Persian Gulf, and is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and a British naval base.[SEP]Bahrain’s opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been handed a life sentence after the Court of Appeal found him guilty of spying for Qatar. The ruling comes just months after the Bahraini High Court of First Tier acquitted Salman of the charge of “colluding” with the rival state. Human rights group Amnesty has described the decision as a “travesty of justice” amid Bahrain’s “continued crackdown on dissent”. “This verdict… demonstrates the Bahraini authorities’ relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent,” Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director Heba Morayef said. “Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.” Ali Salman, who led the now outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, was accused of plotting with Qatar to stoke anti-government unrest in 2011, along with fellow opposition leaders Hassan Sultan and Ali al-Aswad. They have also received life sentences. Bahrain’s public prosecutor said the three men were jailed for “acts of hostility” against Bahrain and “communicating with Qatari officials… to overthrow constitutional order”, according to news agency AFP.[SEP]A Shiite cleric who was a central figure in Bahrain's 2011 Arab Spring protests was sentenced to life in prison Sunday on spying charges. The ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeals came after Sheikh Ali Salman was acquitted of the charges by a lower court in June. Human rights groups and activists say the charges against him are politically-motivated and related to his work as a leading opposition figure. The verdict was issued just weeks before parliamentary elections are set to take place without the Al-Wefaq political group Salman once led. Al-Wefaq, which was the tiny Gulf nation's largest Shiite opposition bloc, was ordered dissolved in 2016 as part of a crackdown on dissent in the kingdom, which has a Shiite majority but is ruled by a Sunni monarchy. The state-run Bahrain News Agency reported the appellate court's decision Sunday without naming the defendants, saying three individuals were found guilty of the spying charges. Human Rights First, an activist group, confirmed the ruling refers to Salman. His co-defendants in the case— Sheikh Hassan Ali Juma Sultan and Ali Mahdi Ali al-Aswad— are also former al-Wefaq officials. The three faced charges of disclosing sensitive information to Qatar that could harm Bahrain's security in exchange for financial compensation. The state-run news agency said prosecutors presented recorded phone conversations as evidence. Last year, Bahrain state television aired the recorded calls between Salman and Qatar's then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani during the 2011 protests. Bahrain is one of four Arab countries that have been boycotting Qatar for over a year as part of a wider diplomatic dispute. A government-sponsored report on the 2011 protests and unrest noted Bahrain's opposition had accepted an idea for mediation by Qatar during the uprising, but Bahrain's government had rejected it. Salman's supporters say calls to Qatar were related to those efforts and that recordings were edited to suggest otherwise. Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet. The 2011 uprising there was quelled with help from Saudi and Emirati forces. Salman, in his early 50s, has long been targeted by Bahrain's government. In 1994, he was arrested, allegedly tortured and detained for months without trial before being deported and forced to live in exile for over 15 years, according to the United Nations. He is currently serving out a four-year sentence in another trial on charges he insulted the Interior Ministry, which oversees police, incited others to break the law and incited hatred against naturalized Sunni citizens, many of whom serve in Bahrain's security forces. Brian Dooley, a senior adviser at Human Rights First, said Sunday's ruling "confirms there is now no tolerance for any dissent in Bahrain." Amnesty International described the verdict as a "travesty of justice" and said Salman is being held "solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression."[SEP]Sheikh Ali Salman is known for his activism against the Bahraini royal family. With news reports in Turkey on Sunday morning claiming that murdered journalist Jamal Khahsoggi’s body had been transported in suitcases from Istanbul, another major news story developing in the Middle East threatens to undo peace in the region, according to BBC. Sheikh Ali Salman, who is the most important opposition leader in Bahrain, an Islamic country ruled by a royal family not wholly different from Saudi Arabia, has been imprisoned for life after being accused of spying for Qatar. Middle Eastern allies Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE cut off economic ties with Qatar last year after claiming that the country was funding terrorist groups in collaboration with Iran. Although Qatar denies the claims vigorously, Bahrain’s public prosecutor said that the country intends to overthrow their constitutional order and “colluded” with Sheikh Ali Salman to reach that end. But human rights groups allege that Bahrain — like Saudi Arabia — is trying to stifle dissent because of Sheikh Ali Salman’s activism. Ali Salman is the leader of the outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, a campaign mostly consisting of members from Bahrain’s majority community, Shia, who accuse the Sunni-run Al Khalifa royal family of running a heavy-handed dictatorship. Human rights group Amnesty described Sheikh Ali Salman’s prison sentence as a “travesty of justice” and called the decision a continuation of Bahrain’s “crackdown on dissent”. “This verdict… demonstrates the Bahraini authorities’ relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent,” Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director Heba Morayef told BBC. Earlier this year, the Bahraini High Court of First Tier had acquitted Sheikh Ali Salman of all charges against him, but on Saturday, the country’s Court of Appeal overturned that order and ruled that the opposition leader had been planning a coup with Qatari officials. It is not clear what evidence the prosecution presented, but observers around the world are getting increasingly concerned with how first Saudi Arabia — and now Bahrain — is stifling dissenters even as USA president Donald Trump pushes ahead with further sanctions on Iran. Sheikh Ali Salman’s movement called for Bahrain to institutionalize democracy with a new constitution that would allow monarchy and an elected prime minister. Although there is a serving prime minister in the country, he is not elected and belongs to the Al Khalifa family, which has ruled the Middle Eastern island nation since its independence in 1971.[SEP]Bahrain’s appeals court sentenced the head of the country’s main opposition movement to jail for life Sunday over charges of alleged spying for rival Gulf state Qatar. Sheikh Ali Salman, who headed the now-outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, had been acquitted by the high criminal court in June, a verdict the public prosecution appealed. The latest ruling on Sunday can also be appealed. Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, severed all ties with Qatar in 2017, banning their citizens from travel to or communication with the emirate over what they say are Doha’s ties to both Iran and radical Islamist groups. Salman is currently serving a four-year sentence in a separate case — “inciting hatred” in the kingdom, which has seen mainly pro-democracy protests against the monarchy since 2011. In November, Salman and two other members of Al-Wefaq were charged with working for Qatari intelligence with the aim of “overthrowing the Bahraini government.” King Hamad has announced parliamentary elections on November 24 in Bahrain. Members of dissolved opposition parties, including Al-Wefaq and the secular Al-Waad group, are banned from running. The Sunni-ruled Gulf state has been hit by waves of pro-democracy protests since 2011, when security forces crushed demonstrators demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister. Opposition movements have been outlawed and hundreds of dissidents have been imprisoned — with many stripped of their nationality. The United Nations and rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized the Bahraini monarchy over its treatment of protesters. Amnesty and HRW categorize Salman and other jailed opposition leaders as prisoners of conscience. Amnesty International described as “unlawful” Bahraini regime’s overturning the acquittal of opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman. Shortly after it was announced that Bahraini Appeal Court has overturned the acquittal of Sheikh Salman and sentenced him instead to life in prison, the watchdog called for the direct release of the Bahraini opposition leader. “This verdict is a travesty of justice that demonstrates the Bahraini authorities’ relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent. Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression,” Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director Heba Morayef said. “The Bahraini authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Sheikh Ali Salman and quash his politically motivated conviction and sentence”. Morayef also slammed the international community over keeping silence on the human rights record in Bahrain. “The international community’s silence on the continued crackdown on dissent must also come to an end. Instead of ignoring criticism of Bahrain’s human rights record, the country’s political allies must use their influence to push for the release of Sheikh Ali Salman and all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain”.[SEP]Bahrain's appeals court sentenced the head of the country's Shiite opposition movement to jail for life Sunday over charges of spying for rival Gulf state Qatar, a judicial source said. Sheikh Ali Salman, who headed the now-outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, had been acquitted by the high criminal court in June, a verdit the public prosecution appealed. The latest ruling on Sunday can also be appealed. Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, severed all ties with Qatar in 2017, banning their citizens from travel to or communication with the emirate over what they say are Doha's ties to both Iran and radical Islamist groups. Salman is currently serving a four-year sentence in a separate case -- "inciting hatred" in the kingdom, which has seen mainly Shiite protests against the Sunni monarchy since 2011. In November, Salman and two other members of Al-Wefaq were charged with working for Qatari intelligence with the aim of overthrowing the Bahraini government. King Hamad has announced parliamentary elections on November 24 in Bahrain. Members of dissolved opposition parties, including Al-Wefaq and the secular Al-Waad group, are banned from running. The Sunni-ruled Gulf state has been hit by waves of unrest since 2011, when security forces crushed Shiite-led protests demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister. Opposition movements have been outlawed and hundreds of dissidents have been imprisoned -- with many stripped of their nationality. Bahrain last year ratified a constitutional amendment granting military courts the authority to try civilians charged with terrorism, a term that is loosely defined by the Bahraini penal code. In June, the kingdom amended its law on political rights, prohibiting "leaders and members of political associations dissolved for violating the kingdom's constitution or its laws" from running in legislative elections. Bahrain, a key ally of the United States and home to the US Fifth Fleet, accuses Shiite Iran of provoking unrest in the kingdom. Iran denies the allegations. The United Nations and rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticised the Bahraini monarchy over its treatment of protesters. Amnesty and HRW categorise Salman and other jailed opposition leaders prisoners of conscience.[SEP]DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A court in Bahrain on Sunday sentenced three senior opposition leaders to life in prison, overturning previous acquittals on charges of spying for Qatar. International rights group called the sentence a “travesty of justice.” A statement from the public prosecutor said the court had sentenced Sheikh Ali Salman, secretary general of the opposition al-Wefaq group; and Sheikh Hassan Sultan and Ali Alaswad, members of the same group, to life in prison for transferring confidential information to and receiving financial support from Qatar. The prosecutor had appealed a court ruling that acquitted the three senior leaders last June in a rare victory for opposition figures who say they have been targeted for their political views. Mr. Salman is already serving a four-year prison sentence on charges of inciting hatred and insulting the Interior Ministry, after he was arrested in 2015. Mr. Sultan and Mr. Alaswad were tried in absentia.

Bahrain's Court of Appeal rules that the former leader of the now outlawed Al-Wefaq party, Sheikh Ali Salman, will receive a life sentence over his conviction for 2011 spying for Qatar.

Image copyright . Image caption In the video released of the children the man holding the camera turns it on himself at the end Dozens of people, mostly school pupils, have been kidnapped from a boarding school in the west of Cameroon. At least 79 students and three others, including the principal, were seized early on Monday morning in Bamenda, the capital of the North-West region, a government official has told the BBC. A massive search operation involving the Cameroonian army is now under way. Cameroon's North-West and South-West regions have been hit by a secessionist rebellion in recent years. Regional governor Adolphe Lele L'Afrique blamed separatist militias for the kidnapping. Militias, who have been demanding the independence of the two English-speaking regions, have called for a school boycott. But no single group has said it carried out the kidnapping at Bamenda's Presbyterian Secondary School, which has pupils aged between 10 and 14. A video of some of the children, believed to have been filmed by one of the kidnappers, is being shared on social media. The students, all boys and crammed into a tiny room, all look nervous as the person holding the camera orders them to say their names and where they are from. They also repeat the phrase: "I was taken from school last night by the Amba boys, I don't know where I am." Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption What's happening in Cameroon? Amba is short for Ambazonia, the name of the new country that the separatists want to create. One student, who managed to avoid capture by hiding under a bed, told the BBC that events unfolded quickly as the kidnappers entered the school. "One of my friends, they beat him mercilessly. All I could think about was to just stay quiet. They threatened to shoot some people... all the big boys they rounded up, and the small ones they left them behind." A teacher at the school described what she saw as she entered the principal's office after students had been taken from different dormitories. "The military came in and went to the principal's house where we realised that her door was bashed and entered into, the glasses are still there on the ground," she told the BBC. 'Praying for the kidnapped' The moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, the Right Reverend Fonki Samuel Forba told the BBC that he had spoken to the kidnappers. "They don't want any ransom. All they want is for us to close the schools. We have promised to close down the schools," he told the BBC. "We hope and pray they release the kids and the teachers," he added. It is not the first time students have been abducted in the area, known to be a stronghold of separatist fighters, reports the BBC's Ngala Killian Chimtom. On 19 October, five students of the Atiela Bilingual High School were taken by unidentified gunmen. Their whereabouts are still unknown. The separatists say that the Cameroon school system suppresses the English-speaking system that the North-West and South-West regions inherited from the British. Separatist rebellion The militias, who want to create Ambazonia, began to emerge in 2017 after a security force crackdown on mass protests, led by lawyers and teachers, over the government's alleged failure to give enough recognition to the English legal and education systems in the North-West and South-West. The government was accused of relying heavily on people trained in the French legal and educational tradition to work in key posts and generally marginalising Cameroon's English-speaking minority, who make up about 20% of the population. President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982, was recently re-elected for a seventh term with more than 70% of the vote. Opposition parties allege that the poll was rigged, but legal attempts to overturn the result failed. Cameroon - still divided along colonial lines Image copyright Alamy Image caption Africa's borders were "carved up" up by colonial powers Colonised by Germany in 1884 British and French troops force Germans to leave in 1916 Cameroon is split three years later - 80% goes to the French and 20% to the British French-run Cameroon becomes independent in 1960 Following a referendum, the (British) Southern Cameroons join Cameroon, while Northern Cameroons join English-speaking Nigeria Read more: Cameroon timeline[SEP]Cameroon's president on Tuesday warned Anglophone separatists to lay down their arms or face the full force of the law, a day after dozens of schoolchildren were abducted in the rebel region. YAOUNDE: Cameroon's president on Tuesday warned Anglophone separatists to lay down their arms or face the full force of the law, a day after dozens of schoolchildren were abducted in the rebel region. Clashes between a secessionist movement and the army began more than a year ago in west Cameroon, killing over 400 civilians and forcing thousands to flee their homes. On Monday, unidentified assailants kidnapped 79 children, their principal and a driver from the PSS Nkwen school in Bamenda in Northwest region and took them into the bush outside town, military and government sources said. An army spokesman blamed separatists for Monday's kidnapping. A separatist spokesman denied involvement and said government soldiers had carried it out, as a ploy to discredit the insurgents. President Paul Biya, making an inauguration speech after re-election last month that extends his 36-year-old rule, did not mention the kidnapping but attacked the separatists. "They need to know that they will face the rigour of the law and the determination of our defence and security forces," Biya said in the national assembly. "I appeal to them to lay down their arms." Last week, an American Baptist missionary was shot dead amid fighting between the army and separatists in Bamenda. The secessionists have imposed curfews and closed schools as part of their rebellion against the French-speaking government, which they say has marginalised the Anglophone minority. Samuel Fonki, a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, said he had been mediating with the kidnappers for the children's release. He said separatists were responsible. The search for the children continued on Tuesday. About 200 parents gathered outside the school, waiting to hear if their children were among those who had been abducted or had remained unharmed at the school. Authorities denied parents access to the school, according to six parents and a security guard who spoke to Reuters. The kidnapping was a chilling echo of the 2014 abduction of the Chibok girls by Boko Haram in neighbouring Nigeria. There are no known links between the Cameroon separatists and the Nigerian Islamist militant group.[SEP]The kidnappers say they will not release the students until a new state is created. YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Armed separatists kidnapped at least 79 students and three staff members from a Presbyterian school in a troubled English-speaking region of Cameroon, the governor said Monday. North West Region Gov. Deben Tchoffo said the students abducted Sunday night were ages 11-17, and they were taken from Nkwen, a village near the regional capital, Bamenda, along with school staff that included the principal. “It is rather unfortunate that this is happening, that 79 of our children and three of their staff can be picked up by terrorists,” Tchoffo said. “We have asked our military to do everything and bring back the kids alive.” A video purporting to show the kidnapped students was posted on social media from a group of men who call themselves “Amba boys,” a reference to the state of Ambazonia that armed separatists want to establish in Cameroon’s Anglophone North West and South West regions. In the video, men who identified themselves as the kidnappers forced several boys to give their names and those of their parents. The boys also said they were taken by the armed men late Sunday and didn’t know where they were being held. The men in the video said they would only release the students once the goal of creating a new state is achieved. “We shall only release you after the struggle. You will be going to school now here,” the men said. The video could not be independently verified, but parents said on social media they recognized their children in the recording. Fighting between the military and separatists increased after the government clamped down on peaceful demonstrations by English-speaking teachers and lawyers protesting what they said were their marginalization by Cameroon’s French-speaking majority. Hundreds have been killed in the past year. The separatists have vowed to destabilize the regions as part of the strategy for creating a breakaway state.[SEP]Seventy-nine school students were kidnapped on Monday in an English-speaking region of Cameroon where separatists are fighting an armed campaign for independence, a government source said. The students were abducted along with their principal, a teacher and a driver, the official said, as a source at the school confirmed the kidnapping of the pupils. They were enrolled at the Presbyterian Secondary School in Bamenda, capital of Cameroon’s Northwest Region — one of two regions hit by attacks by anglophone militants that have met with a brutal crackdown by the authorities. No tags for this post.[SEP]YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Armed separatists have kidnapped at least 78 students and their principal from a Presbyterian school in Nkwen village in Cameroon's restive northwest region, a governor said Monday. The kidnapping late Sunday took place near Bamenda, the capital of the troubled English-speaking region, according to Governor Deben Tchoffo. A video purportedly of the kidnapped children has been released on social media via men who call themselves "Amba boys," a reference to the state of Ambazonia that armed separatists are trying to establish in Cameroon's Anglophone northwest and southwest regions. In the video, the kidnappers force several young male students to give their names and the names of their parents. The children say they were kidnapped late Sunday by the armed men and they don't know where they are being held. The men who identify themselves on the video as the kidnappers say they will only release the children when they achieve what they want. "We shall only release you after the struggle. You will be going to school now here," say the men. The video could not be independently verified, but parents have said on social media that they recognize their children in the video. In a statement on Monday, Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa Samira Daoud called the abduction "appalling" and said they exemplify the price the general public is paying as violence escalates in the region. "The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers can never be justified. Whoever is responsible must release and return the victims immediately," Daoud said. She added: “We express solidarity with the families of these children and demand that the Cameroon authorities do everything in their power to ensure all the pupils and school staff are freed unharmed. In a case with a chilling echo of the 2014 kidnappings of the Chibok schoolgirls in Nigeria, it is vital that Cameroon’s government act swiftly and decisively to reunite these children with their loved ones." Hundreds have been killed in Cameroon's Anglophone regions in the past year, where violence between armed separatists and the military has increased since a government crackdown against protesters in the northwest and southwest regions. The demonstrators claim that as the English-speaking minority they are marginalized by the French-speaking government. Violent separatists have since taken up arms to destabilize the Anglophone regions to win independence for the areas they want to declare a separate state, which they call Ambazonia. They have mounted attacks against civilians who do not support their cause. There have been other kidnappings from schools in the region, but this is the largest number kidnapped at once. Armed separatists have even killed teachers who defied instructions to keep schools closed. They have torched at least a hundred schools and chased students and teachers from schools which they then take over as training grounds. Last week separatist militants attacked workers on a state-run rubber plantation in southwestern Cameroon, chopping off their fingers because the men had defied an order to stay away from the farms. An American missionary also died in the northwest region around Bamenda when he was shot in the head amid fighting between armed separatists and soldiers. The turmoil in Cameroon comes as President Paul Biya, who has led since 1982, easily won a seventh term last month in an election that the United States says was marked by irregularities. The government did away with presidential term limits several years ago, part of a trend in Africa that has dismayed many. Biya will be inaugurated Tuesday, and many opposition supporters have said they will continue demonstrations until he leaves power.[SEP]YAOUNDE, Cameroon • Armed separatists kidnapped at least 79 students and three staff members from a Presbyterian school in a troubled English-speaking region of Cameroon, the governor said Monday. North West Region Gov. Deben Tchoffo said the students abducted Sunday night were ages 11-17, and they were taken from Nkwen, a village near the regional capital, Bamenda, along with school staff that included the principal. “It is rather unfortunate that this is happening, that 79 of our children and three of their staff can be picked up by terrorists,” Tchoffo said. “We have asked our military to do everything and bring back the kids alive.” A video purporting to show the kidnapped students was posted on social media from a group of men who call themselves “Amba boys,” a reference to the state of Ambazonia that armed separatists want to establish in Cameroon’s Anglophone North West and South West regions. In the video, men who identified themselves as the kidnappers forced several boys to give their names and those of their parents. The boys also said they were taken by the armed men late Sunday and didn’t know where they were being held. The men in the video said they would only release the students once the goal of creating a new state is achieved. “We shall only release you after the struggle. You will be going to school now here,” the men said. The video could not be independently verified, but parents said on social media they recognized their children in the recording. Fighting between the military and separatists increased after the government clamped down on peaceful demonstrations by English-speaking teachers and lawyers protesting what they said were their marginalization by Cameroon’s French-speaking majority. The separatists have vowed to destabilize the regions as part of the strategy for creating a breakaway state. They have attacked civilians who do not support their cause, including teachers who were killed for disobeying orders to keep schools closed. There have been kidnappings at other schools, but the group taken Sunday was the largest number abducted at one time in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions. The separatists also have set fire to at least 100 schools and driven out students and teachers from buildings taken over as training grounds. “These appalling abductions show just how the general population is paying the highest price as violence escalates in the Anglophone region,” said Samira Daoud, Amnesty International deputy regional director for West and Central Africa. “The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers can never be justified.”[SEP]Armed men have kidnapped at least 78 students and their principal from a Presbyterian school in Nkwen village in Cameroon, a governor has said. The kidnapping late Sunday took place near Bamenda, the capital of the troubled English-speaking region, according to Governor Deben Tchoffo. A video purportedly of the kidnapped children has been release on social media via men who call themselves Amba boys, a reference to the state of Ambazonia that armed separatists are trying to establish in Cameroon’s northwest and southwest regions. In the video, the kidnappers force about six of the children to give their names and the names of their parents. The children say they were kidnapped late on Sunday, and they do not know where they are being held. The men who identify themselves as the kidnappers say they will only release the children when they achieve what they want. “We shall only release you after the struggle. You will be going to school now here,” say the men. While the video could not be independently verified, parents have been reacting on social media saying they recognise their children in the video. Hundreds have been killed in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions in the past year, where violence between armed separatists and the military have increased since a government crackdown against protesters in the northwest and southwest regions who claim that as the English-speaking minority they are marginalised by the French-speaking government. Violent separatists took up arms to destabilise the Anglophone regions to win independence for the areas they want to declare a separate state, which they call Ambazonia. Last week separatist militants attacked workers on a state-run rubber plantation in restive southwestern Cameroon, chopping off their fingers because the men had defied an order to stay away from the farms. An American missionary also died in the northwest region around Bamenda after he was shot in the head amid fighting between armed separatists and soldiers in northwestern Cameroon. The turmoil in Cameroon comes as President Paul Biya, who has led since 1982, easily won a seventh term last month in an election that the United States says was marked by irregularities. The government did away with presidential term limits several years ago, part of a trend in Africa that has dismayed many.[SEP]Yaounde, Cameroon: Armed separatists kidnapped at least 79 students and three staff members from a Presbyterian school in a troubled English-speaking region of Cameroon, the governor said on Monday. North West Region Governor Deben Tchoffo said the students abducted Sunday night were ages 11-17, and they were taken from Nkwen, a village near the regional capital, Bamenda, along with school staff that included the principal. "It is rather unfortunate that this is happening, that 79 of our children and three of their staff can be picked up by terrorists," Tchoffo said. "We have asked our military to do everything and bring back the kids alive." A video purporting to show the kidnapped students was posted on social media from a group of men who call themselves "Amba boys," a reference to the state of Ambazonia that armed separatists want to establish in Cameroon's Anglophone North West and South West regions.[SEP]Secessionists Blamed For Kidnapping Of Students In Cameroon Tensions are rising between Cameroon's English-speaking regions and the dominant French-speaking government. In the latest developments, nearly 80 children were abducted from a school in Cameroon[SEP]YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Armed separatists kidnapped at least 79 students and three staff members from a Presbyterian school in a troubled English-speaking region of Cameroon, the governor said Monday. North West Region Gov. Deben… YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Armed separatists kidnapped at least 79 students and three staff members from a Presbyterian school in a troubled English-speaking region of Cameroon, the governor said Monday. North West Region Gov. Deben Tchoffo said the students abducted Sunday night were ages 11-17, and they were taken from Nkwen, a village near the regional capital, Bamenda, along with school staff that included the principal. “It is rather unfortunate that this is happening, that 79 of our children and three of their staff can be picked up by terrorists,” Tchoffo said. “We have asked our military to do everything and bring back the kids alive.” A video purporting to show the kidnapped students was posted on social media from a group of men who call themselves “Amba boys,” a reference to the state of Ambazonia that armed separatists want to establish in Cameroon’s Anglophone North West and South West regions. In the video, men who identified themselves as the kidnappers forced several boys to give their names and those of their parents. The boys also said they were taken by the armed men late Sunday and didn’t know where they were being held. The men in the video said they would only release the students once the goal of creating a new state is achieved. “We shall only release you after the struggle. You will be going to school now here,” the men said. The video could not be independently verified, but parents said on social media they recognized their children in the recording. Fighting between the military and separatists increased after the government clamped down on peaceful demonstrations by English-speaking teachers and lawyers protesting what they said were their marginalization by Cameroon’s French-speaking majority. Hundreds have been killed in the past year. The separatists have vowed to destabilize the regions as part of the strategy for creating a breakaway state. They have attacked civilians who do not support their cause, including teachers who were killed for disobeying orders to keep schools closed. There have been kidnappings at other schools, but the group taken Sunday was the largest number abducted at one time in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions. The separatists also have set fire to at least 100 schools and driven out students and teachers from buildings taken over as training grounds. “These appalling abductions show just how the general population is paying the highest price as violence escalates in the Anglophone region,” said Samira Daoud, Amnesty International deputy regional director for West and Central Africa. “The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers can never be justified.” Amnesty International expressed solidarity with the students’ families and demanded “that the Cameroon authorities do everything in their power to ensure all the pupils and school staff are freed unharmed.” Last week, separatist militants attacked workers on a state-run rubber plantation in southwestern Cameroon, allegedly chopping off their fingers because the men defied an order to stay away from the farms. An American missionary also died in the North West region near its capital, Bamenda, when he was shot in the head amid fighting between separatists and soldiers. The turmoil in Cameroon comes after President Paul Biya won a seventh term last month in an election the U.S. said was marked by irregularities. Biya, who has been in office since 1982, is set to be inaugurated Tuesday. Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

A kidnapping occurs at a school in Bamenda, the capital of the North-West region of Cameroon, with at least seventy-eight students and three staff taken, including the principal. The Anglophone Crisis is a conflict between separatists and the government of Cameroon.

Abbo Hyder, AFP | This picture taken on October 24, 2018 shows fire near the wreckage of a car reportedly destroyed in an air strike in Yemen's Huthi-held Red Sea port of Hodeida. Fighting has escalated around Yemen's key port city of Hodeida, with at least 150 combatants killed over the weekend from both the rebel and government-backed sides, officials said Sunday. Advertising Read more Airstrikes and naval artillery pounded rebel positions around the Red Sea coastal city, where government backed-troops are launching a major ground assault to try to wrest it from dug-in rebels. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The rebels, known as Houthis, said they repelled the latest offensive on Hodeida, killing or wounding 215 troops, but did not provide a breakdown. They said they destroyed 20 armored vehicles over the past 24 hours. Fierce fighting also erupted in the provinces of Bayda, to the south, and Saada, a Houthi stronghold in the north, they added. The offensive came despite recent calls by the Trump administration for a cease-fire by late November. Yemen has been at war since March 2015 when the Houthis occupied northern regions and forced the government into exile. Since then, a Saudi-led, U.S.-backed coalition supporting the largely exiled government has blockaded the rebel-held north and waged a devastating air campaign, causing thousands of deaths. The U.S. has sold billions of dollars' worth of arms to Saudi Arabia and provides logistical and other support to the coalition. The coalition accuses the Houthis of acting as Iran's proxy. The war has led to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Three-quarters of Yemen's people require life-saving assistance, according to the U.N. Population Fund. An estimated 10,000 people have been killed and more than 8 million are at risk of starvation from a looming famine. The regional director of the U.N. children's agency, Geert Cappelaere, said the warring sides in Yemen make it difficult to deliver and distribute humanitarian aid to the country. He said the situation is a "living hell" for all Yemeni children, singling out the death last week of 7-year-old Amal Hussein who had suffered from severe malnutrition. "Unfortunately, Amal is not the only Yemeni child suffering that fate," he told a news conference in Amman, Jordan. "Thirty thousand children in Yemen die every single year of malnutrition as one of the most important underlying causes. There is not one Amal -- there are many thousands of Amals." The Associated Press had photographed Amal -- whose name means "hope" in Arabic -- in August. A photograph of the emaciated child with a protruding rib cage and stick-like arms also appeared recently on the front page of The New York Times. Medics say her death was the result of insufficient medical care as supplies dwindle and many people like Amal live far from treatment centers. Mariam Ali, Amal's mother, told the AP on Sunday that she had been walking on foot under the rain for over an hour to reach a health center when her daughter died in the middle of the road last week. "I collapsed and only woke up to find myself home surrounded by neighbors who wrapped me in a blanket while my husband took Amal away," Mariam said. She has six children who have suffered bouts of vomiting and diarrhea but recovered, whereas while Amal was sick for four years before she passed away. (AP)[SEP]CAIRO (AP) — A Saudi-led coalition fighting Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen said Friday it bombed an air base adjacent to the Sanaa international airport allegedly being used by the rebels to launch drone and… CAIRO (AP) — A Saudi-led coalition fighting Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen said Friday it bombed an air base adjacent to the Sanaa international airport allegedly being used by the rebels to launch drone and ballistic missile attacks. Turki al-Malki, a spokesman for the coalition, said in TV comments that no flights or international aid efforts at the airport were affected by the airstrikes targeting the al-Dulaimi Air Base in Sanaa. He did not elaborate. Yemen’s rebel-run al-Masirah TV said more than 30 airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition targeted the air base and surrounding areas in the rebel-held capital. Al-Malki said Saudi air defense forces on Friday shot down a missile launched by Yemeni rebels at the southern Saudi border city of Najran. The rocket was fired from the rebels’ stronghold of Saada in northern Yemen, he said in a statement. Meanwhile, fighting in the Hodeida province has intensified in the past days, security officials said. They said forces backed by airstrikes from the Saudi-led coalition have been trying to retake the port city of Hodeida, the main entry point for food in a country teetering on the brink of famine. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. The airstrikes in Sanaa came days after a U.S. call for an urgent halt to the Saudi-Iran proxy war in Yemen and the start of negotiations in November toward a political settlement of the conflict. The war has pushed millions to the brink of starvation in the Arab world’s poorest country. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday urged a cease-fire, specifically citing missile and drone strikes into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. He also said airstrikes by the Arab coalition, backed by the U.S., “must cease in all populated areas in Yemen.” “The time is now for a cessation of hostilities,” Pompeo said. His plea came shortly after Defense Secretary Jim Mattis spoke in unusual detail about diplomacy to end the crisis. “Yemen has more problems than any people deserve to carry,” Mattis said. The U.S. call comes nearly a month after the slaying of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi Consulate in Turkey causing international outrage against the Saudis. The killing prompted critics to urge an end to American arms sales to the kingdom and a reappraisal of U.S. military support for the Saudi-led Arab coalition that has been bombing Iranian-supported Houthi rebels, sometimes at the expense of killing civilians. In March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition unleased a full-scale military campaign against Iran-allied Houthi rebels who had captured most of Yemen including the capital, Sanaa, a few months earlier. The rebels pushed the internationally recognized government out of the country. An estimated 10,000 people have been killed. The war has also left around two-thirds of Yemen’s population of 27 million relying on aid, and more than 8 million at risk of starvation. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is one of the worst in the world, with three quarters of the population requiring some form of life-saving assistance and protection, according to the United Nations Population Fund. The agency warned Thursday that the looming famine in war-torn Yemen could put 2 million mothers at risk of death. UNFPA said lack of food, displacement, poor nutrition, disease outbreaks and eroding health care have dramatically affected the health and well-being of 1.1 million malnourished women who are pregnant or are breast-feeding their newborns. The U.N. has made no progress in attempts to get the warring sides to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Associated Press writer Ahmed al-Haj contributed in this report from Sanaa. Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.[SEP]CAIRO—Yemen’s rebels claim they halted advances of their adversaries, the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led Arab coalition, at a key battlefield around a strategic Red Sea port city. Fighting continued around Hodeida on Tuesday despite the statement from the Shiite rebels, also known as Houthis, that a three-pronged coalition assault had been stopped around the city’s outskirts. The Iran-backed Houthis said they lost at least 30 men and a dozen armoured vehicles. Dozens of fighters have been killed and hundreds wounded from both sides since a renewed coalition offensive on the city began five days ago, following calls by the Trump administration for a ceasefire by late November. The fighting has left dead bodies lying on the ground and inside burnt-out vehicles at the city’s edge, according to witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing for their safety. The witnesses also said several civilians have been killed by shelling in residential areas. Other active fronts in Yemen include the provinces of Dhale and Bayda, to the south, and in the north in Hajjah and Saada, a Houthi stronghold. The Houthi statement also claimed the rebels stopped an attempted incursion by “mercenaries of the Saudi army,” into Yemen from Jizan, a region across the border in Saudi Arabia. Earlier on Tuesday, the rebels detained two journalists in the capital, Sanaa, colleagues said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. One man was taken from his production company’s office, and another from his home, and both worked with foreign television news channels. The rebels detained another journalist in Sanaa earlier this month, and have held other over the course of the war, some for years. Meanwhile, the Norwegian Refugee Council said millions of Yemenis are edging closer to famine and fatal disease as the Saudi-led coalition’s blockade on sea, land and air routes in the Arab world’s poorest country continued. The coalition restricted access to Yemen in November last year, after a missile assault by rebels targeted the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Jan Egeland of the NRC said “the past 12 months have been a never-ending nightmare for Yemeni civilians.” The Saudi-led coalition, which seeks to restore to power the internationally recognized Yemeni government, has been at war with the Houthis since March 2015; the stalemated conflict has generated the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Hodeida, the main portal for humanitarian aid to the suffering population, has become the epicentre/>The United States has sold billions of dollars’ worth of arms to Saudi Arabia and provides logistical and other support to the coalition.[SEP]Yemen clashes rage as Saudi-led coalition says committed to peace ADEN: Battles raged Monday near a Yemeni port crucial for humanitarian aid, but Saudi Arabia and its allies said they were committed to de-escalating hostilities with rebels as calls for a ceasefire mount. The United Nations has appealed for urgent peace talks and warned that an assault on the Red Sea port city of Hodeida would threaten millions of lives.Yemeni government forces, backed by a regional military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, say they are now positioned around both the north and south of Hodeida, where clashes have left dozens dead. The city and its port have been controlled by the Huthis — Iran-backed Shiite insurgents who hail from northern Yemen — since 2014 along with the capital Sanaa.Rebels and government sources both reported intense fighting in the area Monday, despite calls by the UN and the United States — which provides military support to the Saudi-led camp — for an end to the war. A source in the Saudi-led coalition told AFP the clashes were not “offensive operations”, adding that the alliance was “committed to keeping the Hodeida port open”. But three officials with the Yemeni military said fighting continued to flare around Hodeida, whose port is the entry point for three quarters of the country’s imports.The head of the Huthis’ revolutionary council, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, on Monday reported a “military escalation by the coalition,” slamming the operation as “a strenuous attempt to block talks aimed at ending the war and finding peace”. Yemeni military officials said the coalition had sent fighter jets and Apache attack helicopters Monday morning to back up troops on the ground around Hodeida.The officials say government forces are trying to advance on the outskirts of Hodeida with the aim of surrounding the city and cutting off a major rebel supply route. The coalition source however said the government alliance was “committed to de-escalating hostilities in Yemen and strongly supportive of the UN envoy’s political process”. “If the Huthis fail to show up for peace talks again, this might lead (us) to restart the offensive operation in Hodeida,” the source said. “The humanitarian situation in Yemen is unacceptable. We are committed to ending the conflict as soon as possible,” they added.[SEP]SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Forces loyal to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels advanced on Monday to within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the port facilities in Yemen's contested Red Sea city of Hodeida, the current epicenter of the civil war, officials said. Coalition aircraft and naval forces continue to pound rebel positions, and fighting has killed dozens of combatants from both sides, with dozens of military vehicles destroyed or burning along the front lines, they added. Associated Press footage shows coalition forces on the main road to the capital, Sanaa, cutting off the highway and further encircling the rebels. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief reporters, say other offensives have been launched elsewhere, including in the Dhale and Hajjah provinces. Fierce fighting also erupted a day earlier in the provinces of Bayda, to the south, and Saada, a Houthi stronghold in the north. They say a total of 580 people have been killed or wounded in Yemen since the coalition offensive began four days ago, without giving a breakdown. The offensive came despite recent calls by the Trump administration for a cease-fire by late November. The Saudi-led and U.S.-backed coalition has been at war with the Iran-aligned rebels since March 2015 in a stalemated conflict that has generated the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The U.S. has sold billions of dollars' worth of arms to Saudi Arabia and provides logistical and other support to the coalition. The rebels say they have killed and wounded dozens of coalition troops, but did not provide a breakdown. Both sides have reported several civilians killed in the latest fighting. Save the Children's Yemen director, Tamer Kirolos, said the latest escalation could put tens of thousands of children in the line of fire around Hodeida and block essential aid deliveries. An estimated 70 percent of Yemen's food and humanitarian aid enters through Hodeida. "The international community must increase diplomatic pressure and intensify efforts to secure an immediate halt to the offensive and a comprehensive ceasefire," he said in a statement, urging both sides to stop the fighting.[SEP]Battles raged Monday near a Yemeni port crucial for humanitarian aid, but Saudi Arabia and its allies said they were committed to de-escalating hostilities with rebels as calls for a ceasefire mount. The United Nations has appealed for urgent peace talks and warned that an assault on the Red Sea port city of Hodeida would threaten millions of lives. Yemeni government forces, backed by a regional military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, say they are now positioned around both the north and south of Hodeida, where clashes have left dozens dead. The city and its port have been controlled by the Huthis -- Iran-backed Shiite insurgents who hail from northern Yemen -- since 2014 along with the capital Sanaa. Rebels and government sources both reported intense fighting in the area Monday, despite calls by the UN and the United States -- which provides military support to the Saudi-led camp -- for an end to the war. A source in the Saudi-led coalition told AFP the clashes were not "offensive operations", adding that the alliance was "committed to keeping the Hodeida port open". But three officials with the Yemeni military said fighting continued to flare around Hodeida, whose port is the entry point for three quarters of the country's imports. The head of the Huthis' revolutionary council, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, on Monday reported a "military escalation by the coalition," slamming the operation as "a strenuous attempt to block talks aimed at ending the war and finding peace". Yemeni military officials said the coalition had sent fighter jets and Apache attack helicopters Monday morning to back up troops on the ground around Hodeida. The officials say government forces are trying to advance on the outskirts of Hodeida with the aim of surrounding the city and cutting off a major rebel supply route. The coalition source however said the government alliance was "committed to de-escalating hostilities in Yemen and strongly supportive of the UN envoy's political process". "If the Huthis fail to show up for peace talks again, this might lead (us) to restart the offensive operation in Hodeida," the source said. "The humanitarian situation in Yemen is unacceptable. We are committed to ending the conflict as soon as possible. UN envoy Martin Griffiths aims to bring the government of Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and the Huthis to Sweden for talks in the coming month. The Saudi-led alliance had suspended an offensive to take Hodeida in August, ahead of UN efforts to hold negotiations in Geneva that eventually collapsed the following month. The Huthis refused to travel to Switzerland unless the United Nations guaranteed both their delegation's safe return to Sanaa and the evacuation of wounded fighters. Saudi Arabia and its allies, which control aid deliveries to Hodeida through Yemen's seafront, accuse Iran of smuggling missiles to the Huthis through the port. The rebels control northern Yemen and have regularly targeted Saudi Arabian border towns as well as the capital Riyadh with ballistic missiles. Medics at two hospitals in Hodeida province said they had counted the bodies of a total of 74 rebels and dozens of wounded, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the press. Sources at a military hospital in government-held Mokha, south of Hodeida, said 15 troops were killed over the same period. Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the Yemen conflict in 2015 with the aim of bolstering President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in the face of the Huthi insurgency. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 10,000 people have been killed since then. Human rights groups say the toll could be five times higher. Fourteen million people now stand at the brink of famine in Yemen, which the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis and "a living hell" for children.[SEP]Battles raged Monday near a Yemeni port crucial for humanitarian aid, but Saudi Arabia and its allies said they were committed to de-escalating hostilities with rebels as calls for a ceasefire mount. The United Nations has appealed for urgent peace talks and warned that an assault on the Red Sea port city of Hodeida would threaten millions of lives. Yemeni government forces, backed by a regional military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, say they are now positioned around both the north and south of Hodeida, where clashes have left dozens dead. The city and its port have been controlled by the Huthis -- Iran-backed Shiite insurgents who hail from northern Yemen -- since 2014 along with the capital Sanaa. Rebels and government sources both reported intense fighting in the area Monday, despite calls by the UN and the United States -- which provides military support to the Saudi-led camp -- for an end to the war. A source in the Saudi-led coalition told AFP the clashes were not "offensive operations", adding that the alliance was "committed to keeping the Hodeida port open". But three officials with the Yemeni military said fighting continued to flare around Hodeida, whose port is the entry point for three quarters of the country's imports. The head of the Huthis' revolutionary council, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, on Monday reported a "military escalation by the coalition," slamming the operation as "a strenuous attempt to block talks aimed at ending the war and finding peace". Yemeni military officials said the coalition had sent fighter jets and Apache attack helicopters Monday morning to back up troops on the ground around Hodeida. The officials say government forces are trying to advance on the outskirts of Hodeida with the aim of surrounding the city and cutting off a major rebel supply route. The coalition source however said the government alliance was "committed to de-escalating hostilities in Yemen and strongly supportive of the UN envoy's political process". "If the Huthis fail to show up for peace talks again, this might lead (us) to restart the offensive operation in Hodeida," the source said. "The humanitarian situation in Yemen is unacceptable. We are committed to ending the conflict as soon as possible," they added. UN envoy Martin Griffiths aims to bring the government of Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and the Huthis to Sweden for talks this month. The charity Save the Children said on Monday that the fighting in Hodeida was "deeply concerning" ahead of plans for peace talks, calling for an immediate ceasefire "so more lives aren't lost". "This serious escalation around Yemen's most important port city could put tens of thousands of children in the line of fire and further choke delivery of food and medicine," said Tamer Kirolos, the organisation's Yemen director. "Save the Children staff in Hodeida reported almost 100 air strikes over the weekend, five times as many as in the whole first week of October," he said. The charity estimates an average of 100 Yemeni children die each day from extreme hunger or disease. The Saudi-led alliance had suspended an offensive to take Hodeida in August, ahead of UN efforts to hold negotiations in Geneva which collapsed the following month. The Huthis refused to travel to Switzerland unless the UN guaranteed both their delegation's safe return to Sanaa and the evacuation of wounded fighters. The rebels have regularly targeted Saudi Arabian border towns as well as the capital Riyadh with ballistic missiles. Saudi Arabia and its allies accuse Iran of using Hodeida port to smuggle missiles to the Huthis, a charge Tehran denies. Medics at two hospitals in Hodeida province, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they have counted the bodies of 74 rebels since Sunday and that dozens were wounded. Sources at a military hospital in government-held Mokha, south of Hodeida, said 15 troops were killed over the same period. Saudi Arabia's state media has reported the deaths of at least six soldiers "along the southern border" in the past week, without giving further details. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday visited wounded soldiers being treated in a hospital in Riyadh, state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. It released pictures showing Prince Mohammed, whose image as a reformer has been tarnished after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, taking selfies with the troops and hugging them. Khashoggi -- a Washington Post contributor who was critical of Prince Mohammed and the country's intervention in Yemen -- was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. Saudi Arabia has faced virulent international criticism for leading an intervention in Yemen in 2015 to bolster Hadi's government in the face of the Huthi insurgency, and Khashoggi's murder has put its bombing campaign under fresh scrutiny. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 10,000 people have been killed since then, although rights groups say the toll could be five times higher. Fourteen million people now stand at the brink of famine in Yemen, which the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis and "a living hell" for children.[SEP]Fighting in Yemen’s grueling civil war ground on Tuesday, with Houthi rebels saying they halted the advances of their adversaries, the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led Arab coalition seeking to oust them from power. Combat continued around the key port city of Hodeida, where the Iran-backed Shiite rebels said in an overnight statement that a three-pronged coalition assault had been stopped with heavy fighting around the city’s outskirts, acknowledging that they had lost at least 30 men and a dozen armored vehicles. Dozens of fighters have been killed and hundreds wounded from both sides since the coalition offensive on the city began five days ago, following calls by the Trump administration for a cease-fire by late November. Witnesses have reported dead bodies littering the ground and left inside burnt-out vehicles at the city’s edge. Local media reported that air raids by the coalition were continuing, as was sporadic fighting around Hodeida, especially along 50th street and the 7th of July neighborhoods in the east. Other fronts include the provinces of Dhale and Bayda, to the south, and in the north in Hajjah and Saada, a Houthi stronghold. The Houthis said in their statement they had also stopped an attempted incursion by “mercenaries of the Saudi army,” into Yemen from Jizan, across the border in Saudi Arabia. Witnesses say several civilians have been killed by shelling in residential areas. Meanwhile, the Norwegian Refugee Council said millions of Yemenis are edging closer to famine and fatal disease as the Saudi-led coalition’s blockade on sea, land and air routes in the Arab world’s poorest country continued. The coalition restricted access to Yemen in November last year after a missile assault by rebels targeted the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Jan Egeland of the NRC said “the past 12 months have been a never-ending nightmare for Yemeni civilians.” The Saudi-led coalition, which backs the internationally recognized Yemeni government, has been at war with the Houthi rebels since March 2015 in a stalemated conflict that has generated the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Hodeida, the main portal for humanitarian aid to the suffering population, has become the epicenter of the conflict. The U.S. has sold billions of dollars’ worth of arms to Saudi Arabia and provides logistical and other support to the coalition.[SEP]Fighting in Yemen's grueling civil war ground on Tuesday, with Houthi rebels saying they halted the advances of their adversaries, the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led Arab coalition seeking to oust them from power. Combat continued around the key port city of Hodeida, where the Iran-backed Shiite rebels said in an overnight statement that a three-pronged coalition assault had been stopped with heavy fighting around the city's outskirts, acknowledging that they had lost at least 30 men and a dozen armored vehicles. Yemen has been wracked by conflict since 2014, when Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the former defense minister, and Saudi Arabia's allies launched Operation Decisive Storm in March 2015. Riyadh has accused the Houthi rebel group of serving as a proxy force for Iran, Saudi Arabia's arch foe in the region. Civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict, which has killed over 10,000 people and sparked the world's worst humanitarian crisis. In September, the Saudi-led coalition admitted that mistakes were made in an August airstrike that killed 40 children, an event considered an apparent war crime by the U.N. human rights body. The U.S. has made a call to end the war, but there was no reference to the future of its arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The U.N. has made no progress in attempts to get the warring sides to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict.[SEP]ADEN (Reuters) - Yemeni forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition inched closer to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Sunday as they battled Iranian-aligned Houthi fighters entrenched there, local military sources and residents said on Sunday. The coalition has deployed thousands of troops to retake Hodeidah, a vital entry point for imports and a lifeline for millions of Yemenis after more than three years of war. Fighting was focused around the airport, which the coalition failed to seize in a previous offensive, and also at the eastern entrance to the city and near a university that lies 4 km south of the port, which handles most of Yemen’s imports. “This is the first time clashes have reached this point (the university),” one pro-coalition Yemeni military source said. Residents said they could hear exchanges of fire in the area. The alliance, which relies on Western arms and intelligence, faces a challenge to seize the heavily-defended city without causing heavy casualties at time of increasing global scrutiny over the war that has killed more than 10,000 people. The United States and Britain have called for an end to the conflict, raising pressure on Saudi Arabia as it faces a global outcry over the murder of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. [nnL8N1XB3YF] U.N. refugee agency UNHCR special envoy Angelina Jolie said the international community had been “shamefully slow” and urged the U.N. Security Council to find a negotiated end to the war. “We have watched the situation deteriorate to the point that Yemen is now on the brink of man-made famine, and facing the worst cholera epidemic in the world in decades,” the U.S. actress said in a statement on Sunday. Her statement repeated a U.N. warning that half the population of Yemen — some 14 million people — could soon be on the brink of famine. The alliance of Sunni Muslim states led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened in Yemen in 2015 to oust the Houthis and restore the internationally recognized government. The conflict is seen as a proxy war between Riyadh and Tehran. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi say wresting control of Hodeidah would deliver a blow to the Houthis, who still control the most populated areas of Yemen including the capital Sanaa, by cutting their main supply line and force them to the negotiating table. A previous attempt to take the city in June ran into difficulties and was halted ahead of U.N.-led peace consultations in Geneva which collapsed in September after the Houthis failed to show up. U.N. special envoy Martin Griffiths said last week he hoped consultations could restart within a month. He is preparing to visit Taiz, Yemen’s third largest city and a flashpoint since the Houthis drove the government out of Sanaa in 2014, according to sources close to the U.N. talks.

Days of heavy fighting between Houthi and Saudi-led coalition forces around the port city of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, leave at least 150 people dead.

Runaway BHP train deliberately derailed near Port Hedland after travelling 92km with no driver Updated A runaway train laden with iron ore has been deliberately derailed by BHP after it travelled for more than 90 kilometres without a driver in WA's remote Pilbara region. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the fully laden train, made up of four locomotives and 268 wagons, was travelling from the mining town of Newman to Port Hedland at 4:40am on Monday, when the driver hopped out to inspect a wagon near Hester siding. But the train took off from the siding before the driver could get back on board. It travelled 92 kilometres in about 50 minutes, until it was derailed at a set of points about 120 kilometres from Port Hedland. That means the train reached average speeds of about 110 kilometres per hour. BHP said the derailment was implemented from its Integrated Remote Operations Centre in Perth. The centre controls the company's Pilbara operations, including rail and port facilities. The ATSB has begun an investigation into the incident, and a spokesman said it was hoping to interview the train driver as soon as possible. BHP said no-one was injured in the derailment and it had suspended all train operations while the investigation was carried out. "We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation," a company spokesperson said in a statement. Cost 'might register in millions': analyst Business analyst Tim Treadgold said the derailment would not have a major effect on BHP's cashflow or share price. "In the overall scheme of things, this is a very small event," he said. "Even if they lost three days of access to the rail line, which is possible, it's not a major event. "We're talking about a company that deals in the billions of dollars, and this might register in the millions, but almost certainly not in the tens of millions." The incident comes amid a push for driverless train technology, with fellow miner Rio Tinto making its first autonomous iron ore delivery in July. Three locomotives carried around 28,000 tonnes of iron ore over 280 kilometres from Rio Tinto's mining operations in Tom Price to the port of Cape Lambert. The load was monitored remotely from Rio Tinto's Operations Centre in Perth, more than 1,500 kilometres away. Topics: rail-transport, mining-industry, emergency-incidents, port-hedland-6721 First posted[SEP]BHP Billiton has suspended all iron ore rail operations in WA after a runaway freight train with no one on board travelled 92km before it was deliberately derailed. The driver of the BHP-operated train, which was loaded with iron ore, got out to inspect an issue with one of its 268 wagons early on Monday and it took off without him, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says. The train was travelling on BHP's Newman to Port Hedland line in the Pilbara region, a remote area. It was deliberately derailed at a set of points, operated by a control centre, about 119km from Port Hedland. No one was injured. BHP's iron ore operations were suspended while the incident was being investigated, a BHP spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters. The ATSB, which is also investigating the incident, said the damage to the train was substantial.[SEP]MELBOURNE (Reuters) - BHP Billiton said it had suspended all its iron ore rail operations in Western Australia on Monday after a train ran away at high speed for nearly 100 kilometers before being forcibly derailed. No one was injured and the train, loaded with iron ore, was traveling in a remote area. However, operations would be suspended while an investigation was underway, a spokeswoman for BHP, the world’s biggest miner, confirmed. The Australian newspaper had earlier reported that BHP had suspended rail operations in the region after the incident. The train, which was running on BHP’s private Mount Newman railway line, took off while the driver, the only person on the train, had temporarily stepped off the locomotive to an inspect an issue with a wagon. The train ran for 92 kilometers at around 100 kilometers an hour, Reuters calculations show. The accident is likely to raise safety concerns about miners’ plans to bring driverless trains to Australia’s iron ore heartland. Rival Rio Tinto made its first iron ore delivery by autonomous train in July. The Mount Newman railway line carries ore from Newman in Australia’s iron ore-rich Pilbara to Port Hedland across a remote 426 kilometers and is one of Australia’s longest private railways. Australia’s transport authority said it was investigating the incident. “A Western Australia iron ore train has been derailed near Turner River on route to Port Hedland this morning,” BHP said in a statement. “No one has been injured. We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation.” The damage to the train was “substantial”, The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a report. BHP said that the train began to move at 0440 am while the driver was out conducting an inspection, before the train was intentionally derailed after about 90 km at about 0530 am. “At approximately 0440 on 5 November 2018, the driver of a loaded ore train consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons stopped at the 211 km point. The driver alighted from the locomotive to inspect an issue with a wagon,” BHP said in a statement. While the driver was outside of the locomotive, the train took off. “With no one on board, the train traveled for 92 km until ... the train was deliberately derailed at a set of points operated by the control center, about 119 km from Port Hedland,” the transport safety bureau said. The speed and distance suggest the train was traveling at around 180 kilometers an hour.[SEP]Mining giant BHP Billiton was forced to deliberately derail a 268-car freight train, loaded with iron ore, after it had traveled an alarming 92km across Western Australia with no one on board. The driver alighted to inspect one of the wagons at approximately 4am on Monday when the train, reportedly consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons, took off for Port Hedland before he could get back on board, the Western Australian reports. It managed to travel 92km without anyone at the helm before BHP was forced to take drastic action and intentionally derail the train at a crossing located roughly 120km from Port Hedland in Western Australia. The resource giant has suspended all train operations in the Pilbara region while an investigation is underway. “A Western Australia iron ore train has been derailed near Turner on route to Port Hedland this morning. No one has been injured. We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation,” a BHP spokesperson said, as quoted by the Financial Times. “Based on the 120km distance from Port Hedland, it would appear that the great majority of BHP’s Pilbara production would be impacted. If there is significant track damage it could be that train loadings and speeds could be constrained post repairs and restarting of shipments,” Edward Sterck, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, told the Financial Times. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has sent two investigators to determine if any rail safety protocols were breached in the incident. READ MORE: 18 dead, 168 injured in catastrophic train derailment in Taiwan (DISTURBING PHOTOS) Iron ore extraction is a major industry for BHP Billiton, with the company exporting 69 million tons from Port Hedland in the quarter ending in September, via its four processing hubs and five mines connected by a system of 1,000km of railway lines. Iron ore alone is responsible for almost 40 percent of BHP’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITA). The company has faced multiple derailments in the region in recent years, in both 2017 and 2015, when an incident was caused by a broken rail. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story![SEP]BHP deliberately derailed a runaway Pilbara iron train carrying 268 wagons early today after it travelled 92km across the Pilbara without a driver. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said about 4am the driver of a loaded ore train travelling from Newman to Port Hedland alighted to inspect a wagon. The bureau said the train, consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons, started to run away without the driver and with no one on board, travelling for 92km. BHP then stopped the train by deliberately derailing it at a set of points about 120 km from Port Hedland. A BHP spokeswoman said no one was injured and the Pilbara miner has suspended all train operations. “We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation,” she said. BHP declined to provide further details, saying the incident was under investigation. The ATSB conducts technical investigations for the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator. A spokesman for the regulator said it had sent two investigators to the Pilbara to determine if there had been any breaches of the national rail safety laws. The mining giant exported 69 million tonnes of iron ore from Port Hedland in the three months to September. BHP’s Pilbara operations have had other derailments in recent years. In February 2017 about 40 ore cars came off the rails about 130km south of Port Hedland. BHP also had 25 cars derail on the Newman to Port Hedland line in December 2015, blocking both lines that run to the port. The incident was caused a broken rail, probably with a defect that could have been detected but was not, according to bureau report released last month. The line was shut down for three days before traffic resumed. In that case, the ATSB report said BHP accelerated the re-railing of more than 800km of track and improved the detection of cracks in rails in response to the accident.[SEP](Bloomberg) — BHP Billiton Ltd. was forced to derail a runaway train that traveled 92 kilometres without a driver across the Pilbara, a major iron ore producing area in Western Australia. The world’s top mining company halted all train operations in the region, where it produces and ships iron ore, a key steelmaking ingredient. BHP, which runs trains that are almost three kilometres (1.9 miles) long from its giant iron ore mines, said it’s working with local authorities to investigate the incident. The company said the driver was inspecting an issue with the train when the locomotive ran away. The loaded train, which consisted of four locomotives and 268 wagons, then traveled 92 kilometres toward Port Hedland before being deliberately derailed from BHP’s remote operations center in Perth. Iron ore producers in Western Australia run some of the world’s longest trains. BHP transports material from its large mines — which make up almost 40 percent of its profits — to Port Hedland, where it ships to customers in China and Japan. The company has more than 1,000 kilometres of rail infrastructure in the ore-rich Pilbara region. BHP said operations continue at its mines, but didn’t give any details on the potential impact on production. The shares rose 1.3 percent in London amid broader gains among miners. “If there is significant track damage, it could be that train loadings and speeds could be constrained post repairs and restarting of shipments,” BMO Capital Markets said in a note. The bank said BHP’s operations account for about 20 percent of the global iron ore trade. The top miners have been looking to increasingly automate logistics. Rival Rio Tinto Group earlier this year completed its first driverless train in Western Australia when it delivered 28,000 metric tons of iron ore along a 280-kilometer route. BHP earlier this year reported reliability issues with port car dumpers. The producer’s Western Australian operations include five mines and four processing hubs, including joint ventures with Mitsui & Co. and Itochu Corp. While the likely length of the rail stoppage remains unclear, any disruption to shipments from the port could pressure iron ore prices. The raw material used to make steel soared in October, with the benchmark 62 percent grade advancing about 10 percent as Chinese steel mills ramped up production before anti-pollution curbs kick in. Port Hedland is the world’s largest iron ore export port with a total annual throughput of 519 million metric tons in 2017/2018, according to Pilbara Ports Authority. As well as BHP, it’s used by miners including Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. and Roy Hill Holdings Pty.[SEP]BHP Billiton said it had suspended all its iron ore rail operations in Western Australia on Monday after a train ran away at high speed for nearly 100km before being forcibly derailed. No-one was injured and the train, loaded with iron ore, was travelling in a remote area. However, operations would be suspended while an investigation was under way, a spokesperson for BHP, the world’s biggest miner, confirmed. The Australian newspaper had earlier reported that BHP had suspended rail operations in the region after the incident. The train, which was running on BHP’s private Mount Newman railway line, took off while the driver, the only person on the train, had temporarily stepped off the locomotive to inspect an issue with a wagon. The train ran for 92km at about 100km/h, Reuters calculations show. The incident is likely to raise safety concerns about miners’ plans to bring driverless trains to Australia’s iron ore heartland. Rival Rio Tinto made its first iron ore delivery by autonomous train in July. The Mount Newman railway line carries ore from Newman in Australia’s iron ore-rich Pilbara to Port Hedland across a remote 426km and is one of Australia’s longest private railways. Australia’s transport authority said it was investigating the incident. “A Western Australia iron ore train has been derailed near Turner River on route to Port Hedland,” BHP said in a statement. “No-one has been injured. We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation.” The damage to the train was “substantial”, The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a report. While the driver was outside of the locomotive, the train took off. “With no-one on board, the train travelled for 92km until ... the train was deliberately derailed at a set of points operated by the control centre, about 119km from Port Hedland,” the transport safety bureau said.[SEP]BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) has suspended rail operations in Western Australia after it was forced to derail a runaway locomotive fill with iron ore. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the driver of a loaded ore train traveling on BHP's Newman to Port Hedland railway got off to inspect a wagon; the train, consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons, started to run away without the driver and with no one on board, traveling for 92 km before it was deliberately derailed by BHP’s remote control center in Perth. VHP's iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia are the company’s most important source of income, responsible for nearly 40% of EBITDA, so a lengthy suspension could put a dent in profits.[SEP]Runaway BHP train deliberately derailed near Port Hedland after travelling 92km with no driver A runaway train laden with iron ore has been deliberately derailed by BHP after it travelled for more than 90 kilometres without a driver in WA's remote Pilbara region. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the fully laden train, made up of four locomotives and 268 wagons, was travelling from the mining town of Newman to Port Hedland at 4:40am today, when the driver hopped out to inspect a wagon near Hester siding. But the train took off from the siding before the driver could get back on board. It travelled 90 kilometres in about 50 minutes, until it was derailed at a set of points about 120 kilometres from Port Hedland. BHP said the derailment was implemented from its Integrated Remote Operations Centre in Perth. The centre controls the company's Pilbara operations, including rail and port facilities. The ATSB has begun an investigation into the incident, and a spokesman said it was hoping to interview the train driver as soon as possible. BHP said no-one was injured in the derailment and it had suspended all train operations while the investigation is underway. "We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation," a spokesperson said in a statement.[SEP]MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A train loaded with iron ore and operated by BHP Billiton ran away without a driver for 92 kilometers before being forcibly derailed in the early hours of Monday, the company and Australian authorities said. As a result, the world’s biggest miner had suspended all Western Australian iron ore rail operations while an investigation was underway, The Australian Newspaper reported, without citing a source. A BHP spokeswoman did not immediately comment on whether BHP had suspended all of its iron ore rail shipments. Australia’s transport authority said it was investigating the incident. “A Western Australia iron ore train has been derailed near Turner River on route to Port Hedland this morning,” BHP said in a statement. “No one has been injured. We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the situation.” The damage to the train was “substantial”, The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a report. “At approximately 0440 on 5 November 2018, the driver of a loaded ore train consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons stopped at the 211 km point. The driver alighted from the locomotive to inspect an issue with a wagon,” it said in the summary of an investigation into a report. While the driver was outside of the locomotive, the train took off. “With no one on board, the train traveled for 92 km until about 0505, when the train was deliberately derailed at a set of points operated by the control center, about 119 km from Port Hedland.”

In Port Hedland, Australia, authorities deliberately derail a runaway train after the driver left the train for an inspection. The assemblage consisted of four locomotives and two hundred sixty-eight wagons, was operated by BHP Billiton on the Pilbara Railways, and traveled ninety-two kilometers. The train was en route from Newman to Port Hedland.

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Secretary of State for Defense Gavin Williamson arrives in Downing Steet, London, Britain, October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson LONDON (Reuters) - Britain announced on Monday it would open a joint military training base in Oman in March 2019 as it looks to bolster its relationships with allies in the region. At a time of rising tension in the oil-producing Gulf region, Britain is diplomatically entwined in overlapping conflicts and disagreements involving Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran and others. Defence secretary Gavin Williamson announced the British-Omani training base as he visited the country to observe the end of a large-scale joint military exercise involving thousands of personnel practicing desert combat. “Our relationship with Oman is built on centuries of cooperation and we are cementing that long into the future with the opening of our new joint base,” Williamson said in a statement released by his department. “This has never been more important as malign activity by hostile states and violent extremist organisations seek to undermine stability and subvert the rules based order on which we all rely.” Earlier this year, Britain also opened a permanent military base in Bahrain. [nL5N1RI5ME] Williamson also signalled in meetings with Omani leaders his intent to sign a new bilateral agreement early next year which would cover enhanced defence ties and broader cooperation, the Ministry of Defence said.[SEP]Oman and Britain will open a joint military training base next year to help counter the activities of hostile states and extremist groups. UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the base would open in March. He made the announcement as he visited the country to observe the end of a large-scale joint military exercise involving tens of thousands of personnel practicing desert combat. “Our relationship with Oman is built on centuries of cooperation and we are cementing that long into the future with the opening of our new joint base,” Williamson said. “This has never been more important as malign activity by hostile states and violent extremist organisations seek to undermine stability and subvert the rules based order on which we all rely.” The Al Saif Al Sareea 3 military exercises included 70,000 defence personnel from Oman and 5,500 soldiers, sailors, pilots and engineers from the British Armed Forces. Military commanders from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan and Egypt on Friday to attended the conclusion of Al Saif Al Sareea 3.[SEP]Khasab: Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, and Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom (UK), visited the Governorate of Musandam on Sunday. The visit included Musandam Sector Command, Khasab Airbase and Musandam Naval Base. Williamson was briefed on the assignments and duties carried out by the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) at Musandam Sector. Sayyid Badr and the guest were accompanied by Maj Gen Matar bin Salim al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Air Vice Marshal Matar bin Ali al Obaidani, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al Raisi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), and the UK delegation. — ONA[SEP]As part of his visit to Oman for the culmination of Exercise Saif Sareea 3, the UK’s largest exercise in 17 years, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson underlined the UK’s enduring commitment to Oman and highlighted the importance of protecting peace and stability in the Gulf. Our relationship with Oman is built on centuries of cooperation and we are cementing that long into the future with the opening of our new joint base. We stand as a beacon of stability in the region. This has never been more important as malign activity by hostile states and violent extremist organisations seek to undermine stability and subvert the rules based order on which we all rely. UK troops will deploy to the joint training base in March 2019 to work and train alongside our Omani partners, building on the successes of Exercise Saif Sareea 3. For decades to come, it will support a variety of combined and joint training activity in the challenging and austere environment that 5,500 UK personnel have experienced over the last month. The exercise also tested the interaction and collaboration between civilian and military structures, providing valuable lessons about ensuring we deploy the right combination of tools to tackle the complex threats we face today. The Defence Secretary also attended the Exercise Saif Sareea Fire Power Demonstration which involved both UK and Omani personnel who have been living and exercising side by side for the past five weeks. The exercise’s culmination saw thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen from both nations execute a set piece battle across the desert. Mr Williamson also met the Sultan of Oman and Omani Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs signalling his intent to sign an agreement of enduring defence commitment early next year, reflecting on wider cooperation beyond defence; and reaffirming the deep cultural links and economic ties.[SEP]Britain is to open a major new military base in Oman in a drive to boost UK influence post-Brexit. Hundreds of troops will deploy to the permanent joint training base in the Middle East from next March, the month Britain leaves the European Union. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson made the announcement as he watched the culmination of Britain’s biggest war games exercise in nearly two decades. In scenes reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher in 1986, he rode to a live firepower demonstration in a Challenger 2 main battle tank. He emerged from the turret wearing a helmet and body armour, with a Union Jack flag flying behind him. Baroness Thatcher was similarly photographed in a Challenger after the Falklands War. Mr Williamson said he did not have the former PM in mind when he got inside the tank, but the visit was a great chance to speak to soldiers in the desert. About 5,500 British personnel have spent a month pretend ‘fighting’ an invasion force alongside 70,000 Omanis. Speaking from HMS Albion afterwards, he said: ‘This is the largest military exercise that is going on in the world at present. Britain isn’t retreating from the world. We are stepping out.’ He said Britain had ‘for so long been looking just at Europe’ and it was time to go global. ‘The symbolism of this Omani British base opening as we exit the European Union I hope isn’t lost on people,’ he added.[SEP]Britain's Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the new base was evidence Britain was "stepping out" to the world.[SEP]The Sultanate of Oman and the U.K. on Friday signed a mutual defense agreement, the Omani News Agency (ONA) reported. According to ONA, the agreement was signed during talks in Muscat between Omani Defense Minister Badr al-Busaidi and British counterpart Gavin Williamson. Williamson and an accompanying delegation are currently visiting Oman to attend the final phases of the Al-Shomoukh 2 and Swift Sword 3 military maneuvers. In early October, Mark Lancaster, U.K. minister of state for the armed forces, paid a days-long visit to Muscat during which he held a closed-door meeting with al-Busaidi. At the time, ONA reported that the two men had discussed means of stepping up bilateral military cooperation and “issues of common concern”. This article has been adapted from its original source.[SEP]British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson made the announcement after joining overUpon his arrival to Oman, the UK defense secretary announced that a huge new training base will open in the Gulf state, the Daily Mail reported.Hundreds of troops will reportedly be deployed to the permanent base from next March, the month which also marks the deadline for the UK's divorce from the EU.Speaking from the UK Royal Navy's Albion-class amphibious transport dock HMS Albion, which arrived in Oman in early October, he reportedly said:Riding to a live firepower demonstration in a Challenger 2 tank,, with a Union Jack flag waving behind him - a scene which, as"This is the largest military exercise that is going on in the world at present. Britain isn't retreating from the world. We are stepping out," Williamson reportedly said.[SEP]Upon his arrival to Oman, the UK defense secretary announced that a huge new training base will open in the Gulf state in a bid to boost the country’s influence in the region after Brexit is delivered, the Daily Mail reported. READ MORE: Australia, Papua New Guinea to Share Naval Base to 'Enhance Interoperability' Hundreds of troops will reportedly be deployed to the permanent base from next March, the month which also marks the deadline for the UK’s divorce from the EU. Speaking from the UK Royal Navy’s Albion-class amphibious transport dock HMS Albion, which arrived in Oman in early October, he reportedly said: “The symbolism of this Omani British base opening as we exit the European Union I hope isn’t lost on people.” Riding to a live firepower demonstration in a Challenger 2 tank, he was pictured wearing a helmet and body armor, with a Union Jack flag waving behind him – a scene which, as British media noted, strikingly reminded of a similar picture of the Iron Lady of UK politics, Margaret Thatcher. The Saif Sareea-3 war games involved 5,500 British soldiers and 70,000 Omani personnel, simulating an invasion scenario: “This is the largest military exercise that is going on in the world at present. Britain isn’t retreating from the world. We are stepping out,” Williamson reportedly said.[SEP]MUSCAT: The Oman Seniors Open, one of Golf Oman’s flagship events, was played on Saturday and saw Allan Middleton reclaim the title he won in 2017 by three shots from Pulkeshin Sharma. Omani pair Ali Hameed al Saleh and Hussain Dad al Balushi shared the third place. In the over 60’s Super Seniors category, it was very close affair with John Petersen beating Stephen Pickering by one shot. The Oman Seniors Ladies division was even closer requiring a play off after both Nelly Materna and Jameela Daud returned scores of 89. It took two attempts to separate the ladies with Nelly securing the title with an excellent par on the difficult par three 16th hole. The Oman Seniors Open was played at Ras Al Hamra Golf Course for the first time and attracted the best senior golfers, those above 50 years of age, from across the country. With a full field of eighty-four golfers the morning golfers benefited from the calmer conditions with the wind picking up in the afternoon. The golf course proved a fitting test with the players unanimous in their praise of the condition of the course. Results: Oman Senior Open: 1st Allan Middleton, Al Mouj Golf, score 71. 2nd, Pulkeshin Sharma, Muscat Hills Golf Club, score 74. 3rd Ali Hameed al Saleh, Ghala Golf Club and Hussain Dad al Balushi, Ras Al Hamra Golf Club, score 78. Nett Winner Jas Dhanju, Ras Al Hamra Golf Club, score 65. Oman Super Seniors Champion: 1st John Petersen, Al Mouj Golf, score 82. 2nd Stephen Pickering, Al Mouj Golf, score 83. Nett Winner Michael Kostiuk, Al Mouj Golf, score 67. Oman Seniors Ladies Champion: 1st Nelly Materna, Ras Al Hamra Golf Club, score 89, 2nd Jameela Daud, Al Mouj Golf, score 89. Nett Winner Kay Gopperth, Ras Al Hamra Golf Club, score 73.

British Defence Minister Gavin Williamson announces that a joint British-Omani military training base will open in Oman next year.

Actualitzada 05/11/2018 a les 12:23 CONTINUA LA PRESSIÓ DELS COL·LECTIUS FEMINISTES La pressió dels col·lectius feministes per a la despenalització de l’avortament a Andorra continua tant dintre del Principat com a l’Alt Urgell. Des de l’organització andorrana Stop Violències s’ha penjat un tweet duríssim contra el Copríncep episcopal, Joan-Enric Vives. El grup feminista andorrà va respondre a les declaracions de Vives sobre l’avortament dient que “s’ha de ser cínic i misogin per presentar-se com a víctima després que és ell el principal responsable que no puguem exercir els nostres drets com a dones al nostre propi cos”. El col·lectiu ha anunciat que el pròxim 10 de novembre participaran en un acte de Marea Verda a Premià de Mar (Barcelona) on faran una xerrada explicant la situació de prohibició de l’avortament en la legislació andorrana. Des de l’Alt Urgell són diferents els grups i associacions feministes que s’han mobilitzat per instar a la despenalització. El més actiu és el col·lectiu feminista i independentista Arran, que ha penjat a Twitter missatges tant contra la situació com atacant el bisbe d’Urgell. “Avortarem amb les vostres benediccions, o sense. Aquí hi ha un poble digne que lluita pels seus drets.” Aquest és un dels missatges que el col·lectiu feminista ha fet públic per les xarxes. A banda, també han tirat endavant una campanya amb pancartes (com la que es veu a la fotografia) on s’indica que “a Andorra exigim un avortament lliure i gratuït” al mateix temps que indiquen que “cap Copríncep decidirà per nosaltres”. El Vaticà ja havia advertit, en conversa directa del Papa amb Toni Martí, que la despenalització de l’avortament és incompatible amb el fet que el bisbe d’Urgell continuï sent cap d’Estat d’Andor­ra. Les recents polèmiques sobre la interrupció de l’embaràs havien obert la porta que diferents polítics i activistes feministes afirmessin que la Constitució permet mantenir el coprincipat encara que es consenteixi l’avortament. Aquesta teoria considera que el bisbe d’Urgell no hauria de renunciar a ser cap d’Estat simplement deixant de firmar la despenalització. És en aquesta línia que el Vaticà, segons diverses fonts properes a l’executiu i a la Cúria, ha deixat clar que és totalment incompatible. L’avortament derivaria immediatament en l’abdicació del Copríncep episcopal, Joan-Enric Vives, acompanyada de la renúncia de la Cúria romana al dret de tenir un cap d’Estat andor­rà. Cal recordar que la figura dels coprínceps es remunta al 1278 amb la signatura del primer Pariatge.El Vaticà ha tramès que el respecte a la vida (inclou també l’eutanàsia) és un precepte innegociable i sobre el qual no hi ha debat possible més enllà de la defensa i la protecció en totes les seves fases. Roma ha fet saber que el papa Francesc ha estat taxatiu en l’oposició total i absoluta a l’avortament. S’ha comunicat que a principis del mes passat Francesc va condemnar la interrupció de l’embaràs i el va comparar amb qui contracta “un sicari per resoldre un problema”. L’afirmació va tenir lloc durant la catequesi en l’audiència general, celebrada a la plaça de Sant Pere. Francesc reflexionava sobre el cinquè manament (no mataràs) i llavors va condemnar la “supressió de la vida humana en el si matern en nom de la salvaguarda d’altres drets”. El pontífex va preguntar retòricament “com pot ser terapèutic, civil o simplement humà un acte que suprimeix la vida innocent i indefensa en el seu inici?” I va afegir: “És just suprimir una vida humana per resoldre un problema? És just contractar un sicari per resoldre un problema? No, no es pot!”El Papa va criticar “que els pares, en aquests casos dramàtics, necessiten una veritable proximitat, veritable solidaritat, per afrontar la realitat i superar les comprensibles pors, i no obstant això, el que reben són ràpids consells per interrompre l’embaràs”. En aquesta línia, respecte als embarassos amb malformacions, va afirmar que “un nen malalt, com qualsevol persona necessitada i vulnerable, més que un problema és un do de Déu que ens pot treure del nostre egoisme i fer-nos créixer en l’amor”. Va concloure que l’home “rebutja la vida” per ídols com “els diners, el poder i l’èxit” i que aquests són “paràmetres equivocats per valorar la vida”.La contundència del missatge, segons les mateixes fonts, hauria de ser suficient per acabar amb el debat intern dins d’Andorra respecte a si Copríncep episcopal i avortament són compatibles. En tractar-se d’un problema de consciència insuperable (la doctrina cristiana equipara la inter­rupció de l’embaràs a un homicidi) no hi ha d’altre camí, segons fa saber el Vaticà, que la renúncia. Però al mateix temps que s’ha deixat clar el posicionament, segons aquestes fonts, la Cúria romana confia que Andorra mantindrà la situació juridicolegal actual i respectarà l’article de la Constitució on s’especifica que es garanteix la protecció de la vida en totes i cadascuna de les seves fases.[SEP]ROME – Following one of the most brutal attacks on the Jewish community in the history of the United States, Pope Francis condemned anti-Semitic attitudes “present in our own times” and stressed the importance of religious freedom and interreligious dialogue. “As I have often repeated, a Christian cannot be an anti-Semite; we share the same roots. It would be a contradiction of faith and life,” the pope said during a Nov. 5 audience with delegates of the World Congress of Mountain Jews on their first ever visit to the Vatican. “Rather, we are called to commit ourselves to ensure anti-Semitism is banned from the human community,” he added. On Oct. 26, eleven people were killed and many wounded during a shooting at the synagogue, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The killer, identified as Robert Bowers, is said to have entered the temple carrying an assault rifle and two pistols while yelling “All Jews must die.” The attack at the synagogue is only the most recent in a spew of violent aggressions and even murders against Jews, as anti-Semitism is on the rise not only in the United States but also in Europe. Pope Francis recalled his visit to Lithuania in September, where he prayed before a monument commemorating the many who lost their lives during the Holocaust. He also mentioned the raid of the Roman Ghetto during German occupation and the Kristallnacht, which the pope said destroyed places of worship in an effort to erase faith. The effort to replace God with an “idolatry of power and the ideology of hatred,” underlines the importance of religious freedom, Francis said, which is “a supreme good to be safeguarded, a fundamental human right and a bulwark against the claims of totalitarianism.” In order to fight anti-Semitism, the friendship between Jews and Christians must be strong, the pope said, something that can be achieved through dialogue. “In these times, we are called to promote and to expand interreligious dialogue for the sake of humanity,” Francis said. “The Holocaust must be commemorated so that there will be a living memory of the past,” Francis said, “Without a living memory, there will be no future, for if the darkest pages of history do not teach us to avoid the same errors, human dignity will remain a dead letter.”[SEP]Pope Francis apparently told US filmmaker Michael Moore that capitalism is a sin and that the ‘poor must always come first’ when they met recently in the Vatican City. Michael Moore, 64, told Late Night with Seth Meyers that he met the Pope two weeks ago and he made the comments when Moore asked him about income inequality. ‘I went to the weekly audience, and then he asked to speak to me privately. It was an amazing moment, and I asked him if I could ask him a question,' Moore said. 'And he said, "Yes,"' Moore said, recounting his visit with the pope last month. 'And I said, "Do you believe that an economic system that benefits the few, the wealthy at the expense of the many is a sin?" ‘He said to me, "Si" in Italian. And I said, "So you believe capitalism, the capitalism we have now is a sin?" He goes, "Yes, it is." He said, "The poor must always come first."' The Bowling for Columbine documentary maker described Pope Francis as a humorous figure and claimed that the Argentinian-born Pontiff asked if Moore would pray for him. He added: ‘He grabbed my hand and he said, "Please, pray for me." And I said, "I will, and please pray for me." ‘And he said, "No, you have to make more movies." And I'm like, "I just wanted a prayer." He's like, "No, you go back to, you go back work." He has a sense of humor.' Moore, who is a left-wing activist, met the Pontiff two weeks ago at St Peter’s Basilica and tweeted a picture of the two of them together. At one point Moore can be seen whispering into his ear while Papal bodyguards look on. In a caption he wrote: 'Today I met Pope Francis for the first time at the weekly general audience he holds at the Vatican. We spoke for a number of minutes. ‘I had a question I wanted to ask him and he gave me his answer. I will write about this tomorrow. For tonight, I remain deeply moved and grateful'. Pope Francis, 81, is known for his work with disadvantaged people and has at times denounced Church doctrine in favor of social change. He recently welcomed the homeless and unemployed as guests of honor for a Mass and gourmet meal in the Vatican, saying that helping the needy was one way of obtaining a 'passport to paradise'. Moore also discussed Fahrenheit 11/9, his new American political documentary about the 2016 United States presidential election and the subsequent presidency of Donald Trump on Late Night. He also opened up about being a prospective target of the alleged Florida mail bomber Cesar Syaoc on Thursday's episode of Late Night. The man accused of sending multiple explosive devices to media outlets and Democratic politicians had images of a number of people with crosshairs on them, including the documentary filmmaker. ‘I was watching CNN live and all of a sudden there was my picture on his van. Honestly, I have to say my first thought was, "That's a really good picture,"' he said. ‘My second thought was the bull's-eye, the target he put on me, wasn't over my face. It was just down here, like on my neck and shoulder. So I gave him a little bit of credit, but not really’. Moore added that law enforcement officials also contacted him about the suspected bomber.[SEP]The simmering resentment of some Catholic clergy in Ireland over low attendance at events during the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland has finally broken surface. It has found a predictable target – the media, a scapegoat overtly identified by Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran, for instance. In a message to priests and deacons in his diocese, announcing a collection at all churches next weekend to help defray costs arising from the World Meeting of Families and the papal visit, he was clear. There was, he said, “a shortfall in fundraising income due in no small measure to the consistent negative coverage in the media in the final weeks of preparation. Some ‘fruit’ died on the ‘trees’.” He said the bishops had decided “on an additional national collection on November 10th and 11th to help defray the deficit…” The cost to the church of the World Meeting of Families and the papal visit was €19.4 million. Of this €15.4 million was raised through four national collections and other donations, leaving a shortfall of €4 million. Bishop Doran is not alone. At the Association of Catholic Priests annual general meeting in Athlone last month, Fr Gerry O’Connor of its leadership team read from a draft letter they plan sending to the bishops. It speaks of “a sinking feeling that the [papal] visit and the expectations it generated were derailed by an unexpected, though not unpredicted, focus on the sexual abuse issue”. It referred to “the virulence of the negative commentary and the lack of engagement by so many Catholics with the visit”. Last month Catholic primate Archbishop Eamon Martin also said the World Meeting of Families was “the tale of two congresses: there’s what happened on the ground, and then there’s what happened in the media”. There had been “a huge concentration on the abuse issue” [in the media], he said. He had the grace to add that this “was merited” by abuse reports from the US and around the world. Similarly, with Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin. The lead-up to the World Meeting of Families was “disheartening, given the reports from abroad such as the Pennsylvania grand jury, the Australian Royal Commission and others, as well as the revisiting in the media of many of the traumas of our own past, the Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes as well as clerical child abuse,” he said in Kilkenny on October 27th. As to his latter point, an Irish media which in the lead-up to a visit by Pope Francis ignored “many of the traumas of our own past”, as revealed since the last papal visit in 1979, would have been distinctly derelict. But let us look at what emerged prior to last August’s events in Ireland. On July 1st, the Australian government announced a redress scheme for people sexually abused as children in institutions there. Last May the Catholic Church said it would join that redress scheme as almost 2,500 survivors gave evidence of their sexual abuse in institutions run by it. On July 28th, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of former archbishop of Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick after he faced credible allegations of sexually abusing a teenager. On August 9th, the UK’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse reported “appalling” levels of sexual abuse inflicted over a 40-year period on pupils at two leading Catholic schools in England, Ampleforth and Downside. The late archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume (who faced no allegations), was a pupil, a teacher, and abbot at Ampleforth for 13 years before becoming archbishop of Westminster in 1976. On August 14th, a Pennsylvania grand jury report found that over 1,000 children had been abused by as many as 300 Catholic priests in six dioceses there over a 70-year period. On August 15th, Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Seán O’Malley, chair of the Vatican’s Commission for the Protection of Minors, announced he would not attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin due to an abuse scandal at St John’s seminary in Boston. He was to chair a session on abuse. On August 18th, the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, announced he too would not be delivering a keynote address or attending the World Meeting of Families following criticism in the Pennsylvania grand jury report of him while bishop of Pittsburgh. He has since resigned. On August 26th, the last day of Pope Francis’s visit to Ireland, former papal nuncio to Washington Archbishop Carlo Vigano published a letter accusing the pope himself of covering up abuse by Cardinal McCarrick. This, then, was the context in which the World Meeting of Families took place in Dublin and Pope Francis visited Ireland. Those in the church who blame media for disappointments arising might well heed warnings by Pope Francis himself against attitudes of clericalism, when he spoke to Ireland’s bishops before returning to Rome. It would appear a more appropriate response than reaching for the Donald Trump hymn sheet.[SEP]Vatican City — Pope Francis has called for the eradication of anti-Semitism following an increase in attacks and hate crimes against Jews in several countries and says it is vital to preserve the memory of the Holocaust. A gunman yelling “All Jews must die” stormed a synagogue in Pittsburgh, US, on October 27, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six other people including four police officers, before he was arrested. “We are called to commit ourselves to ensure anti-Semitism is banned from the human community,” Francis said during a meeting on Monday with rabbis from the World Congress of Mountain Jews. Mountain Jews are the descendants of Jews who left ancient Persia and settled in the Caucasus. Francis said the Holocaust, in which the Nazis murdered six-million Jews in Europe during World War Two, must continue to be commemorated to keep its memory alive. “Without a living memory, there will be no future, for if the darkest pages of history do not teach us to avoid the same errors, human dignity will remain a dead letter,” he said. He noted the recent 75th anniversary of the deportation of Rome’s Jews by Nazi occupiers and that November 9 will be the 80th anniversary of “Kristallnacht”, the night when mobs ransacked thousands of synagogues and Jewish businesses in Germany and Austria. “Sadly, anti-Semitic attitudes are also present in our own times. As I have often repeated, a Christian cannot be an anti-Semite, we share the same roots,” Francis said, stressing the importance of interfaith dialogue. In the run-up to Tuesday’s contentious US elections, in which immigration has become a central issue, racist fliers have been reported on university campuses in at least five states, while synagogues in New York and California have been sprayed with anti-Semitic graffiti. Last week British police launched an investigation into alleged anti-Semitic hate crimes within the opposition Labour Party, after a report that the party itself had found evidence of members threatening politicians.

Pope Francis, head of state of the Vatican City and leader of the Roman Catholic Church, threatens to order the abdication of Andorran co-monarch Joan Enric Vives Sicília, Archbishop-Bishop of Urgell, if the country decriminalises or legalises abortion.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran’s telecommunications minister accused Israel on Monday of a new cyber attack on its telecommunications infrastructure, and vowed to respond with legal action. FILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is seen during a meeting with students at the Hussayniyeh of Imam Khomeini in Tehran, Iran, November 3, 2018. Official Khamenei website/Handout via REUTERS This followed comments from another official last week that Iran had uncovered a new generation of Stuxnet, a virus which was used against the country’s nuclear program more than a decade ago. “The Zionist regime (Israel), with its record of using cyber weapons such as Stuxnet computer virus, launched a cyber attack on Iran on Monday to harm Iran’s communication infrastructures,” Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi said. “Thanks to our vigilant technical teams, it failed,” he said on Twitter. Iran would take legal action against Israel at international bodies, he added, without giving details. His deputy Hamid Fattahi said more details would be revealed in the coming days, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Stuxnet, which is widely believed to have been developed by the United States and Israel, was discovered in 2010 after it was used to attack a uranium enrichment facility at Iran’s Natanz underground nuclear site. It was the first publicly known example of a virus being used to attack industrial machinery. Last week, Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran’s civil defense agency, said Iran had neutralized a version of Stuxnet. “Recently we discovered a new generation of Stuxnet which consisted of several parts ... and was trying to enter our systems,” Jalali was quoted as saying by the semi-official ISNA news agency. He gave no further details. In 2013, researchers at Symantec Corp uncovered a version of the Stuxnet that was used to attack the Iranian nuclear program in November 2007. Tehran agreed under a 2015 deal with world powers to curb the program but President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of it in May, with Israel’s backing. Washington fully restored sanctions on Tehran on Monday. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week called for stepped up efforts to fight enemy “infiltration” in a speech to officials in charge of cyber defense, state television reported.[SEP]DUBAI: Iran's telecommunications minister accused Israel on Monday (Nov 5) of a new cyber attack on its telecommunications infrastructure, and vowed to respond with legal action. This followed comments from another official last week that Iran had uncovered a new generation of Stuxnet, a virus which was used against the country's nuclear programme more than a decade ago. Advertisement Advertisement "The Zionist regime (Israel), with its record of using cyber weapons such as Stuxnet computer virus, launched a cyber attack on Iran on Monday to harm Iran's communication infrastructures," Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi said. "Thanks to our vigilant technical teams, it failed," he said on Twitter. Iran would take legal action against Israel at international bodies, he added, without giving details. His deputy Hamid Fattahi said more details would be revealed in the coming days, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Stuxnet, which is widely believed to have been developed by the United States and Israel, was discovered in 2010 after it was used to attack a uranium enrichment facility at Iran's Natanz underground nuclear site. Advertisement Advertisement It was the first publicly known example of a virus being used to attack industrial machinery. Last week, Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran's civil defence agency, said Iran had neutralised a version of Stuxnet. "Recently we discovered a new generation of Stuxnet which consisted of several parts ... and was trying to enter our systems," Jalali was quoted as saying by the semi-official ISNA news agency. He gave no further details. In 2013, researchers at Symantec Corp uncovered a version of the Stuxnet that was used to attack the Iranian nuclear programme in November 2007. Tehran agreed under a 2015 deal with world powers to curb the programme but President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of it in May, with Israel's backing. Washington fully restored sanctions on Tehran on Monday. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week called for stepped up efforts to fight enemy "infiltration" in a speech to officials in charge of cyber defence, state television reported. [SEP]Iran’s telecommunications minister accused Israel on Monday of a new cyberattack on its telecom infrastructure, and vowed to respond with legal action. This followed comments from another official last week that Iran had uncovered a new generation of Stuxnet, a virus which was used against the country’s nuclear program more than a decade ago. “The Zionist regime (Israel), with its record of using cyberweapons such as Stuxnet computer virus, launched a cyberattack on Iran on Monday to harm Iran’s communication infrastructures,” Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi said. “Thanks to our vigilant technical teams, it failed,” he said on Twitter. Iran would take legal action against Israel at international bodies, he added, without giving details. His deputy Hamid Fattahi said more details would be revealed in the coming days, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Stuxnet, which is widely believed to have been developed by the United States and Israel, was discovered in 2010 after it was used to attack a uranium enrichment facility at Iran’s Natanz underground nuclear site. It was the first publicly known example of a virus being used to attack industrial machinery. Last week, Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran’s civil defense agency, said Iran had neutralized a version of Stuxnet. “Recently we discovered a new generation of Stuxnet which consisted of several parts … and was trying to enter our systems,” Jalali was quoted as saying by the semi-official ISNA news agency. He gave no further details. In 2013, researchers at Symantec Corp uncovered a version of the Stuxnet that was used to attack the Iranian nuclear program in November 2007. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week called for stepped-up efforts to fight enemy “infiltration” in a speech to officials in charge of cyber defense, state broadcasting reported.[SEP]Iran has accused Israel of launching a failed cyberattack against its communications systems. Information Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi made the accusation on November 5 using his Twitter account. Jahromi said the cyberattack had been thwarted because of "the vigilance of technical teams" in Iran. Earlier, Jahromi’s deputy, Hamid Fattahi, said technical teams had intercepted multiple attempts to infiltrate Iran's communications systems early on November 5. Fattahi said the hackers had been "strongly warded off." Tehran’s claims come just a week after General Gholam Reza Jalali, head of the Iranian military unit in charge of combating sabotage, said that President Hassan Rohani's cell phone had recently been tapped. Based on reporting by AP and AFP[SEP]Earlier this month, the head of Iran's civil defense, Gholamreza Jalali, claimed thathad been discovered by Iranian authorities.Hamid Fatahi, the CEO of Iran's Telecommunications Company, stated on Twitter on Monday that the country hadCommenting on the attacks, Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi re-posted Fatahi's tweet, confirming that the hackers were "attempting to harm Iran's communications infrastructure," and also said thatEarlier this year, Israel claimed that it had accomplished a major cyber-heist, obtaining an archive that allegedly documented that Iran was continuing to work on its nuclear weapons program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the information at the UN General Assembly in September.[SEP]Hamid Fatahi, the CEO of Iran's Telecommunications Company, stated on Twitter on Monday that the country had foiled a wave of cyberattacks, allegedly conducted by Israel, targeting communications infrastructure of the Islamic Republic. According to the CEO, the operations against Iran "were firmly foiled." Today, Some of our communication infrastructures have been attacked by some sources in an illegal regime. It was such an EASY TO DEFEAT THEM! They showed to the Int'l community that their accusation against Iran for #CyberAttacks was just a ridiculous delusion. Remember Stuxnet. — Hamid Fatahi (@fatahi_ir) 5 ноября 2018 г. Earlier this year, Israel claimed that it had accomplished a major cyber-heist, obtaining an archive that allegedly documented that Iran was continuing to work on its nuclear weapons program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the information at the UN General Assembly in September.[SEP]TEHRAN - Iran has successfully thwarted cyber attacks by Israel targeting the country’s communications infrastructure, said a report by the Press TV, quoting an Iranian official, on Monday. The attack was an attempt by Israel to launch sporadic cyber assaults against the Islamic republic’s communications infrastructure, said Hamid Fatahi, CEO of Iran’s Telecommunications Company. “The (Israeli) regime, with a notorious background in using cyber weapons in the cases such as Stuxnet, was this time attempting to harm Iran’s communications infrastructure,” Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi said later on Monday. However, “they had to go away empty-handed thanks to the vigilance of our technical teams,” Azari Jahromi said. “We will pursue this hostile move through international tribunals,” he added.[SEP]Iran accused Israel on Monday of launching a failed cyber attack against its communications systems. "A regime whose record in using cyber weapons is clear from cases such as Stuxnet has tried this time to damage Iran's communication infrastructure," said Information Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi on his Twitter account. He was referring to the Stuxnet virus, discovered in 2010 and believed to have been engineered by Israel and the United States, which damaged nuclear facilities in Iran. "Thanks to vigilance of the technical teams, they returned empty-handed. We will follow up this hostile action through international forums," Jahromi said. His deputy, Hamid Fattahi, said technical teams had intercepted multiple attempts to infiltrate their systems early on Monday, and had been "strongly warded off".

The Iranian telecommunication minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi accuses Israel of a failed cyberattack on its telecommunications infrastructure, and vows to respond with legal action.

MADRID (Reuters) - At least 17 migrants died in the space of 24 hours while trying to cross the sea from North Africa to Spain, and rescuers picked up more than 100 others, the Spanish coast guard said on Monday. Two rafts were found in the Western Mediterranean between the Iberian peninsula and Morocco and Algeria with 80 people aboard, and 13 dead. They were taken to the Spanish North African enclave of Melilla, the coast guard said. The coast guard also found four bodies and rescued 22 men in the Atlantic off the southern Spanish city of Cadiz. Spain has now become the main destination for undocumented migrants and refugees from Africa and the Middle East trying to reach Europe. More than 47,000 people made the treacherous journey to Spain, often on flimsy dinghies and rafts, between Jan. 1 and Oct. 30, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM). Almost 600 deaths have been recorded in that same period. So far this year, there have been around 105,000 arrivals across the whole north coast of the Mediterranean, and over 2,000 missing or dead, though that is down from the same period in 2017, when 148,000 arrived by sea and almost 3,000 perished. “In September, one life was lost for every eight people who crossed. This was in large part due to substantially reduced search and rescue capacity,” said the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR). Legal and logistical restrictions have discouraged non-governmental organizations from conducting search and rescue in the central Mediterranean. More than half the deaths reported this year so far have been reported in crossings to Italy, whose new government has repeatedly refused to take in migrants setting off from Libya and picked up in the Mediterranean.[SEP]At least 17 people have died trying to reach Spain in boats departing from North Africa. At least 17 people have died trying to reach Spain in boats departing from North Africa. At least 17 migrants die in bid to reach Spain from North Africa Spain’s maritime service said on Tuesday that it rescued 80 people, including five women, from two boats and recovered the bodies of 13 dead migrants in the Alboran Sea, part of the western Mediterranean migrant route into Europe. They were all transferred to the Spanish enclave of Melilla, which borders Morocco. In a separate incident, the Spanish Civil Guard said it found four bodies of migrants and 22 survivors, all men from northern Africa, after the wooden dinghy in which they were travelling hit a reef close to the coast west of the Strait of Gibraltar. The UN has said over 2,160 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year.[SEP]At least 17 people have died trying to reach Spain in boats departing from North Africa. Spain’s maritime service said today that it rescued 80 people, including five women, from two boats and recovered the bodies of 13 dead migrants in the Alboran Sea, part of the western Mediterranean migrant route into Europe. They were all transferred to the Spanish enclave of Melilla, which borders Morocco. Members of Spanish Civil Guard look for bodies of drowned migrants (Javier Fergo/AP) In a separate incident, the Spanish Civil Guard said it found four bodies of migrants and 22 survivors, all men from northern Africa, after the wooden dinghy in which they were travelling hit a reef close to the coast west of the Strait of Gibraltar. The UN has said more than 2,160 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year.[SEP]MADRID (AP) - Spanish rescue workers combed the seas and shores of southern Spain on Tuesday, searching for 17 missing migrants a day after finding the bodies of 17 other migrants who died trying to cross the Mediterranean in boats departing from North Africa. The Spanish Civil Guard said it had found four bodies of migrants and 22 survivors Monday, all men from northern Africa, after their wooden dinghy hit a reef close to the coast, west of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Civil Guard said 13 of the survivors were thought to be unaccompanied minors. It also said 17 other people traveling were missing, but could have reached Spanish shores. The Civil Guard on Tuesday resumed the search for them both on sea and land. Earlier on Monday, Spanish maritime rescuers found 80 people, including five women, and recovered the bodies of 13 dead migrants in the Alboran Sea, part of the western Mediterranean migrant route into Europe. The migrants were traveling in two different boats, the Spanish Maritime Rescue Service said, adding that they were all transferred to the Spanish enclave of Melilla, which borders Morocco. The U.N. says over 2,160 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year, 564 of them trying to reach Spain. In this photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, migrants arrive at the port of San Roque, southern Spain, after being rescued by Spain's Maritime Rescue Service in the Strait of Gibraltar. Spain's maritime rescue service saved 520 people trying to cross from Africa to Spain's shores on Saturday. Also, one boat with 70 migrants arrived to the Canary Islands. Over 1,960 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year, according to the United Nations. (AP Photo/Marcos Moreno) At the Strait of Gibraltar on the western edge of the Mediterranean, Africa and Europe are only 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) apart but the waters there can be dangerous due to high winds and strong currents. Still, the short distance has made that route the most popular choice for migrants heading to Europe after fleeing violence or poverty at home. Nearly 54,000 migrants have entered Europe this year through Spain, more than the combined migrant arrivals to Italy and Greece, which had been the most popular migrant destinations in previous years. One-fifth of them arrived in October, the month with most migrant arrivals so far this year, according to U.N. statistics.[SEP]At least 17 migrants have died in the past 24 hours while trying to cross the sea from North Africa to Spain, and rescuers picked up more than 100 others, the Spain’s maritime rescue service said on Monday. Two rafts were found in the Western Mediterranean between the Iberian peninsula and Morocco and Algeria with 80 people aboard and 13 dead. They were taken to the Spanish North African enclave of Melilla, Salvamento Maritimo said. The coast guard also found four bodies and rescued 22 men in the Atlantic off the southern Spanish city of Cadiz. Spain has now become the main destination for undocumented migrants and refugees from Africa and the Middle East trying to reach Europe. More than 47,000 people made the treacherous journey to Spain, often on flimsy dinghies and rafts, from Jan. 1 to Oct. 30, according to the United Nation’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). Almost 600 deaths have been recorded in that same period, the IOM said. Through 2018, there have been almost 100,000 arrivals throughout the whole Mediterranean, and almost 2,000 missing or dead, though that is down from the same period in 2017 when 148,000 arrived by sea and almost 3,000 perished. Main photo: Library image of the Strait of Gibraltar. Pic by David Parody[SEP]MADRID (AP) — Spain’s maritime rescue service says at least 17 people have died trying to reach Spain in boats departing from North Africa. The service says Tuesday that it rescued 80 people Monday, including five women, from two boats and recovered the bodies of 13 dead migrants in the Alboran Sea, part of the western Mediterranean migrant route into Europe. They were all transferred to the Spanish enclave of Melilla, which borders Morocco. In a separate incident, the Spanish Civil Guard says it found four bodies of migrants and 22 survivors, all men from northern Africa, after the wooden dinghy in which they were travelling hit a reef close to the coast west of the Strait of Gibraltar. The U.N. says over 2,160 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year.[SEP]Spanish rescue workers combed the seas and shores of southern Spain on Tuesday, searching for 17 missing migrants a day after finding the bodies of 17 other migrants who died trying to cross the Mediterranean in boats departing from North Africa. The Spanish Civil Guard said it had found four bodies of migrants and 22 survivors Monday, all men from northern Africa, after their wooden dinghy hit a reef close to the coast, west of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Civil Guard said 13 of the survivors were thought to be unaccompanied minors. It also said 17 other people traveling were missing, but could have reached Spanish shores. The Civil Guard on Tuesday resumed the search for them both on sea and land. Earlier on Monday, Spanish maritime rescuers found 80 people, including five women, and recovered the bodies of 13 dead migrants in the Alboran Sea, part of the western Mediterranean migrant route into Europe. The migrants were traveling in two different boats, the Spanish Maritime Rescue Service said, adding that they were all transferred to the Spanish enclave of Melilla, which borders Morocco. The U.N. says over 2,160 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year, 564 of them trying to reach Spain. At the Strait of Gibraltar on the western edge of the Mediterranean, Africa and Europe are only 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) apart but the waters there can be dangerous due to high winds and strong currents. Still, the short distance has made that route the most popular choice for migrants heading to Europe after fleeing violence or poverty at home. Nearly 54,000 migrants have entered Europe this year through Spain, more than the combined migrant arrivals to Italy and Greece, which had been the most popular migrant destinations in previous years. One-fifth of them arrived in October, the month with most migrant arrivals so far this year, according to U.N. statistics.[SEP]MADRID - At least 17 people have died while attempting to cross from Morocco to Spain, Spanish Maritime Rescue Services confirmed on Tuesday. The Government Delegate in the Spanish North-African enclave of Melilla reported that the bodies of 13 people, who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Morocco to Spain in two dinghies, were recovered by the rescue vessel "Guardamar Polimina". The crew of the Guardamar Polimina were able to save a further 80 migrants, including five women, who were also travelling in the dinghies. The rescued have been taken to the Temporary Immigrant Center (CETI) in Melilla. A further four migrants died in the province of Cadiz, southwest Spain after the dinghy they were travelling in hit rocks off a beach known as "Los Canos de Meca". The Spanish media report that 40 Moroccans were in the dinghy and that 22 have been detained. However, Civil Protection units are still searching the area as it is not known whether the 14 people unaccounted for were able to survive. The Civil Guard's Chief of Operations in the region told the media that rivalry between gangs of people traffickers was one of the reasons behind the tragedies. "They are constantly competing to lowering the price of the crossing and to do that they put the lives of these people at risk. We have seen the results of that this morning," commented Lieutenant-Colonel Luis Martin. This tragedy comes a day after the Spanish Interior Ministry and the International Organization for Migration on Monday published figures which showed that an estimated 564 people lost their lives attempting to cross from North Africa to Spain during the first 10 months of 2018.[SEP]MADRID, Nov 6 — Thirteen sub-Saharan African migrants died and another 80 were rescued at sea after they tried to reach Spain in two boats from the North African coast, Spanish authorities said yesterday. Increasing numbers of migrants are trying to enter Spain by sea or by crossing into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco, which are the only European territories in Africa. “The coast guard recovered two vessels heading toward the peninsula, with 93 people, 13 of whom have unfortunately died,” the Spanish government delegation in Melilla said in a statement. It said nine of the dead — all men — were recovered at sea and Red Cross efforts to revive four others also failed. The two vessels were recovered 32km off the coast of Melilla, it said, without giving details on the state of the vessels. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 47,000 migrants have arrived by sea in Spain since the start of the year and another 564 have died or disappeared during the journey, often made aboard overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels. — AFP[SEP]MADRID (AP) — Spain’s maritime rescue service says a baby has died despite efforts by rescuers to save it after a small boat carrying migrants sunk in the Mediterranean Sea. The death came as over 500 others were rescued. The service says Sunday that the bottom of the rubber boat gave out, tossing 56 migrants into the water when its rescue craft reached it Saturday east of the Strait of Gibraltar. Rescue workers were able to save 55 men, women and children, but could not reanimate the baby. In all, Spanish rescue workers saved 520 people trying to cross from North Africa to Spain on Saturday. In addition, one boat with 70 migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Over 1,960 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year. Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

In two separate incidents, there are a total of at least seventeen migrants killed after they attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Spain.

Bodies of two men and two women found in rubble, with rescuers expecting to find more The bodies of two men and two women have been discovered in the rubble of two dilapidated buildings that collapsed in the centre of Marseille on Monday. “We are still looking at there being between five and eight victims; people of whom we have no news,” the city prosecutor, Xavier Tarabeux said. The French interior minister, Christophe Castaner, said the rescue operation was “meticulous and delicate”, much of which had to be carried out by hand. “The searchers have found some survival pockets, so there is perhaps hope there may be people still alive,” he added. About 80 firefighters were combing through the wreckage. A political row is brewing over the condition of the two buildings, as officials revealed that about 6,000 properties in Marseille were in a dilapidated state. Castaner said: “I am here to accompany the men and women trying to save lives. The polemic can come later, the investigation now. Everyone is trying to save lives. That is the urgency. For as long as there is hope, the fire service will continue to fight to save lives.” The minister said the building that was occupied, No 65 rue d’Aubagne, had undergone a “technical inspection” on 18 October. While concerns about its state were raised, there was no decision to evacuate it. Renaud Muselier, president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, said: “Teams have worked through the night in difficult conditions. It’s been raining so it’s complicated. The one positive thing is that they have found potential breathing spaces.” No 63 was derelict and supposedly empty but may have been occupied by squatters. It is thought to have fallen first, pulling down No 65, which was occupied, and partially damaging No 67, which fire services were forced to pull down entirely. “The risk is that it’s a house of cards. It was a dilapidated building, but there were owners and tenants there. It wasn’t a slum,” Muselier said. The buildings gave way after 9am on Monday. Throughout the night, emergency services combed through the 15-metre-deep rubble left by the collapse. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Police and firefighters begin clearance work at the site where two buildings collapsed in Marseille on Monday. Photograph: Gérard Julien/AFP/Getty Images Working all night, search teams removed parts of the building from the road, under which they found a crushed car. Muselier said that among the missing was a woman who had failed to collect her daughter from school and another woman who rarely left her home in the building. Sophie, a 25-year-old philosophy student, who was living in one of the destroyed buildings, had stayed with her parents the night before the collapse. “For several days the doors to several flats wouldn’t close, or had difficulty closing, including mine. I was afraid of being imprisoned in my home with the door blocked,” she told AFP. At No 65 rue d’Aubagne, nine of the 10 apartments were occupied. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Firefighters remove rubble at the site where two buildings collapsed on Monday in Marseille, southern France. Photograph: Loic Aedo/AFP/Getty Images Mark Mason, a retired college lecturer who owned a flat in No 63 rue d’Aubagne, with a French friend, Laurence Coriat, said their property was subject to a compulsory purchase order in 2012 after the building was inspected and officials deemed it unsafe. The floor of a first-floor apartment had collapsed and chunks of masonry were falling from the facade, they said. “Between 2006 and 2012 it got worse,” Coriat said. “We had a report done that said the building was constructed on sand and the foundations were not good.” Mason, who has since moved to London, said: “The problems started in 2006 when great cracks appeared in the outside walls to the point we had to have wooden frames fitted to support the windows. “In the end, we were the only owners living in the building. We were forced to sell because there was too much work to be done. The town hall said they were going to buy up all the flats, do up the building and renovate the whole area. That was in 2012.” The local housing authority, Marseille Habitat, told the local online newspaper Marsactu it had sought to declare the building dilapidated in 2012 in order to carry out a programme of “voluntary purchases”. It said it acquired the building in 2017 and carried out limited work to stop blocks of masonry falling from the facade. “The danger posed by No 63, owned by the city of Marseille, has been known for years,” said the campaign group A City Centre for All in a statement. “It’s the third derelict building in the first arrondissement that has collapsed in five years.” In a statement, Marseille city council admitted that No 63 had been subject to a “danger notice” in 2008 and was “boarded up and secured to stop access”.[SEP]PARIS (AP) — French rescuers find second body in ruins of collapsed buildings in Marseille.[SEP]The Latest: 4th victim found in rubble of French buildings MARSEILLE, France (AP) — The Latest on two collapsed buildings in southern France (all times local): A French prosecutor says rescuers have found a fourth body in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in the southern city of Marseille as a search through mounds of debris continues. Marseille prosecutor Xavier Tabareux said the body of a woman was recovered after three other dead people were found in the rubble earlier Tuesday: two men and another woman. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims. Several other people remain missing. Dozens of police officers and firefighters have worked to nonstop since the buildings collapsed Monday. Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille say they have found a third body in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed a day ago as the rescue operation continues. A spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a man's body was recovered, in addition to the bodies of another man and a woman they found earlier. Several others remain missing. Dozens of police officers and firefighters have been working overnight in a rescue effort since the buildings collapsed on Monday. Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille say they have found a second body in the ruins of two collapsed buildings. A spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press Tuesday that a female body had been recovered from the debris of the buildings, which collapsed a day ago. The announcement brings the death toll to at least two. Several others remain missing. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, who arrived at the site Tuesday, said "air pockets" under the debris meant there's "hope to locate and find someone that can be saved." Castaner said 120 police officers and 80 firefighters took part in the rescue effort, working through the night in the pile of beams and rubble. French rescue crews who labored through the night say they've found the body of a man in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in a pile of beams and rubble in the southern city of Marseille. The discovery was confirmed Tuesday morning by the city's fire brigade on its Twitter feed . Authorities fear other people may also be trapped in the ruins. The two buildings, one vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed Monday morning. Fire crews working with sniffer dogs later brought down the remains of a third building they feared could topple over on them.[SEP]Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (AP)[SEP]Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (AP)[SEP]The Latest: 4th victim found in rubble of French buildings MARSEILLE, France (AP) — The Latest on two collapsed buildings in southern France (all times local): A French prosecutor says rescuers have found a fourth body in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in the southern city of Marseille as a search through mounds of debris continues. Marseille prosecutor Xavier Tabareux said the body of a woman was recovered after three other dead people were found in the rubble earlier Tuesday: two men and another woman. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims. Several other people remain missing. Dozens of police officers and firefighters have worked to nonstop since the buildings collapsed Monday. Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille say they have found a third body in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed a day ago as the rescue operation continues. A spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a man's body was recovered, in addition to the bodies of another man and a woman they found earlier. Several others remain missing. Dozens of police officers and firefighters have been working overnight in a rescue effort since the buildings collapsed on Monday. Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille say they have found a second body in the ruins of two collapsed buildings. A spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press Tuesday that a female body had been recovered from the debris of the buildings, which collapsed a day ago. The announcement brings the death toll to at least two. Several others remain missing. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, who arrived at the site Tuesday, said "air pockets" under the debris meant there's "hope to locate and find someone that can be saved." Castaner said 120 police officers and 80 firefighters took part in the rescue effort, working through the night in the pile of beams and rubble. French rescue crews who labored through the night say they've found the body of a man in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in a pile of beams and rubble in the southern city of Marseille. The discovery was confirmed Tuesday morning by the city's fire brigade on its Twitter feed . Authorities fear other people may also be trapped in the ruins. The two buildings, one vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed Monday morning. Fire crews working with sniffer dogs later brought down the remains of a third building they feared could topple over on them.[SEP]MARSEILLE, FRANCE—Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille found the bodies of three people in the ruins of two collapsed buildings as the search for victims and survivors continued Tuesday. A man’s body was recovered from the rubble after the bodies of another man and a woman were found earlier in the day, a spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press. Several people remained missing after the adjacent multi-story structures collapsed Monday. French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said “air pockets” under the debris meant there’s “hope to locate and find someone that can be saved.” Castaner said at the site that 120 police officers and 80 firefighters took part in the search-and-rescue operation, working through the night in the pile of beams and rubble. The two buildings, one apparently vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed Monday at 9 a.m. local time. Authorities said the vacant building had been deemed substandard. It was not immediately clear why they collapsed, or how many people the apartment building housed. Search on for survivors as buildings collapse in French city Fire crews working with sniffer dogs later brought down the remains of a third building they feared could topple over on them. Images of the buildings before they collapsed showed that one had five floors and the other six. In the spot where they had stood, a large gap appeared once the dust and debris settled. Cars around Marseille’s famous Old Port on the Mediterranean Sea, were covered with thick dust.[SEP]Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (AP)[SEP]The Latest: 4th victim found in rubble of French buildings MARSEILLE, France (AP) — The Latest on two collapsed buildings in southern France (all times local): A French prosecutor says rescuers have found a fourth body in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in the southern city of Marseille as a search through mounds of debris continues. Marseille prosecutor Xavier Tabareux said the body of a woman was recovered after three other dead people were found in the rubble earlier Tuesday: two men and another woman. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims. Several other people remain missing. Dozens of police officers and firefighters have worked to nonstop since the buildings collapsed Monday. Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille say they have found a third body in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed a day ago as the rescue operation continues. A spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a man's body was recovered, in addition to the bodies of another man and a woman they found earlier. Several others remain missing. Dozens of police officers and firefighters have been working overnight in a rescue effort since the buildings collapsed on Monday. Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille say they have found a second body in the ruins of two collapsed buildings. A spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press Tuesday that a female body had been recovered from the debris of the buildings, which collapsed a day ago. The announcement brings the death toll to at least two. Several others remain missing. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, who arrived at the site Tuesday, said "air pockets" under the debris meant there's "hope to locate and find someone that can be saved." Castaner said 120 police officers and 80 firefighters took part in the rescue effort, working through the night in the pile of beams and rubble. French rescue crews who labored through the night say they've found the body of a man in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in a pile of beams and rubble in the southern city of Marseille. The discovery was confirmed Tuesday morning by the city's fire brigade on its Twitter feed . Authorities fear other people may also be trapped in the ruins. The two buildings, one vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed Monday morning. Fire crews working with sniffer dogs later brought down the remains of a third building they feared could topple over on them.[SEP]MARSEILLE, France (AP) - The Latest on two collapsed buildings in southern France (all times local): Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille say they have found a third body in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed a day ago as the rescue operation continues. A spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a man's body was recovered, in addition to the bodies of another man and a woman they found earlier. Several others remain missing. Dozens of police officers and firefighters have been working overnight in a rescue effort since the buildings collapsed on Monday. Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille say they have found a second body in the ruins of two collapsed buildings. A spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press Tuesday that a female body had been recovered from the debris of the buildings, which collapsed a day ago. The announcement brings the death toll to at least two. Several others remain missing. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, who arrived at the site Tuesday, said "air pockets" under the debris meant there's "hope to locate and find someone that can be saved." Castaner said 120 police officers and 80 firefighters took part in the rescue effort, working through the night in the pile of beams and rubble. French rescue crews who labored through the night say they've found the body of a man in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in a pile of beams and rubble in the southern city of Marseille. The discovery was confirmed Tuesday morning by the city's fire brigade on its Twitter feed . Authorities fear other people may also be trapped in the ruins. The two buildings, one vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed Monday morning. Fire crews working with sniffer dogs later brought down the remains of a third building they feared could topple over on them.

A pair of buildings collapsed yesterday in Marseille, France, with today four people being found dead while others remain missing.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives to pay his respect by the tomb of Lieutenant Robert Porchon, brother-in-arms of French writer Maurice Genevoix, at the Trottoir necropolis in Les Eparges, France, November 6, 2018, as part of the ceremonies marking the centenary of the First World War. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS PARIS (Reuters) - French police on Tuesday arrested five men and a woman, all from the radical far right, suspected of plotting to attack French President Emmanuel Macron, an official close to the investigation said. The source said France’s domestic spy agency (DGSI) ordered the raids in three different regions after obtaining intelligence that raised suspicion of an “imprecise and loosely-formed” plan for “violent action” against the president. Police sources said the six were members of the radical far right in France. They were detained in swoops on addresses in the Isere region, southeast of Lyon, in Moselle on the border with Germany and Luxembourg, and in Ille-et-Vilaine near the city of Rennes in the country’s northwest. It was not immediately clear what the connection between those arrested was. In an interview published on Sunday, Macron warned of the threat from far-right movements across Europe, saying complacency during the 1930s was what had opened the way for the rise of Hitler in Germany and Mussolini in Italy. In June, 10 people linked to France’s radical far right were placed under formal investigation on suspicion of links to terrorist networks. A source close to the investigation said the 10 belonged to a hardline group whose stated intent was to “fight against the threat of Islam” and were suspected of planning an attack on Muslims. The June raids led to the seizure of ingredients for making explosives as well as guns and ammunition. It was not clear if Tuesday’s security operation was connected to the June arrests.[SEP]Six people have been arrested in connection to a foiled plot to attack French President Emmanuel Macron, an official said Tuesday. Suspects had an "imprecise and loosely-formed" plan for "violent action" against Macron, a source close to the matter told the Associated Press and Reuters. French broadcasters BFM TV reported that the six were members of a far-right group, according to Reuters. The six arrested are between the ages of 22 and 62 and include one woman, authorities told AP. It wasn't immediately clear if the suspects were working in coordination. The arrests were made in southeast of Lyon, in Moselle on the border with Germany and Luxembourg and in northwest Ille-et-Vilaine, Reuters reported. Macron was in the northeast city of Verdun, about 160 miles away from Paris, on Tuesday to take part in World War I commemorations. President Trump and several other world leaders are scheduled to visit France this weekend, to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Nov. 11, 1918 armistice signing that ended World War I. Macron was targeted last year bya man who allegedly plotted to shoot him during the Bastille Day parade.[SEP]French security agents have arrested six people on preliminary terrorism charges for allegedly plotting to attack French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a French judicial official. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the allegations, said intelligence agents detained the six in three widely scattered regions, including one suspect in the Alps, another in Brittany and four suspects near the Belgian border in Moselle. He said the plan to target the French president appeared to be vague and unfinalized but violent. Authorities said the six were between 22 and 62 years old and included one woman. It is not known if they were suspected of working together. French presidents have been targeted several times over the decades, including in 2002 when a far-right sympathizer tried to attack President Jacques Chirac on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris during Bastille Day celebrations. Macron was in the northeastern French city of Verdun on Tuesday as part of centenary commemorations for the end of World War I. The suspected plot was uncovered days before U.S. President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders are due in France for commemorations this weekend of the signing 100 years ago of the Nov. 11 armistice that ended World War I.[SEP]PARIS (AP) - French security agents have arrested six people on preliminary terrorism charges for allegedly plotting to attack French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a French judicial official. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the allegations, said intelligence agents detained the six in three widely scattered regions, including the Alps, Brittany and near the Belgian border. He said the plan to target the French president appeared to be vague and unfinalized but violent. Authorities released no further details about the six suspects and did not say if they were suspected of working together or separately. French presidents have been targeted several times over the decades, including in 2002 when a far-right sympathizer tried to attack President Jacques Chirac on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris during Bastille Day celebrations. Macron was in the northeastern French city of Verdun on Tuesday as part of centenary commemorations for the end of World War I. The suspected plot was uncovered days before U.S. President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders are due in France for commemorations this weekend of the signing 100 years ago of the Nov. 11 armistice that ended World War I. French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at the Trottoir necropolis in Les Eparges, eastern France, Tuesday Nov. 6, 2018, as part of the ceremonies marking the centenary of the end of First World War. A French judicial official says six people have been arrested on preliminary terrorism charges, suspected of plotting to attack French President Emmanuel Macron. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)[SEP]French security agents have arrested six people on suspicion of plotting to attack President Emmanuel Macron, according to a judicial official. French security agents have arrested six people on suspicion of plotting to attack President Emmanuel Macron, according to a judicial official. Six held over ‘plot’ to attack French president Macron Prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation of alleged criminal terrorist association, the official said. Intelligence agents detained the six suspects in three scattered regions: one in the Alps, another in Brittany and four near the Belgian border in Moselle, the official added. The alleged plan to target the French president appeared to be vague and unfinished but violent, the official said. Authorities said the six were aged between 22 and 62 and included one woman. Interior minister Christophe Castaner told reporters they are believed to be far-right activists. Authorities feared “concrete threats” from the group, Mr Castaner said. French presidents have been targeted several times over the decades. In 2002, a far-right sympathiser tried to attack Jacques Chirac on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris during Bastille Day celebrations. Mr Macron was in the north-eastern French city of Verdun on Tuesday as part of centenary commemorations for the end of the First World War. The alleged plot was uncovered days before US President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders are due in France for weekend observances marking the signing 100 years ago of the November 11 armistice that ended the First World War.[SEP]French security services have foiled a plan to carry out a violent attack against President Emmanuel Macron, officials said today. Six people with alleged right-wing ties have so far been arrested on preliminary terrorism charges, suspected of plotting to attack the French President. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the allegations, said intelligence agents detained the six in three widely scattered regions, including the Alps, Brittany and near the Belgian border. French TV channel BFM TV reported that the six were members of the far-right, but that could not be independently confirmed. They are suspected of undertaking an 'imprecise and loosely-formed' plan for 'violent action' against the president. The arrests were carried out in three separate areas of France: Isere, southeast of Lyon; Moselle, on the border with Germany and Luxembourg; and in Ille-et-Vilaine, in the northwest near the city of Rennes. It was not immediately clear what the connection between those arrested was or how they were in touch with one another. In an interview published on Sunday, Macron warned of the threat from far-right movements across Europe, saying complacency during the 1930s was what had opened the way for the rise of Hitler in Germany and Mussolini in Italy. Macron is currently in Verdun, the city in northeast France which was the site of the largest and longest battle of World War I. The President is preparing to host world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May during Armistice commemorations this weekend. The far right is on the rise in France, with the National Rally party - formerly National Front - now polling two per cent higher than Macron. A new poll examining voting intentions for the upcoming European Parliament elections show the NR on 21 per cent, with Mr Macron's Republic on the Move (LREM) on 19 per cent. Le Pen recently changed her party's name from National Front in an attempt to move away from the far-right party's racist and anti-Semitic roots.[SEP]Macron himself warned against the rise of extremism on the right in Europe just days before the arrests were made. Six individuals have been arrested by French authorities in what appears to have been an alleged plot against that nation’s centrist President Emmanuel Macron, law enforcement in that country reported on Tuesday. Five male suspects and one female suspect were arrested in three different locations across France. Arrests were made near Lyon; near the border with Luxembourg and Germany in Moselle; and in Ille-et-Vilaine as well, according to reporting from NBC News. Macron was himself not far from Moselle when the arrests were made, visiting sites in Verdun while commemorating the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I. American President Donald Trump is also scheduled to visit France this weekend to take part in said ceremonies. Authorities said that the suspects had an “imprecise and loosely-formed” plan to take “violent action” against the French president. The ages of the suspects ranged from ages 20 to 60, and the Independent further reported that the leader of the group was caught with a handgun (gun ownership is rare in France, and ownership of such a weapon is typically restricted to those who use them for hunting, according to the Washington Post). Some news outlets also reported that the individuals arrested harbored far-right wing viewpoints. Right-wing extremism was a topic of concern that Macron himself addressed just last week. The French president made clear that the conditions facing his nation today are similar in scope to what happened in the run-up to the years before the second World War. “In a Europe that is divided by fears, nationalist assertion and the consequences of the economic crisis, we see almost methodically the rearticulation of everything that dominated the life of Europe from post–World War I to the 1929 crisis,” Macron said just days before the arrests were made, according to reporting from Newsweek. His words are a far cry from what U.S. President Trump has said in recent weeks. After a right-wing terrorist sent pipe bomb devices to various liberal and anti-Trump individuals across the nation late last month, several commentators suggested Trump’s rhetoric was partly to blame for inspiring that individual, Cesar Sayoc, who is a strong Trump loyalist. Trump dismissed the notion that his words inspired hatred, and instead blamed the “fake news media” for fanning the flames of hate. “A lot of reporters are creating violence by not writing the truth,” Trump said last month to reporters before attending a campaign rally, according to reporting from the New York Post. “If the media would write correctly and accurately and fairly, you’d have a lot less violence in the country.” Trump did not explain which stories the news media were reporting on that were false, or that made things more violent in America.[SEP]France’s President Emmanuel Macron has waded onto controversial ground by praising a First World War general who subsequently collaborated with the Nazis in the Second World War. Marshal Philippe Petain led the French army to victory in Verdun in 1916, but gained infamy and a conviction for treason for his actions as leader of Vichy France in 1940 to 1944. French President Emmanuel Macron, right, walks at the cemetery by the Ossuary of Douaumont near Verdun (Francois Mori/AP) Mr Macron said today in Charleville-Mezieres that Petain deserved praise for being “a great soldier” in the First World War, although he took “fatal choices during the Second World War”. Petain was complicit in the 1942 deportation of 13,000 Jews from France in the Vel’ d’Hiv round-up that was part of the Holocaust.[SEP]PARIS (AP) — French security agents have arrested six people on preliminary terrorism charges for allegedly plotting to attack French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a French judicial official. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the allegations, said intelligence agents detained the six in three widely scattered regions, including the Alps, Brittany and near the Belgian border. He said the plan to target the French president appeared to be vague and unfinalized but violent. Authorities released no further details about the six suspects and did not say if they were suspected of working together or separately. French presidents have been targeted several times over the decades, including in 2002 when a far-right sympathizer tried to attack President Jacques Chirac on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris during Bastille Day celebrations. Macron was in the northeastern French city of Verdun on Tuesday as part of centenary commemorations for the end of World War I. The suspected plot was uncovered days before U.S. President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders are due in France for commemorations this weekend of the signing 100 years ago of the Nov. 11 armistice that ended World War I. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[SEP]French President Emmanuel Macron throws a wreath of flowers at Les Entonnoirs, a site of mines war, in Les Eparges, eastern France, Tuesday Nov. 6, 2018, as part of the ceremonies marking the centenary of the end of First World War. A French judicial official says six people have been arrested on preliminary terrorism charges, suspected of plotting to attack French President Emmanuel Macron. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) (Ludovic Marin)

Based upon information from the General Directorate for Internal Security, French authorities arrest five men and one woman suspected of planning an attack on French President Emmanuel Macron. Police report the suspects are radical far right citizens.

The remarks were unexpected. Ullah showed no emotion as the jury found him guilty on all six counts for the attack last Dec. 11 that miraculously resulted in no deaths. The jury deliberated for roughly six hours over two days.[SEP]Port Authority bomber Akayed Ullah was found guilty Tuesday on all counts of trying to blow himself up in a failed terror attack at one of New York City's busiest commuter hubs. Akayed Ullah, a 28-year-old Bangladeshi Brooklynite, now faces up to life in prison for the December 2017 Port Authority bombing. Prosecutors in Manhattan federal court said Ullah is an ISIS sympathizer who attempted to blow himself up in a passageway to the Port Authority in an attempt to “inflict maximum damage” to New York City commuters on Dec. 11, 2017. Ullah's defense, however, claims he is a troubled man who wanted only to take his own life, and Ullah's bomb was an attempted suicide. No one was killed in the bombing that day, though survieillance video showed the bomb detonating within feet of Port Authority commuters. “This case is not about a foreign terrorist organization planting an operative in our midst,” Defense attorney Julia Gatto told jurors on Oct. 30, 2018. “What this case is about is a deeply troubled, isolated young man who wanted to take his own life.” Akayed Ullah verdict: Guilty on all counts in Port Authority bombing attempt Akayed Ullah was arrested last December after detonating a homemade bomb in a pedestrian tunnel connecting two subway lines and a bus terminal in midtown Manhattan. He was charged with six criminal counts, which include using a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to Islamic State. Gatto’s statement came after Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebekah Donaleski laid out the prosecutors’ case, telling the jury that Ullah’s act was inspired by Islamic State propaganda he found online. Donaleski said Ullah built a bomb out of a pipe taken from a construction site where he worked as an electrician, using match heads and sugar as explosives and screws as shrapnel. “The defendant was inspired by ISIS,” Donaleski said, using the Islamic State acronym. She said a search of Ullah’s computer revealed that he had viewed propaganda urging supporters unable to travel to join Islamic State to carry out “lone wolf” attacks wherever they live. Donaleski told the jury that, while on his way to carry out the attack, Ullah posted on Facebook: “Trump you failed to protect your nation,” followed by an Arabic message that she said expressed support of Islamic State. Gatto countered that the prosecutors “give far too much credit to an organization that deserves none.” “Tooling around on the internet does not make you an ISIS member,” she said. “He does not know a single ISIS member and not a single ISIS member knows him.” Ullah, Gatto said, was not thinking rationally and wanted only to kill himself in a way that would “send a message.” NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said on Twitter that it was fitting Akayed Ullah's guilty verdict came down on election day 2018. "It’s fitting that on #ElectionDay in America, Akayed Ullah — who detonated a bomb in a pedestrian tunnel beneath #NYC — was unanimously found guilty by a jury of New Yorkers. We are vigilant," O'Neill tweeted Tuesday afternoon, adding that New Yorkers will not be deterred by acts of terrorism.[SEP]NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – The man accused of setting off a poorly constructed pipe bomb near the Port Authority Bus Terminal was convicted on terrorism charges Tuesday. A jury found that Akayed Ullah, a Bangladeshi immigrant, strapped the bomb to his body and partially detonated the device inside a passageway that links the Times Square subway station to the bus terminal in Midtown. He told authorities he “did it for the Islamic State,” according to a federal criminal complaint. Ullah was indicted on five counts in the December 2017 attack, including providing material support to terrorists and using a weapon of mass destruction. He pleaded not guilty in January. He was hospitalized with serious burns after the attack. Five other people suffered minor injuries. The defense said Ullah intended to kill only himself last Dec. 11. Nobody died and most of the injuries were not serious. Prosecutors said he wanted to maim or kill commuters as part of a “lone wolf” terrorist attack on behalf of the Islamic State group. They disputed the defense claim, saying Ullah would not have worn a bomb had he wanted to kill only himself. They also cited social media postings by Ullah as well as comments he made after his arrest to investigators. “Ullah’s sinister purpose was to harm and terrorize as many innocent people in his path as possible, by using deadly violence to make a political statement,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman after the verdict. “Ullah’s conviction by a unanimous jury of New Yorkers falls on an Election Day, which fittingly underscores the core principles of American democracy and spirit: Americans engage in the political process through votes, not violence. Authorities said Ullah, who lived in Brooklyn, moved to the United States on an immigrant visa in 2011 before later becoming a legal, permanent resident.[SEP]A Manhattan federal jury Tuesday convicted the man who said he was inspired by Islamic State to set off a pipe bomb last year in one of New York City’s busiest transit hubs. On Dec. 11, Akayed Ullah, 28 years old, detonated the low-tech device at about 7:20 a.m. inside the passageway that connects the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Manhattan’s crowded Times Square subway station. The explosion created chaos during the morning commute, alarming commuters and disrupting the city’s transit system. Four people, including Mr....[SEP]Shocking newly-released surveillance video shows the moment the failed Port Authority pipe bomber set off his crude explosive at New York's busiest subway station last year in the name of ISIS. The harrowing video was released a day after Bangladeshi immigrant Akayed Ullah, 28, was found guilty of setting off the bomb that injured four on Tuesday. He was found guilty of all six criminal counts against him, including use of a weapon of mass destruction and support of a terrorist organization and faces a mandatory 30-year prison sentence and possible life. Sentencing is set for April 5. The chilling video reveals how Ullah first entered a subway station on December 11, 2017 at 6.26am then calmly made his way to Port Authority where his botched attack would unfold. Ullah is seen in the video wearing a blue sweater, khaki pants, and a gray hat. As he walks through a bustling tunnel that connects two subway lines and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan, he sets off the bomb at approximately 7.18am. One second he's walking calming through the tunnel, the next he sets off the bomb attached to his chest. His body goes rigid for a moment before collapsing onto the ground. A puff of smoke encircles him and shrapnel and bits of his clothing go flying in the air. Pedestrians behind and in front of him buckle over in panic upon hearing the loud noise, covering their ears and closing their eyes before running off. The video then cuts to a horde of police officers with their guns drawn slowly approaching Ullah's limp body sprawled out on the ground with his clothes in tatters and shreds. When officers realize Ullah is still alive and they immediately retreat before finally pinning him down, turning him over, and placing him in handcuffs. Ullah survived his suicide bomb attempt and explained to U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday that he created the explosive because he was angry at President Donald Trump for threatening to bomb the Middle East. Three other people suffered minor injuries in the attack. The only person seriously injured was Ullah himself. Federal prosecutors said Ullah built the bomb out of a pipe taken from a construction site where he worked as an electrician, using match heads and sugar as explosives and screws as shrapnel to main and kill commuters. They said he was inspired by online Islamic State propaganda urging supporters to carry out 'lone wolf' attacks. The defense claimed that Ullah only wanted to kill himself with the suicide pipe bomb. Prosecutors disputed that claim, saying Ullah would not have strapped the bomb to his chest had he wanted to kill only himself. 'He designed it. He built it. ... He picked the time. He picked the location,' said prosecutor Rebekah Donaleski at the start of the trial. Before the attack, prosecutors said, Ullah posted on Facebook: 'Trump you failed to protect your nation,' followed by an Arabic message expressing support of ISIS. A prosecutor said Ullah told an investigator after his arrest: 'I did it for the Islamic State.' Ullah lived with his mother, sister and two brothers in Brooklyn and was a green card holder. At the time of the attack his wife lived in Bangladesh, and the couple had a six-month-old son.[SEP]NEW YORK: The Bangladeshi man accused of detonating a bomb last December in a New York City subway passageway on behalf of Islamic State was found guilty on Tuesday of all six criminal counts against him, including use of a weapon of mass destruction and support of a terrorist organisation, according to federal prosecutors. The verdict against Akayed Ullah, 28, came after a week-long jury trial in Manhattan federal court. Ullah faces a possible sentence of life in prison. Ullah's lawyers declined to comment on the verdict. They had not contested the bombing charges, but said his motive was to end his life, not to support Islamic State even though he had taken in the militant group's propaganda online. Ullah was arrested last December after detonating a homemade bomb in a pedestrian tunnel connecting two subway lines and a bus terminal in midtown Manhattan. The explosion did not kill anyone, but authorities said three people suffered minor injuries and the subway station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal were closed temporarily that morning. Federal prosecutors said Ullah built the bomb out of a pipe taken from a construction site where he worked as an electrician, using match heads and sugar as explosives and screws as shrapnel. They said he was inspired by online Islamic State propaganda urging supporters to carry out "lone wolf" attacks. Before the attack, prosecutors said, Ullah posted on Facebook: "Trump you failed to protect your nation," followed by an Arabic message expressing support of Islamic State. Ullah lived with his mother, sister and two brothers in Brooklyn and was a green card holder. At the time of the attack his wife lived in Bangladesh, and the couple had a six-month-old son. Ullah's wife told Bangladeshi investigators that Ullah had not prayed regularly before moving the United States, and officials said he had no criminal record in his home country.[SEP]A Manhattan federal jury began deliberations Monday in the high-profile case of a Brooklyn man caught on video detonating a pipe bomb last year in a crowded tunnel connecting the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Times Square. The evidence against Akayed Ullah, 28, has been so overwhelming that even his defense lawyers admit he detonated the bomb. But they argued that he did it out of depression, not for ISIS, and that he planned to kill only himself. Ullah faces five to 20 years in prison if the jury buys the defense and convicts him of a single act of destroying public property with an explosive device. He faces multiple life sentences if convicted on all counts. His lawyers on Monday showed the jury shots of the video surveillance showing Ullah detonating the bomb, pointing out that the device exploded just as the morning rush-hour crowd around him dissipated. “If harming anyone other than himself was his intention, he missed the perfect opportunity,” defense lawyer Amy Gallicchio said in closing arguments. Prosecutors argued that this was dumb luck.[SEP]The Bangladeshi-origin man accused of constructing a pipe bomb and admitting he was inspired by ISIS to carry out the Dec. 11, 2017, attack in New York City, was convicted Nov. 6. Akayed Ullah, who detonated the bomb during the bustle of morning rush hour under the Port Authority Bus Terminal, was convicted unanimously by a jury of New Yorkers. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a statement released today, said Ullah’s “sinister purpose was to harm and terrorize as many innocent people in his path as possible, by using deadly violence to make a political statement.” His conviction, falling on Election Day, Berman added, “fittingly underscores the core principles of American democracy and spirit: Americans engage in the political process through votes, not violence. Today, Ullah stands convicted, he faces a potential life sentence, and his purpose failed. New York City remains a shining symbol of freedom and hope.” Ullah was indicted on Jan. 10 this year, with one count of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Stte of Iraq and al-Sham, one count of using and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, one count of bombing and attempting to bomb a place of public use and a public transportation system, one count of destruction and attempted destruction of property by means of fire or explosives, one count of conducting and attempting to conduct a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system, and one count of using a destructive device during and in furtherance of a crime of violence. On December 11, 2017, at approximately 7:20 a.m., Ullah detonated an improvised explosive device (“IED”) inside a subway terminal. Shortly after the blast, members of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department found Ullah lying on the ground near the explosion. Surveillance footage captured Ullah walking through the subway terminal immediately prior to the explosion, and then falling to the ground after the explosion. The components of an exploded pipe bomb were found on Ullah and in his surroundings. After Ullah was taken into custody, he was transferred to Bellevue Hospital, where he made statements to law enforcement officers after waiving his Miranda rights. During that interview, Ullah admitted to making the pipe bomb and carrying out the attack, saying, “I did it for the Islamic State.” He made the pipe bomb at his home in Brooklyn, filling the pipe bomb with metal screws, which he believed would cause maximum damage. According to the indictment, Ullah’s radicalization began in at least approximately 2014. He viewed pro-ISIS materials online, including a video instructing, in substance, that if supporters of ISIS were unable to travel overseas to join ISIS, they should carry out attacks in their homelands. He began researching how to build IEDs on the Internet approximately one year prior to the attack.[SEP]A Bangladeshi man who said he was inspired by the Islamic State to detonate a pipe bomb last year near the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal was found guilty of six federal terrorism charges Tuesday. Akayed Ullah, 28, of Brooklyn, was convicted by a federal jury in Manhattan after a weeklong trial. All told, Ullah was found guilty of using a weapon of mass destruction, bombing a mass transportation system and other charges. He faces life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Richard J. Sullivan on April 5. “This guilty verdict holds Ullah accountable, and he faces a potential life term in federal prison for his crimes,” said John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. Ullah set off a makeshift bomb in a crowded subway terminal on Dec. 11, 2017. The early morning rush hour explosion wounded one person with shrapnel and caused panic throughout New York. During the trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence, including video footage, of Ullah setting a bomb and a confession when authorities interviewed him at a hospital after the attack. Ullah’s court-appointed attorney did not challenge claims he detonated the bomb, but instead argued that the defendant was trying to kill himself and not others. She said the suicide attempt was the result of exposure to propaganda from the Islamic State, better known by the acronym ISIS. While being interrogated by federal and local law enforcement, Ullah claimed the attack was “for the Islamic State” in protest of the U.S. government’s policies in the middle east.[SEP]A Brooklyn man was convicted on Tuesday of committing an act of terror when he detonated a pipe bomb inside a subway corridor beneath Times Square almost a year ago. The jury in Manhattan federal court began deliberations on Monday in the case of Akayed Ullah, an electrician who tried to blow himself up on Dec. 11 in a passageway connecting two subway stations along 42nd Street. The attack took place during the morning rush hour and Ullah told police he wanted to aid the Islamic State, also know as ISIS. Ullah, now 28, and three others were injured but there were no fatalities. A Bangladeshi-born immigrant, Ullah is facing up to life in prison on a six-count indictment charging him with providing material support to ISIS, use of a weapon of mass destruction, committing a terror attack against a mass transportation system and other crimes. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. During the five-day trial, jurors heard testimony from 17 prosecution witnesses, including two commuters injured in the attack, many first responders and FBI agents, and an expert on Middle Eastern terrorist groups. Last week, jurors were shown photographs of Ullah’s two passports, which were found in a jacket pocket in his apartment on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. Both passports had variations of a slogan from an ISIS video written on them. Still, Ullah attorney Julia Gatto argued that he only meant to kill himself when he detonated the pipe bomb. She said Ullah didn’t commit all the crimes listed in the federal indictment. “The government has overreached here,” Gatto said last week. “The defendant did not provide material support to ISIS.”

A jury in the Manhattan Federal Court finds Akayed Ullah guilty of a pipe bomb attack on the Port Authority Bus Terminal in December 2017.

Voters in Michigan have opted to make their state the next to legalize marijuana. A ballot measure to replace cannabis prohibition with a legal and regulated system of cultivation and sales was approved by a margin of 56 percent to 44 percent. “The Proposal 1 campaign boiled down into one of fact versus fear,” Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Spokesperson Josh Hovey said in a press release. “The data from the nine other states to have legalized marijuana made clear that regulation and taxation are a better solution. Legalization of marijuana will end the unnecessary waste of law enforcement resources used to enforce the failed policy of prohibition while generating hundreds of millions of dollars each year for Michigan’s most important needs.” The measure will allow adults over 21 to possess, grow and use small amounts of marijuana legally. Those provisions are set to take effect within 10 days of the vote being certified, which should be soon, meaning that cannabis is expected to become legal in the state this month. Portions of the new law allowing for licensed businesses to grow, process and sell cannabis to consumers will come online over the next year. "The victory in Michigan highlights just how widespread support is for marijuana policy reform, Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, said. "This issue does not only enjoy strong support on the coasts, but also in the Midwest and all throughout the country. Marijuana has now been legalized for adult use in one out of every five states and medical use in three out of every five, so it is safe to say federal law is in need of an update." Meanwhile, voters in several other states are also considering marijuana ballot measures on Tuesday. Under Michigan's new legalization law adults will be able to grow up to 12 total marijuana plants at home, possess 2.5 ounces in public and store 10 ounces in their residence—in addition to what they grow legally. The measure directs state regulators will issue business licenses for cultivators, processors, testing labs, secure transporters, retail outlets and cannabis microbusinesses. Cities and towns will be able to regulate or ban commercial marijuana activity. Retail sales will be subject to a 10 percent excise tax in addition to the state’s regular six percent sales tax. Revenues will cover the cost of regulation, with the remainder earmarked to fund schools, roads, local governments and FDA-approved research on the medical benefits of cannabis for military veterans struggling with PTSD and other conditions. “Voters in Michigan sent a resounding rebuke to their state’s failed policy of prohibition and elected to follow a new, more sensible path of regulation and legalization," NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri said. "Instead of arresting thousands of citizens a year for possession of a plant, Michigan will now be able to prioritize law enforcement resources towards combating violent crime, honor personal freedom and civil liberties, end the racist application of weaponizing prohibition laws against communities of color and collect tax revenue that was previously going to black market elements and put it towards important social programs such as education and infrastructure development.” A Gallup poll released last month found that 66 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana, the highest level ever in the firm's nearly 50 years of surveys on the topic.[SEP]Michigan voters legalize recreational marijuana use, becoming the first in the Midwest to do so DETROIT (AP) — Michigan voters legalize recreational marijuana use, becoming the first in the Midwest to do so.[SEP]DETROIT (AP) — Michigan voters legalize recreational marijuana use, becoming the first in the Midwest to do so.[SEP]DETROIT (AP) — Michigan voters on Tuesday made their state the first in the Midwest to legalize recreational marijuana, passing a ballot measure that will allow people 21 or older to buy and use the drug and putting conservative neighboring states on notice. Three other states had marijuana-related measures on their ballots. North Dakota voters decided recreational pot wasn’t for them , while voters in Missouri passed one of three unrelated measures to legalize medical marijuana. Utah voters also were considering whether to allow medical marijuana and to join the 31 other states that have already done so. Including Michigan, 10 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana. And Canada recently did so. But the passage in Michigan gives it a foothold in Middle America and could cause tension with neighboring Indiana and Ohio, which overwhelmingly rejected a 2015 legalization measure. “Troopers that work along the state line are very cognizant of what’s going on up north,” said Indiana State Police Sgt. Ron Galaviz, a spokesman for the agency’s Fort Wayne Post, which stretches north to the Michigan line. He said if the referendum passed, “we know some of our citizens are going to go over to Michigan to partake.” And those who return either under the influence or in possession of pot may learn the hard way that it remains illegal in Indiana. “We’ll enforce our laws as written,” added Galaviz, a Michigan native. “If you’re traveling to or through our state, we really don’t want you bringing it down here.” Kristin Schrader, 51, a Democrat from Superior Township in Washtenaw County, said she voted to legalize marijuana because she doesn’t want people leaving Michigan to get it. “I’ve got no attachment to marijuana myself, but I don’t care to stand in the way of the train while it’s coming down the tracks. I don’t want people to go to other states to get it and spend their money somewhere else. If there’s going to be an economic benefit to legalize marijuana, I want it to be in Michigan.” The Michigan law will take effect in about a month, as the election first has to be certified by the Board of State Canvassers. Ten days after that certification, people age 21 or older will be allowed to have, use and grow the drug, but the process of establishing regulations for its retail sale could take about two years. The measure, which was endorsed by a national organization of black-owned businesses and a group of retired Michigan law enforcement officers, will create a state licensing system for marijuana businesses and allow cities and townships to restrict them. Supporters say it will raise roughly $130 million in additional tax revenue each year that will go toward road repairs, schools and local governments. They also say it will allow for greater regulation of pot usage and for the police to focus on more pressing problems. Opponents, including many law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, chambers of commerce and religious groups, said legalizing marijuana would lead to increased use by children, drug abuse and car crashes. They also said Michigan’s proposal would be too permissive by allowing people to have up to 2.5 ounces (71 grams) of the drug on them and up to 10 ounces (284 grams) at home. Unlike Michigan’s measure, North Dakota’s rejected measure didn’t receive any significant funding from outside groups. It came as the state was still setting up its medical marijuana system, which voters approved by a wide margin two years ago. In Missouri, voters passed one of three unrelated medical marijuana measures that made it onto the ballot. The constitutional amendment will allow patients with cancer, HIV, epilepsy and other conditions access to the drug. Voters in Utah also were considering whether to legalize medical marijuana. The Mormon church, which carries outsized influence in the conservative state, had opposed the proposal but recently joined lawmakers and advocates to back a deal that would legalize it in the conservative state. Utah’s governor said he would call lawmakers into a special session after the midterm election to pass the deal into law, even if Tuesday’s initiative failed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[SEP]MANISTEE COUNTY — Michigan voters made their state the first in the Midwest to legalize recreational marijuana, passing Proposal 1 with a 56-44 percent margin. The ballot measure approved in Tuesday’s election allows people 21 or older to buy, grow and use marijuana, however voters should expect a wait before the law is in effect, and marijuana is readily available. In Manistee County, 5,938 votes approved the measure, and 5,756 votes were cast to deny it. Ten days after election results are certified, in about a month’s time, the Michigan law will likely take effect. The election first has to be certified by the Board of State Canvassers. Marijuana will not be commercially available for sale in what could be at least two years from now. Officials say the state must place regulations and issue licenses for recreational sales. Law enforcement also has a long road ahead, Manistee County sheriff John O’Hagan said police agencies will have to consider training options, and how to monitor its use on the roads. “We are going to focus first on the training and experience that we currently have in the short term,” he said. “Any additional training we can offer law enforcement officers will be beneficial to any investigation by keeping the officer’s skills on the sharp side.” As the law soon takes effect, there are a few details Michigan residents should know before lighting up or growing marijuana. How much marijuana is OK? With Proposal 1, Michigan law will allow people 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces (71 grams) of marijuana on them, and up to 10 ounces (284 grams) at home. However, amounts over 2.5 ounces need to be secured in locked containers. Residents are able to grow, but not sell, up to 12 plants in their home for personal use. Although, those who have a license will be able to grow more. Types of licences include: Marijuana retailer; marijuana safety compliance facility; marijuana secure transporter; marijuana processor; marijuana microbusiness; Class A marijuana grower authorizing cultivation of not more than 100 marijuana plants; Class B marijuana grower authorizing cultivation of not more than 500 marijuana plants; and Class C marijuana grower authorizing cultivation of not more than 2,000 marijuana plants. Marijuana could also be gifted to someone else who is of age, but not sold without a license. What is still illegal While the measure changes several current violations from crimes to civil infractions, there are still a few details the public should know. Not only will it be illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase or use marijuana, it also will remain illegal to use marijuana in public. Police will be able to arrest people they suspect are driving under the influence of marijuana, or if the individual is using marijuana in public. Marijuana is prohibited from use on K-12 school grounds, landlords are still able to prohibit smoking and growing plants on their properties, and employers could also maintain a zero tolerance policy for marijuana use. Under the new law, marijuana plants cannot be visible from a public place, so do not expect to be able to plant it in a garden around the house. People will be able to purchase marijuana or edibles from state licensed businesses. However, a city would be able to decide if they want to allow them in their municipality. Marijuana will be taxed at 10 percent — plus the existing 6 percent sales tax — put toward implementation costs, clinical trials, schools, roads, and municipalities where marijuana businesses are located. Although the state has a head start on the rules, as infrastructure is in place regulating the medical marijuana industry, it could still possibly be a few years until marijuana is for sale. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will work on developing rules and regulations to govern the recreational marijuana industry. Those already with medical marijuana licenses are able to get recreational licenses right away, when it becomes fully legal. Training measures for officers are already in the works, O’Hagan said Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement Training (ARIDE) is the first step. “This provides officers with general knowledge in relation to drug impairment; training them in observation, identifying and articulating the signs of impairment for both alcohol and drugs,” he said. However, issues still loom with roadside testing of THC levels, while marijuana-impaired driving is not legal and a threshold has not yet been established, as it has been for alcohol with blood-alcohol concentration level regulations. “The biggest challenge is we don’t have a roadside test at our disposal at this time to determine the amount of drugs within the system,” said O’Hagan. “With marijuana and THC levels, there is no way we can determine how much THC is in their system. Are they beyond impaired? Will one or two joints/marijuana cigarettes or vapors produce impairment? “That all depends on the THC level and the person, because everyone will be different. There is no ‘threshold’ as with alcohol.” Police might also expend more time and resources to determine whether a driver is under the influence of marijuana, O’Hagan said. “Officers will, on occasion, be spending more time on the road with subjects suspected to be under the influence,” he said. “Not everyone we encounter who has smoked marijuana prior to be driving will be considered ‘intoxicated’; however, extra time will be spent by the officer in determining that level of intoxication.” Despite this, O’Hagan said officers are bracing for the change, until a solution is met. “This won’t always be easy, which makes this so difficult,” said O’Hagan. “My biggest fear is on the roadways… We certainly don’t want to send someone down the road who was intoxicated or under the influence of a drug.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.[SEP]Adult recreational users of weed will be able to use it legally in another state. Michigan voters made their state the first in the Midwest to legalize recreational marijuana by passing a ballot measure that will allow people 21 or older to buy and use the drug. According to preliminary results, more than 54% of voters in Michigan said yes to the initiative that imposes a 10-ounce limit for Michigan residents, creates a state licensing system, will allow for retail sales subject to a 10% tax and changes several current weed-related violations to civil infractions. A similar measure was defeated in North Dakota, meaning there are now 10 states that allow recreational use of pot — Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington — plus the District of Columbia.[SEP]Michigan voters on Tuesday made their state the first in the Midwest to legalize recreational marijuana, passing a ballot measure that will allow people 21 or older to buy and use the drug and putting conservative neighbouring states on notice. Three other states had marijuana-related measures on their ballots. North Dakota voters decided recreational pot wasn't for them, while voters in Missouri passed one of three unrelated measures to legalize medical marijuana. Utah voters also were considering whether to allow medical marijuana and to join the 31 other states that have already done so. Including Michigan, 10 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana. And Canada recently did so. But the passage in Michigan gives it a foothold in Middle America and could cause tension with neighbouring Indiana and Ohio, which overwhelmingly rejected a 2015 legalization measure. "Troopers that work along the state line are very cognizant of what's going on up north," said Indiana State Police Sgt. Ron Galaviz, a spokesman for the agency's Fort Wayne Post, which stretches north to the Michigan line. He said if the referendum passed, "we know some of our citizens are going to go over to Michigan to partake." And those who return either under the influence or in possession of pot may learn the hard way that it remains illegal in Indiana. "We'll enforce our laws as written," added Galaviz, a Michigan native. "If you're traveling to or through our state, we really don't want you bringing it down here." Kristin Schrader, 51, a Democrat from Superior Township in Washtenaw County, said she voted to legalize marijuana because she doesn't want people leaving Michigan to get it. "I've got no attachment to marijuana myself, but I don't care to stand in the way of the train while it's coming down the tracks. I don't want people to go to other states to get it and spend their money somewhere else. If there's going to be an economic benefit to legalize marijuana, I want it to be in Michigan." The Michigan law will take effect in about a month, as the election first has to be certified by the Board of State Canvassers. Ten days after that certification, people age 21 or older will be allowed to have, use and grow the drug, but the process of establishing regulations for its retail sale could take about two years. The measure, which was endorsed by a national organization of black-owned businesses and a group of retired Michigan law enforcement officers, will create a state licensing system for marijuana businesses and allow cities and townships to restrict them. Supporters say it will raise roughly $130 million in additional tax revenue each year that will go toward road repairs, schools and local governments. They also say it will allow for greater regulation of pot usage and for the police to focus on more pressing problems. Opponents, including many law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, chambers of commerce and religious groups, said legalizing marijuana would lead to increased use by children, drug abuse and car crashes. They also said Michigan's proposal would be too permissive by allowing people to have up to 2.5 ounces (71 grams) of the drug on them and up to 10 ounces (284 grams) at home.[SEP]Voters in the Great Lakes State decided Tuesday to make Michigan Great Lakes Baked. Proposal 1, which would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older in the state, was headed for victory at the time of publication early Wednesday: 57 percent of votes were in favor of the ballot question and 43 percent were against it with 64 percent of precincts reporting. Michigan’s transition to a recreational marijuana market comes in a midterm election that has a tangible effect on the rapidly emerging business of legal cannabis. North Dakota’s Measure 3, which would have legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older and created an automatic expungement process for past marijuana convictions, was roundly defeated. The ballot question was rejected by voters, with 59.4 percent against, 40.6 percent in favor and 94 percent of precincts reporting, according to The New York Times. In Utah, Proposition 2 to legalize medical marijuana was ahead at the time of publication, at 54 percent “yes” to 46 percent “no” and 62 percent of precincts reporting. Missouri voters approved Amendment 2 — one of three medical marijuana proposals on the ballot Tuesday — which legalizes medical marijuana and taxes it at a 4-percent rate. The revenue will be dedicated to veterans’ health care. The amendment passed with 65.3 percent of the vote and 95 percent of precincts reporting, according to The New York Times. “Voters in Michigan sent a resounding rebuke to their state’s failed policy of prohibition and elected to follow a new, more sensible path of regulation and legalization,” Erik Altieri, the executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said in a late Tuesday statement. At a forum on Proposal 1 last month in Detroit, former White House drug policy advisor Kevin Sabet said Michigan’s recreational marijuana law is wide-open. "It's about money and profits for a small amount of people," Sabet said. With ballot proposals in four states that held the potential for the creation of new legal cannabis markets of varying degrees, marijuana stocks rallied during Tuesday's trading session: • Canopy Growth Corp (NYSE: CGC) was up 5.95 percent at $42.59 at the close. • Cronos Group Inc (NASDAQ: CRON) was 9.7 percent higher at $9.05. Michigan voters previously OK’ed the legalization of medical marijuana via a 2008 ballot initiative, and the state has the second-largest medical patient base in the country, according to the Marijuana Business Daily factbook. Proposal 1, the “Michigan Marijuana Legalization Initiative,” allows adults over 21 to possess, consume and grow cannabis. In Michigan, ballot initiatives take effect 10 days after election results are certified. The initiative allows residents to grow up to 12 plants for personal use and possess up to 10 ounces at home, with amounts over 2.5 ounces stored in a locked container. The proposal taxes recreational cannabis at a 10-percent rate and creates a statewide regulatory system that allows communities to ban or restrict marijuana businesses. Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs must begin accepting applications for marijuana retail stores within a year of Proposal 1’s effective date. Benzinga, which recently brought 600 investors to Toronto for the first-ever Cannabis Capital Conference, is hosting the Michigan Cannabis Business Roundtable at its Detroit headquarters Friday, Nov. 9. Click here for more information and tickets to the first event focused on the cannabis space after Tuesday’s affirmative vote. Pot Stocks, ETFs, Top News And Data From The Cannabis Industry This Week 2 Stocks That Could Benefit From Marijuana Legalization In Michigan[SEP]Marijuana advocates scored a number of substantial ballot victories in the middle of the country on Election Day, chief among them the legalization of recreational marijuana in Michigan, which becomes the 10th state in the nation to approve recreational use of the drug. “Michigan will be the first state in the Midwest to end marijuana prohibition and replace it with a system in which marijuana is regulated for adult use,” Marijuana Policy Project deputy director Matthew Schweich, who directed the legalization campaign, said in a statement. “Adults will no longer be punished for consuming a substance less harmful than alcohol, and rather than having to resort to the illegal market, they will be able to access it safely and legally from licensed businesses.” The results in Michigan follow the opening of recreational marijuana markets in Canada and the repeal of marijuana prohibition in Mexico. With the addition of Michigan, nearly 80 million Americans — 25 percent of the total U.S. population — live in a state or jurisdiction that has legalized recreational marijuana. The most recent polling by Gallup shows that two-thirds of American adults support legalization of the drug. In deep-red North Dakota, on the other hand, voters overwhelmingly rejected an unusual bill that would have legalized marijuana without setting any possession limits or regulatory structure. The outcome in North Dakota underscores Republican skepticism of legalization — in the Gallup survey just 53 percent of Republicans nationwide said they supported marijuana legalization, compared to 71 percent of independent voters and 75 percent of Democrats. “Tonight, parents can sleep easy knowing their children won’t wake up to more marijuana use in their schools,” said Luke Niforatos, senior policy adviser to Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a group that opposes legalization. “The sensible, wonderful people of North Dakota have rejected marijuana commercialization in their state.” Elsewhere on the ballot tonight, voters in Missouri approved one out of three medical marijuana measures up for consideration, avoiding a potentially messy fight over which measure would go into law if more than one passed. Missouri’s Amendment 2 allows doctors to recommend marijuana for a number of medical conditions. Patients would be able to obtain the drug either through a dispensary or by growing it at home. As of this writing, a medical marijuana measure in Utah is leading 53-47 with 76 percent of precincts reporting. That comes after supporters and opponents of the bill struck a deal with Utah’s governor to call a special section of the legislature to write a compromise bill regardless of whether the measure passed. Supporters of the bill agreed to the compromise because lawmakers in Utah are able to overturn ballot propositions with a simple majority vote.[SEP]Leading marijuana stocks surged in midday trading Wednesday after Michigan became the 10th state in the U.S. to legalize pot for recreational purposes. Michigan’s Proposal 1, which passed with 56 percent of the vote, allows adults aged 21 or older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana on their person or as much as 10 ounces in their homes. State residents can also grow up to 12 marijuana plants without a license, or buy pot legally from licensed businesses. Shares of leading pot manufacturers Aurora Cannabis and Tilray each rose on the news. Canopy Growth shares rose by nearly 4 percent in early trading before turning negative. Michigan will impose a 10 percent tax on marijuana-related transactions in addition to a 6 percent sales tax. Marijuana likely won’t be commercially available until early 2020, according to the Detroit Free Press. Michigan was one of several states to vote on marijuana-related measures on Election Day. Voters in North Dakota rejected a proposal that would have fully legalized marijuana and erased prior convictions for pot-related crimes that would have been legal under the proposed law’s terms. Utah and Missouri approved the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Marijuana is legal for recreational purposes in 10 states, as well as Washington, D.C. Pot is still banned at the federal level.

Voters in Michigan legalize recreational marijuana.

US midterms 2018: full live results The votes on 6 November will give US voters their first chance to pass judgment on Donald Trump since he took the White House. Here’s what you need to know about what’s at stake The key question in these elections is: will Republicans be able to keep control of both chambers of Congress? Just 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate, and all of the 435 seats in the lower House of Representatives are up for grabs. To take control of the legislative agenda and block Trump's ability to implement his programs, the Democratic party needs to control both houses. With a Senate majority, the Democrats would be able to block cabinet and supreme court appointments. But while they may be able to take the House, clinching the Senate will be much harder. Impeachment, by the way, requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate, so would require Republican votes even if the Democrats won every available seat in November. Can the Republicans keep control of the Senate? Republicans 51 Democrats 49 51 needed for a majority Here comes the math: the Grand Old Party (GOP) does have a big advantage over the Democrats in this showdown, because the Democratic party is defending 26 seats (including two independents, who usually vote with them) while the Republicans only have to defend nine. California has approximately 68 times the population of Wyoming ... The Senate electoral system is also weighed against the Democrats. Each state gets two senators, irrespective of population, so Wyoming has as many as California, despite the latter having more than 60 times the population. The smaller states also tend to be the more rural, and rural areas traditionally favor the Republicans. One hopeful note for the Democrats is that Nevada and Arizona are both open races – in which the incumbent senator is not running – and both were only narrowly won by the Republicans in 2012. Current control of Senate seats up in 2018 Democrat Republican Independent Not electing this year * Minnesota and Mississippi also hold special elections on 6 November. In these states, two seats are in play Key race – Arizona The Senate seat held by Barry Goldwater and John McCain could be picked up by Democrats in 2018. After a tough primary, Republican Martha McSally has been pushed to the right and faces a tough race against Democrat Kyrsten Sinema in a state with a growing Latino population and with deep tensions between traditional business oriented Republicans like McCain and hard right Trumpists. Can the Democrats win control of the House? Republicans 240 Democrats 195 218 needed for a majority The Democrats have a much better chance of winning here. Representation in the House is (relatively) proportional to population, and the whole chamber is re-elected every two years. They need a net gain of 23 seats to win a majority. But in the last 50 years they've scored a net gain of that size only twice, in 1974 and in 2006. In the same period the Republicans have made a 23+ net gain only three times, but the most recent was in 2010, in the midterm elections of Barack Obama's first term. American voters are usually reluctant to eject a sitting representative. So for Democrats, some of their best hopes are in seats where the incumbent is not standing again. The good news for Dems is that a record 39 Republicans – many of whom were anti-Trump – have chosen to bow out instead of contest their seats in November, and some of those are in key swing states such as Florida and Pennsylvania. All House seats up for election (435) Seats not contested by the incumbent (66) Democrat Republican Key race – Pennsylvania's 17th district Democrat Conor Lamb won a shock special election win in March. Now, after court ordered redistricting, he'll face off against Republican incumbent Keith Rothfus in a far more friendly district. However, it's still a district Trump narrowly won. More key races What about governors’ races? Each US state has a governor, who is like a local president. Their interactions with the federal government can be significant; they may have a large amount of sway, for instance, over local gun laws or the implementation of health insurance policies. But this year, Democrats think their salience is national because many of them have a veto over redistricting. Remapping of electoral districts happens in the US after every census. The next round will happen in 2022 when the 2020 census results are in. Governors elected this year who serve four-year terms will still be in office then. Democrats are hoping to win office in several swing states that have open races, such as Ohio, Nevada, Michigan and Florida, and thereby prevent gerrymandering that would affect congressional races as far away as to 2032. States electing governors in 2018 Democrat, open Democrat, incumbent standing again Republican, open Republican, incumbent standing Not electing this year Key race – Florida African American Democrat Andrew Gillum won an upset victory in the primary, bolstered by heavy financial support from Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge-fund manager. The unabashed progressive will face off against Republican Ron DeSantis, an ardent Trump supporter, in what will be one of the marquee races of the midterms. Sources US Senate, US House of Representatives, MIT, Brookings Institute, National Conference of State Legislatures, Federal Electoral Commission, National Governors Association[SEP]Midterm election voting will be taking place tomorrow on November 6, as the country decides the composition of Congress. The battle is between the Democrat and Republican parties, for the House of Representatives and the Senate, the two chambers of Congress. In the currently Republican heavy House of Representatives, each one of the 435 seats are up for reelection and a further 35 are available in the Senate. This gives the Democrats a chance to flip Congress and grasp a majority for themselves, which could ultimately put a hold on Donald Trump’s powers. Who will win in the Senate? The Senate race is the less difficult to call of the two Congress chambers, as only 35 seats are up for reelection. This means only a third of the 100 total seats are up for a replacement. Of these seats, 23 Democrat seats are safe from election and 42 Republican seats are safe. Turning over the incumbent Senate majority is an unlikely outcome when Democrats are defending many more seats. At the moment Republican dominance is reflected in the polls too, as they are higher billed for Senate positions over the Democrats. In order to win control of the Senate, the Democrats will need to capture over 50 seats, making the majority. Pollsters FiveThirtyEight gathered a selection of different polls to forecast the possible composition of the Senate. Their findings pointed towards an 85.6 percent chance of a Republican majority in the Senate come election day. The chances of the Democrats gaining a majority are on 14.4 percent, but chances are also on the party gaining at least two seats from this round of elections. Who will win in the house of Representatives? The House of Representatives has a full 435 seats up for reelection, meaning the entire composition of the chamber is up for replacement. Either party could claim a majority if they had the power behind them, which should have made the race a close call. Early voting has revealed a massive turnout for the 2018 midterms and this has come in favour of the Democrats. A partnership between USA TODAY and Suffolk University in polling the midterm elections have found large voter turnout is due to Donald Trump’s leadership.[SEP]Midterm election voting will be taking place tomorrow on November 6, as the country decides the composition of Congress. The battle is between the Democrat and Republican parties, for the House of Representatives and the Senate, the two chambers of Congress. In the currently Republican heavy House of Representatives, each one of the 435 seats are up for reelection and a further 35 are available in the Senate. This gives the Democrats a chance to flip Congress and grasp a majority for themselves, which could ultimately put a hold on Donald Trump’s powers. Who will win in the Senate? The Senate race is the less difficult to call of the two Congress chambers, as only 35 seats are up for reelection. This means only a third of the 100 total seats are up for a replacement. Of these seats, 23 Democrat seats are safe from election and 42 Republican seats are safe. Turning over the incumbent Senate majority is an unlikely outcome when Democrats are defending many more seats. At the moment Republican dominance is reflected in the polls too, as they are higher billed for Senate positions over the Democrats. In order to win control of the Senate, the Democrats will need to capture over 50 seats, making the majority. Pollsters FiveThirtyEight gathered a selection of different polls to forecast the possible composition of the Senate. Their findings pointed towards an 85.6 percent chance of a Republican majority in the Senate come election day. The chances of the Democrats gaining a majority are on 14.4 percent, but chances are also on the party gaining at least two seats from this round of elections. Who will win in the house of Representatives? The House of Representatives has a full 435 seats up for reelection, meaning the entire composition of the chamber is up for replacement. Either party could claim a majority if they had the power behind them, which should have made the race a close call. Early voting has revealed a massive turnout for the 2018 midterms and this has come in favour of the Democrats. A partnership between USA TODAY and Suffolk University in polling the midterm elections have found large voter turnout is due to Donald Trump’s leadership.[SEP]TXT} Nov 6 (Reuters) - Voters on Tuesday went to the polls in congressional elections for 35 of 100 seats in the U.S. Senate. The Democratic Party needs to pick up two seats to wrest control of the chamber from the Republican Party. The following is a tally of seats that will change parties, based on projections from media outlets and data provider DDHQ. State Winning party Indiana Republican North Dakota Republican Missouri Republican (Reporting by Jason Lange and Michelle Price)[SEP]What If The Polls Are Wrong Again? 4 Scenarios For What Might Happen In The Elections Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images Scott Olson/Getty Images There's a lot that can happen Tuesday, the culmination of a long midterm election campaign that will provide the first nationwide measure of the U.S. electorate since Donald Trump was elected president. One narrative has become dominant: that Democrats are likely to gain control of the House and Republicans hold the Senate, if not expand their majority there. That narrative is based largely on national polls, and caution should be urged. Pollsters have made a lot of adjustments to hopefully correct what they got wrong in 2016, but they can't tell you precisely who is going to show up to vote. What's more, there have been far fewer statewide and district-specific surveys than in past midterm elections. And, as it is, there are data both parties can take solace in that buoy their respective cases. So everyone should be prepared for surprises — because there always are some. That's the beauty of campaigns and voting. Here are four scenarios for how election night might play out and what each could mean. 1. Democrats win the House, and Republicans hold the Senate This is the most likely outcome, based not just on the polls but also on conversations with strategists in both parties. But they urge caution, because the races in the many districts across the country that are up for grabs are still very close. How it would happen: Forget the polls; Democrats are favored to take back the House for more reasons than that. There have been a record number of retirements, reducing the built-in advantage incumbents tend to have; record numbers of candidates, especially Democratic women, have run for public office; Democrats won the off-year elections in Virginia and New Jersey; they won or fared better than expected in special elections across the country; there was high primary turnout for Democrats in many states; and there is very high early voting turnout. And just look at how wide the playing field is — Democrats need to pick up 23 seats to take back the House, and they are targeting some 80 Republican-held seats. Republicans are competing in just eight held by Democrats. That right there is and has been a huge flashing red light for the GOP. So many of those races are running through the suburbs, where independents and wealthy, college-educated women live, both of which have consistently in polling said they disapproved of the job the president is doing and prefer to vote for a Democrat in their district. One other overlooked number from the last NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll: Just 54 percent of Republican women who are registered voters said they were very enthusiastic about voting in this election. Compare that with 78 percent of Republican men who are registered voters. And where do a lot of those women live? The suburbs. If GOP women, an important group that Republicans need to bolster them, stay home, that's one way Democrats clean up in the House. In the Senate, on the other hand, Republicans have a very favorable landscape and are competing in conservative states held by Democrats. The fundamentals favor the GOP in these states, and if Republicans win where they should win, they will hold the Senate. What it would mean: This would be a huge win for Democrats, as they'd be able to gum up Trump's agenda and begin to investigate his administration, something the GOP has not done very much of. In the Senate, Republicans could still approve federal judges and Trump Supreme Court nominees, but if they want to get any big legislation done they're going to have to negotiate with Democrats in the House, and possibly a Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Democrats feel they need to limit the losses in the Senate. If they can hold Republicans to net even, keeping the Senate at 51-49, or maybe lose a net of one seat, then they will be very happy. They have a much more favorable Senate landscape in 2020 and believe they will be able to take back the Senate then. 2. Republicans hold the House and Senate This would be a huge win for the GOP. How it would happen: A record turnout is expected Tuesday — perhaps higher than any time in the past 50 years for a midterm — but, as in 2016, Trump voters would have to dominate. Rural voters would have to turn out at higher-than-expected rates, causing the polls to be wrong (again). Meanwhile, young voters and Latinos would have to stay home. (It is supposed to rain on the East Coast Tuesday, which could depress low-propensity-voter turnout.) All of those close House races would have to tip Republicans' way, something that's very possible given the conservative lean of those districts and the distrust of the media, purposefully stoked by the president. And who pays for polls for the most part? Big media organizations. Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images What it would mean: President Trump and Republicans would step on the gas, validated by an election cycle dominated by negative news coverage and polling that said the GOP had its back against the wall. The Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) would very likely be repealed once and for all. And Trump could set his sights on ousting Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other key figures at the Justice Department, possibly ending the department's investigation of Russia's attack on the 2016 election. What's more, Trump's strategy of demonizing immigrants would have worked — again. That was rewarded, and what message would that send? He is only going to do more of it between Wednesday and November 2020 when he stands for re-election. It would also be yet another reckoning for pollsters and media organizations that pay for the surveys. The polls currently show Democrats with a razor-thin, but consistent advantage heading into Election Day. But if the polls are wrong, it should induce more than a shoulder shrug from outlets that conduct them and the news media organizations that report on them. 3. Democrats win both the House and Senate This is not seen as the likeliest of scenarios, but it's not out of the realm of possibility either. It would very likely mean a massive wave and a massive shift against Trump and Republicans tied to him nationally. A lot would have to happen, especially in the Senate, for this to happen. How it would happen: The path for Democrats in the House is through the suburbs, as in Scenario 1. That doesn't change. But for Democrats to pull this off in the Senate, not only would voters have to side with Democratic incumbents in conservative states, but Democratic challengers would have to win in places like Nevada and Arizona, and possibly Tennessee and Texas. What it would mean: It would be a repudiation of Trump and the Republicans tied to him nationwide. It would have to trigger a degree of soul-searching — in at least some Republican corners. Trump would be faced with the choice of moderating and working with Democrats or being a lame-duck president starting in January 2019 when a new Democratic Congress is sworn in — as talk ramps up about Democratic 2020 challengers. 4. Overtime It's very possible control of both the House and Senate will not be clear on election night. Enlarge this image toggle caption Joe Sohm/Visions of America/UIG via Getty Images Joe Sohm/Visions of America/UIG via Getty Images How it would happen: There are a half-dozen congressional races in California, for example, that are very close heading into Election Day. It's possible those races are so close they will not be called on election night. They might not be called for days and possibly weeks later, especially because the vote there is counted slowly. Additionally, early and absentee ballots can get counted slowly and there is growing concern that many voters' absentee and mailed ballots could be rejected. In 2016, to the surprise of many, 319,000 absentee ballots were rejected for one reason or another. In the Senate, depending on how results from other races shake out, there is the possibility that control is not known on election night or for weeks after. Specifically, it could all come down to Mississippi. There, no candidate is polling above 50 percent heading into Election Day, and if no one gets at least 50 percent, the race heads to a runoff three weeks later. What it would mean: Imagine a scenario in which Democrats lead 50-49 on Election Day in the Senate, and the eyes of the country — and the deep pockets of out-of-state money — descend on Mississippi. The consequences would be enormous, the rancor pitched and the tension thick.[SEP]In Mississippi, both Senate seats and all four U.S. House of Representative seats were up for grabs. In total, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate were up for grabs.[SEP]SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) - Voters across America headed to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in the 2018 general election. All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate were up for grabs.[SEP]JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - On Nov. 6, voters across America will head to the polls to cast their ballots in the 2018 general election. All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate will be contested.[SEP]Jamaicans living in the United States (US) are upbeat about today’s (November 6) midterm elections and note the importance of exercising their right to vote. Lurlene Madourie-Matthews, who lives in Connecticut, said that “this is where we call home, and if our vote can make the country better, then we should all do our part to make a positive impact on the economy and well-being of this country”. She was speaking to JIS News, which is visiting sections of the US as part of the Foreign Press Centers’ International Reporting Tour for the elections. North Carolina resident Kennesha DaCosta also agreed that it’s important to vote, “because it is your right as a citizen first, and also because it gives you some control as to who will lead and direct the future of the country we live in. Additionally, whoever your vote elects is expected to advocate for your best interest as citizens of this opportunistic country”. For Tenziah Morris, who is living in New York, the ability to help choose the country’s leaders is very important. “This is our home away from home. We are affected by the tax laws; we work and pay taxes. We need to help in the decision process,” she told JIS News. Nicholas Gayle, who is also living in New York, noted that it is important to know the candidates and participate in the elections. “Being an immigrant, it’s a privilege to get to vote on issues affecting us and be a voice,” he added. Florida resident Sonia Gordon said “it is a privilege for us as citizens to vote. It’s for the benefit of our future generations”. The 2018 midterm elections take place in the middle of President Donald Trump’s first term. All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate will be contested. In addition, 39 state and territorial governorships, as well as numerous other state and local elections, will also be contested. All these races, whether for a federal, state, or local office, are being administered by the individual state and local governments instead of at the national or federal level.[SEP]It's now been nearly two years since Donald Trump was elected President of the United States and over 18 months since his first day in office. Now American voters are once again going back to the ballot for the US midterms. These will give some clue to the changes in the political landscape in the country, if indeed there have been any. General consensus is that this will be a clear indicator into how the country has viewed President Donald Trump's first two years in office. They will take place on Tuesday 6 November. But what exactly are the midterms and how do they work? What are the midterm elections? Midterm elections occur halfway through each four-year presidential term of office, with key seats in both the houses of the United States Congress up for grabs. Who is being elected? All 435 seats in the lower chamber House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 upper chamber Senate seats will be at stake. House of Representatives members serve two-year terms representing the people of a single constituency, while each state has two senators. This year there are a record number of women on the ballot, which could significantly increase the number of women in elected office from a fifth of the 535 seats across both chambers. There are also elections for 36 of the 50 state governors. There are around 250 million Americans who are eligible to vote, but turnout in midterm elections is typically about 40%. This is much lower than presidential elections, where turnout has hit around 60% in recent contests. The elections will mark the first nationwide vote since Russia targeted state election systems in the 2016 US presidential race but federal, state and local officials have sought to reassure the public that their voting systems are secure. So far, there have been no signs that Russia or any other foreign agency has tried to launch cyber-attacks against voting systems in any state, according to federal authorities. Why are these elections so important? Republicans have had control of the House of Representatives since the 2010 midterms during Barack Obama's first term as president. The Grand Old Party (GOP) also controls the US Senate, with 51 of 100 seats. But with Mr Trump's first two years in office dividing opinion across the country, Democrats see these elections as a chance to take back control of both chambers of Congress from the Republicans. This will leave President Trump unable to pass key laws through the houses. In order to take back control of the House, Democrats need to win 23 more seats, a number that many believe is very possible. But while the party only needs two more seats to take control of the Senate, this is likely to be a much tougher challenge for the Democrats. How close are the elections going to be? Control of the House of Representatives is expected to be determined by a few dozen districts, many of them in the nation's suburbs, and will offer clues to where Americans stand in 2018 on immigration, guns, healthcare and gender equality in the #MeToo era. But the battle for the 35 Senate seats is expected to favour the Republicans because many of the contests are in states Mr Trump won in 2016. Democrats' hopes of recapturing the Senate hinge on all 10 of their incumbents winning and on flipping key seats in states such as Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee and Texas. What is going to happen? The night could witness a generational change in the US Congress and herald a number of barrier-breaking officeholders. In New York City, 29-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is expected to become the youngest woman elected to congress while Ayanna Pressley is the favourite to become Massachusetts' first black woman elected to congress. In Michigan, Rashida Tlaib could become the first Muslim woman and first Palestinian-American in Congress. She could be joined by Minnesota's Ilhan Omar, who is also trying to become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress along with the first Somali-American elected to the House. No matter which way the voting goes, Arizona's Senate race expects to make history. Democrat Kyrsten Sinema could become the first openly bisexual senator and the state's first female senator. If Republican Martha McSally wins, she will become Arizona's first female senator. What has President Trump being saying? The US president has staged a number of rallies across the country, and on election day he will be making a series of media appearances. Mr Trump is well known for his candid views expressed on Twitter, so anyone with a close eye on proceedings will be watching his feed.

The United States holds midterm elections for all 435 House seats, for 35 Senate seats (including two special elections in Minnesota and Mississippi), for 39 state and territorial governorships, and for numerous state and local races.

The results are in: Republicans will retain their majority in the Senate after the 2018 midterms, and have even increased their presence in Congress after hard-fought races in Indiana, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. As was expected, Republicans still hold majority rule in Senate after the 2018 midterms, according to projections from The New York Times, Washington Post, and more. Thirty-five Senate seats were up for election in the midterms, as well as the controlling party for the 65 seats not on the ballot during this cycle. It was more than likely for the GOP to remain in power; even if there was a 50-50 Senate split, Vice President Mike Pence would cast the tie-breaking vote. So…we know how that would go. At the time that win was called, Republicans had 51 seats, gaining three seats; Democrats had 44. Five seats were up for grabs but likely to go to Republicans, according to CNN. On election night eve, FiveThirtyEight predicted that Republicans had an 82.2% chance of controlling the Senate, and when it came to a state-by-state seat breakdown, the GOP were thought to have a 52 to 48 advantage over Democrats. They actually weren’t that far off. However, it wasn’t a total loss for Democrats. The party made history today by taking majority of the House of Representatives while losing the Senate. Maybe not the result they hoped for, but still, one for the record books. Since the United States started directly electing senators in 1914, the House of Representatives has never flipped control to a party without that winning party also gaining seats in the Senate. The Democrats’ House win was remarkable, but going into the Senate race, things weren’t in their favor. Democrats were defending 26 of the 35 seats on the ballot — 10 in states that overwhelmingly elected Donald Trump in 2016.[SEP]The Democrats gained control of the House but the Republicans held their Senate majority as voters rendered a mixed verdict in the first nationwide election of Donald Trump’s turbulent presidency. The Democrats picked up the 23 seats they would need to take control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans, but were still short of the 218 total to wrest control with more races still undecided. The results allowed both parties to claim partial victory, and highlighted an extraordinary realignment of US voters by race, sex and education. Latest results in the US midterm elections (PA Graphics) The Republicans maintained their strength in conservative, rural states, while Democrats made inroads across America’s suburbs. Women were assured of 85 seats in the House, more than ever before. With control of Congress, statehouses and the president’s agenda at stake, some of the nation’s top elections were too close to call. Yet Democrats’ dreams of the Senate majority as part of a “blue wave” were shattered after losses in many of the top Senate battlegrounds: Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, North Dakota and Texas. They also suffered a stinging loss in Florida, where Trump-backed Republican Ron DeSantis ended Democrat Andrew Gillum’s bid to become the state’s first African-American governor. “I want to encourage you to stick to the fight,” said Mr Gillum, who was thought to be a rising star with national ambitions. In the broader fight for control in the Trump era, the political and practical stakes on Tuesday were sky high. Latest from the House battleground seats in the US midterm elections (PA Graphics) Democrats could derail Trump’s legislative agenda for the next two years should they win control of the House. And they would claim subpoena power to investigate Mr Trump’s personal and professional shortcomings. Some Democrats have already vowed to force the release of his tax returns. Others have pledged to pursue impeachment, although removal from office is unlikely so long as the Republicans control the Senate. The road to a House majority ran through two dozen suburban districts Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Democrats flipped seats in suburban districts outside Washington, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago and Denver. The results were more mixed deeper into Trump country. In Kansas, Democrat Sharice Davids beat a Republican incumbent to become the first Native American and gay woman elected to the House. But in Kentucky, one of the top Democratic recruits, retired Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath lost her bid to oust Andy Barr. Voters cast their ballots across the United States (John Minchillo/AP) Mr Trump sought to take credit for retaining the Republicans’ Senate majority, even as the party’s foothold in the more competitive House battlefield appeared to be slipping. “Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!” he tweeted. History was working against the president in the Senate: 2002 was the only midterm election in the past three decades when the party holding the White House gained Senate seats. Yet Mr Trump’s party will maintain Senate control for the next two years, at least. In Texas, Ted Cruz staved off a tough challenge from Democrat Beto O’Rourke, whose record-smashing fundraising and celebrity have set off buzz he could be a credible 2020 White House contender. In Indiana, Trump-backed businessman Mike Braun defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly. In Missouri, Josh Hawley knocked off Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill. And in Tennessee, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn defeated former Governor Phil Bredesen, a top Democratic recruit. In the lead-up to the election, Republicans privately expressed confidence in their narrow Senate majority but feared the House could slip away. The party’s grip on high-profile governorships in Georgia and Wisconsin were at risk as well. “Tomorrow will be a new day in America,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is in line to become the next House speaker should the Democrats take the majority.- Press Association[SEP]“Democrats had a narrow path through the suburbs in districts won by Hillary Clinton, and it appears they were able to flip those seats despite strong performances from our candidates who consistently outperformed the top of the ticket in nearly every race,” Daudt said in a statement. Republicans retained control of the Senate by winning a special election to preserve their one-vote majority and ensuring that divided government will continue in Minnesota. Senate GOP Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said his party’s victory in an open St. Cloud area district means that “You can’t call it a blue wave.” DFLers took charge by unseating some longtime House incumbents in what had been safe Republican districts before Trump was elected. Among those upset were powerful Education Finance Committee Chair Jenifer Loon, a five-term veteran from Eden Prairie; and six-term Rep. Sarah Anderson of Plymouth, chair of the State Government Finance Committee. In the Senate special election, GOP Rep. Jeff Howe defeated DFL Stearns County Commissioner Joe Perske in the race to succeed former Sen. Michelle Fischbach, who resigned last summer after being elevated to lieutenant governor. Minnesota voters braved a chilly rain-snow mix Tuesday to cast ballots in high-profile elections for governor and attorney general, two U.S. Senate seats and at least four hotly contested congressional races around the state. They also were voting in less-noisy contests that decided which party would be in charge of the Legislature next year. Most of the 134 seats in the state House are in reliably red (greater Minnesota) or blue (Minneapolis and St. Paul) districts. So the battle for control was waged most intensely in about 20 swing districts, primarily in the suburbs. While Minnesotans across the state were being inundated with negative TV attack ads, voters in competitive suburban districts were also buried in stacks of campaign mailings and visits by door-knocking legislative candidates and their supporters. Republicans rolled into the election with a 77-57 House majority. So Democrats needed to pick up 11 additional seats to take back control, which they last held in 2013-14. While Republicans had conceded loss of the House, complete results were not available as this edition of the Pioneer Press was published. DFLers had history on their side. It’s called the midterm penalty for the president’s party. Since 1952, the party of the sitting president has lost an average of 17 Minnesota House seats in midterm elections. This election was expected to be a referendum on President Donald Trump, and his approval rating in recent polls in Minnesota have hovered just below 40 percent. But most Democratic legislative candidates focused on “bread-and-butter issues,” Hortman said in a recent interview. They emphasized providing affordable health care, better education, abortion rights, cleaner air and water and transportation improvements. Daudt said Republican candidates were running on expanding their popular record of reducing health care costs, cutting taxes, and increasing funding for roads and bridges and for schools.[SEP]Want more FiveThirtyEight? Get our weekly most popular stories newsletter. What Went Down In The 2018 Midterms  Get us in your inbox. No thanks. Done.[SEP]“Democrats had a narrow path through the suburbs in districts won by Hillary Clinton, and it appears they were able to flip those seats despite strong performances from our candidates who consistently outperformed the top of the ticket in nearly every race,” Daudt said in a statement. Republicans retained control of the Senate by winning a special election to preserve their one-vote majority and ensuring that divided government will continue in Minnesota. Senate GOP Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said his party’s victory in an open St. Cloud area district means that “You can’t call it a blue wave.” DFLers took charge by unseating some longtime House incumbents in what had been safe Republican districts before Trump was elected. Among those upset were powerful Education Finance Committee Chair Jenifer Loon, a five-term veteran from Eden Prairie; and six-term Rep. Sarah Anderson of Plymouth, chair of the State Government Finance Committee. In the Senate special election, GOP Rep. Jeff Howe defeated DFL Stearns County Commissioner Joe Perske in the race to succeed former Sen. Michelle Fischbach, who resigned last summer after being elevated to lieutenant governor. Minnesota voters braved a chilly rain-snow mix Tuesday to cast ballots in high-profile elections for governor and attorney general, two U.S. Senate seats and at least four hotly contested congressional races around the state. They also were voting in less-noisy contests that decided which party would be in charge of the Legislature next year. Most of the 134 seats in the state House are in reliably red (greater Minnesota) or blue (Minneapolis and St. Paul) districts. So the battle for control was waged most intensely in about 20 swing districts, primarily in the suburbs. While Minnesotans across the state were being inundated with negative TV attack ads, voters in competitive suburban districts were also buried in stacks of campaign mailings and visits by door-knocking legislative candidates and their supporters. Republicans rolled into the election with a 77-57 House majority. So Democrats needed to pick up 11 additional seats to take back control, which they last held in 2013-14. While Republicans had conceded loss of the House, complete results were not available as this edition of the Pioneer Press was published. DFLers had history on their side. It’s called the midterm penalty for the president’s party. Since 1952, the party of the sitting president has lost an average of 17 Minnesota House seats in midterm elections. This election was expected to be a referendum on President Donald Trump, and his approval rating in recent polls in Minnesota have hovered just below 40 percent. But most Democratic legislative candidates focused on “bread-and-butter issues,” Hortman said in a recent interview. They emphasized providing affordable health care, better education, abortion rights, cleaner air and water and transportation improvements. Daudt said Republican candidates were running on expanding their popular record of reducing health care costs, cutting taxes, and increasing funding for roads and bridges and for schools.[SEP]The US midterm elections occur every two years, in the middle of a President’s term. There are two elements to votes today, the election of members of the House of Representatives and the election of members of the Senate. These two branches are what control the United States Congress. The Republicans and Democrats are vying for a majority of both the House and Senate. What happens if the Republicans win the House? The House of Representatives is made up of 435 members, and all are up for election in today’s vote. To achieve a majority either party would 218 or more seats. In addition, there are six members who represent Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the US Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. These six representatives cannot vote in the full house but can sit and vote in congressional committees and introduce legislation. Should the President’s party, the Republicans, win control of the House, passing legislation would remain relatively easy for President Donald Trump. If opposing party the Democrats achieve a majority, Trump would find his power lessened as any new bills or amendments to current bills would first have to be approved by the House. According to polling site FiveThirtyEight, the President’s party has a one in eight - 12 percent - chance of retaining control of the House. What happens if the Republicans win the Senate? Each state, regardless of size, has two senators representing them in the Senate. The Senate shares with the House of Representatives the responsibility for all lawmaking within the United States. For an act of Congress to be valid, both houses must approve an identical document. Senators have the power to decide on major presidential appointments, and also should an impeachment trial come to pass it occurs in the Senate. As well as this, treaties with other nations must be agreed by two-thirds of the Senate.[SEP]Democrats leveraged fury with President Donald Trump to capture the House after a hard-fought election that saw Republicans expand their majority in the Senate, a split verdict that set the stage for divided government and partisan conflict that will shape the rest of President Trump’s first term. The dramatic conclusion of the most expensive and consequential midterm in modern times underscored the nation’s deep polarization, but fell short of delivering a sweeping repudiation of Trump that Democrats had hoped would put an exclamation point on the “resistance” movement. Trump’s racially charged warnings about undocumented immigrants and demonization of Democrats appeared to mobilize enough Republican voters to withstand the “blue wave” the party once feared. The president helped Republicans win hotly contested Senate races in Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas, and proclaimed the election’s outcome a “tremendous success.” Republicans held their grip throughout the South and in rural and exurban areas. But Democrats – propelled by a rejection of Trumpism in the nation’s suburbs, and from women and minority voters especially – notched victories in areas that just two years ago helped send Trump to the White House. In an early morning tweet, Trump seemed to ignore Democrats’ victory in the House. He was scheduled to hold a news conference at 11:30 a.m. “Received so many Congratulations from so many on our Big Victory last night, including from foreign nations (friends) that were waiting me out, and hoping, on Trade Deals,” Trump wrote on Twitter at 3:21 a.m. “Now we can all get back to work and get things done!” In the high-turnout election, Democrats picked up at least seven governorships, performing well across much of the upper Midwest and even in ruby-red Kansas, where Laura Kelly was elected governor over the president’s handpicked candidate, Kris Kobach. In Wisconsin, Democrat Tony Evers bested Gov. Scott Walker, once a Republican star who ran for president in 2016. Walker survived a hard-fought recall vote in 2012, and was reelected in 2014, only to be denied a third term by the state schools superintendent. Incumbent Republicans fell in an array of suburban House districts, including the one held by House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions in the Dallas area. And in West Virginia – where Trump is wildly popular and campaigned heavily for Republicans – the reelection of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin delivered a personal blow to the president. Competitive Senate races in Arizona and Montana were too close to call. Returns early Wednesday showed Democrats poised to pick up more than the 23 House seats they needed to gain a foothold in Congress from which to counter Trump. Democrats were projected to flip at least 29 districts currently held by the GOP and on track to surrender only a few seats. With power in Washington divided, House Democrats are likely to try to block the president’s agenda and use their subpoena power to investigate him and his administration. “Thanks to you, tomorrow will be a new day in America,” said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who is poised to reclaim the speaker’s gavel she lost eight years ago. The Democratic victory, she said, “is about restoring the Constitution’s checks and balances to the Trump administration,” and a check on Senate Republicans. The party’s new House majority was propelled by a record number of women candidates. Women currently hold 84 House seats, but that share is projected to expand to 100 or more when all results are tallied. Across the country, 277 women were on the ballot Tuesday for Congress and governorships, an unprecedented number that included 210 House candidates. But Democrats were disappointed elsewhere. Sens. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Claire McCaskill of Missouri were defeated, while Sen. Bill Nelson’s reelection in Florida appeared in doubt. Republican Marsha Blackburn won the open Senate seat in Tennessee, which Democrats had hoped would slide into their column. Democrats did pick up a seat in Nevada, where Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen prevailed over Sen. Dean Heller, the Republican incumbent. The governor’s mansion in Nevada is also set to change hands, as Republican Adam Laxalt conceded to Democrat Steve Sisolak, who is poised to replace the term-limited Brian Sandoval. Rosen, who by early Wednesday was the lone Democratic challenger to beat a Republican incumbent in the Senate, cast her victory as a counterpoint to the racist and anti-Semitic rhetoric that had marked the closing days of the midterm campaign. “After all the hate, all the hate that I’ve seen recently, that we’ve all seen, I can’t tell you how much this means to me as a former synagogue president,” Rosen told supporters in Las Vegas. Two of the liberal movement’s greatest hopes for this election cycle, Democrats Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum, struggled to overcome some of the most overt racial attacks since the civil rights era and make history as the first black governors in Georgia and Florida, respectively. Gillum conceded to Republican Ron DeSantis, a Trump ally, while the Georgia race was too close to call. Early Wednesday morning, Abrams told supporters she would not concede to Republican Brian Kemp and warned that their right to vote was on the line. Kemp stopped short of declaring victory outright but told supporters, “The math is on our side to win this election.” If the candidates were to wind up below 50 percent, they would go head-to-head again in a December runoff. Another Democratic star, Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas, lost his spirited challenge to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz despite raising record sums of money and attracting grass-roots support throughout the country. Midterm elections traditionally are referendums on the party in power, but Trump sought to ensure that this one would be a referendum on his presidency. . Returning to his 2016 campaign playbook, the president delivered fiery speeches that drew massive and enthusiastic crowds but contained a breathtaking barrage of falsehoods, invective and demagoguery. Describing himself in the closing weeks as a “nationalist,” Trump made a caravan of Central American migrants preparing to seek asylum in the United States a dominant theme. The Senate results underscored just how much the Republican Party has morphed into the party of Trump. The incoming freshman class of Republicans is made up largely of Trump allies – including Mike Braun in Indiana, Josh Hawley in Missouri and Kevin Cramer in North Dakota – who campaigned effectively as rubber stamps for the president’s agenda and owe their new jobs, at least in part, to his energetic campaigning on their behalf. An exception is Mitt Romney, who handily won his race for the open Senate seat in Utah, marking a return to the national stage for the party’s 2012 presidential nominee who in 2016 denounced Trump as a “con man” and a “fraud.” Following the death of Sen. John McCain of Arizona and the retirements of Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee, Romney is poised to become the leading GOP counterweight to Trump on Capitol Hill, if he chooses to stand up to the president. Tuesday’s results were set to transform the House, not only in partisan makeup but also in gender, age and ethnicity. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib in Michigan will become the first Muslim women in the House. Sharice Davids in Kansas and Deb Haaland in New Mexico will become the first Native American women in the chamber. And Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 29-year-old from New York, became the youngest woman elected to Congress. They were part of a wave of female candidates on the Democratic side, including Jennifer Wexton, who easily unseated Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock in a closely watched race in Northern Virginia, and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who narrowly defeated Rep. Carlos Curbelo in South Florida. “This resistance began with women and it is being led by women tonight,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who easily won reelection and is widely expected to run for president in 2020. Democrat Jared Polis in Colorado became the first openly gay man elected governor, while Democrat Janet Mills became the first female governor of Maine and Republican Kristi L. Noem will be the first female governor of South Dakota. Rep. Mia Love, who was the sole black Republican woman in Congress, was trailing in Utah to Democrat Ben McAdams. Republicans were hoping that Young Kim, a Korean American woman, would win her California race to give the party some additional diversity. Republican-held districts that Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 provided the backbone of the Democratic efforts to win the House majority. Democratic challengers triumphed in a number of suburban areas, defeating Republican Reps. Mike Coffman in suburban Denver, Kevin Yoder in the Kansas City area and David Brat in the Richmond suburbs, among others. But the Democratic momentum was not strong enough to carry some prized recruits over the finish line. Former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath, who attracted significant outside funding, lost to GOP Rep. Andy Barr in Kentucky. The midterm elections had the energy of a presidential contest in their closing days. In an all-out push to preserve Republican congressional majorities, Trump dashed from one red state to the next, urging his legions of supporters that he calls “the silent majority” to rush to the polls as if he were on the ballot. In some ways, the outcome was eerily similar to that of 2016, with late polls overestimating the Democratic advantage in enthusiasm and Republicans showing unanticipated resilience thanks in part to Trump’s incendiary rhetoric and focus on nativist themes. Racial tensions that had been simmering beneath the surface for years came to a boil in the final weeks of the campaign. Robo-calls in Georgia featured a voice impersonating Oprah Winfrey and calling Abrams “a poor man’s Aunt Jemima.” In Florida, robo-calls mimicked Gillum as jungle sounds and chimpanzee noises were heard in the background. Trump called Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, “not equipped” and Abrams, a leader in the state legislature, “not qualified” to be governors. And Monday, all the major television networks rejected a Trump campaign advertisement about immigration, calling it offensive. The racial overtones put that explosive form of politics on the ballot, with major stakes for Republicans. The party of Lincoln is now overwhelmingly white, while Democrats have a much more multiethnic coalition that represents the direction the country’s demographics are heading. Trump closed the campaign on an exceptionally dark note, stoking long-standing national divides on race and culture and painting an apocalyptic and misleading vision of America under Democratic control as he barnstormed key Senate battlegrounds. Because of geographic fate, Democrats always faced an uphill climb in winning the two seats they needed to reclaim the Senate majority. A third of the nation’s senators were up for reelection, including 10 Democratic incumbents running in states that Trump carried in 2016, many of them overwhelmingly. This year’s map gave Republicans the clear advantage of running in conservative states where they had won for decades. An outlier was Manchin, who secured reelection in West Virginia, which Trump won by 42 percentage points in 2016. He was helped by the independent profile he had cultivated back home, having previously served as governor and sometimes crossing the aisle to vote with Republicans. Manchin was the lone Democrat to vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh last month. Dudley Althaus in San Antonio; Robert Moore in El Paso; Torey Van Oot in Minneapolis; Sonam Vashi in Snellville, Ga.; and Philip Bump, Scott Clement, Amy Gardner, Anne Gearan, Emily Guskin, Paul Kane, Beth Reinhard, Philip Rucker, Matt Viser and John Wagner in Washington contributed to this report.[SEP]The Democrats were on track to gain House control but the Republicans held their Senate majority as voters rendered a mixed verdict in the first nationwide election of Donald Trump’s turbulent presidency. The Democrats picked up the 23 seats they would need to take control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans, but were still short of the 218 total to wrest control with more races still undecided. The results allowed both parties to claim partial victory, and highlighted an extraordinary realignment of US voters by race, sex and education. The Republicans maintained their strength in conservative, rural states, while Democrats made inroads across America’s suburbs. Women were assured of 85 seats in the House, more than ever before. With control of Congress, statehouses and the president’s agenda at stake, some of the nation’s top elections were too close to call. Yet Democrats’ dreams of the Senate majority as part of a “blue wave” were shattered after losses in many of the top Senate battlegrounds: Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, North Dakota and Texas. They also suffered a stinging loss in Florida, where Trump-backed Republican Ron DeSantis ended Democrat Andrew Gillum’s bid to become the state’s first African-American governor. “I want to encourage you to stick to the fight,” said Mr Gillum, who was thought to be a rising star with national ambitions. In the broader fight for control in the Trump era, the political and practical stakes on Tuesday were sky high. Democrats could derail Trump’s legislative agenda for the next two years should they win control of the House. And they would claim subpoena power to investigate Mr Trump’s personal and professional shortcomings. Some Democrats have already vowed to force the release of his tax returns. Others have pledged to pursue impeachment, although removal from office is unlikely so long as the Republicans control the Senate. The road to a House majority ran through two dozen suburban districts Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Democrats flipped seats in suburban districts outside Washington, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago and Denver. The results were more mixed deeper into Trump country. In Kansas, Democrat Sharice Davids beat a Republican incumbent to become the first Native American and gay woman elected to the House. But in Kentucky, one of the top Democratic recruits, retired Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath lost her bid to oust Andy Barr. Mr Trump sought to take credit for retaining the Republicans’ Senate majority, even as the party’s foothold in the more competitive House battlefield appeared to be slipping. “Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!” he tweeted. History was working against the president in the Senate: 2002 was the only midterm election in the past three decades when the party holding the White House gained Senate seats. Yet Mr Trump’s party will maintain Senate control for the next two years, at least.[SEP]The Democratic Party is projected to regain control of the House of Representatives while the ruling Republican Party is all set to retain its majority in the Senate in the critical midterm elections held on Tuesday, according to projections made by major United States media outlets. IMAGE: Supporters of Democratic celebrate in Yuma, West Virginia, US. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, 78, is expected to be re-elected as Speaker of 435-member House of Representatives, which is equivalent to Lok Sabha in Indian parliament. In the outgoing House, the Republicans had 235 seats while the Democrats 193. The new House would come into being next January. However, the ruling Republican Party led by US President Donald Trump appeared to be all set to retain majority in the 100-member Senate where it currently has a razor thin majority of 51-49 seats. The GOP is expected to increase its tally, as counting of votes were still going on when reports last came in. IMAGE: US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi celebrates the Democrats winning a majority in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections. In his first tweet after election results started coming in Trump claimed success. “Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!”. Trump in campaign rallies had said that he was on the ballot and made it a referendum on his nearly two years rule. The US president who headlined an unprecedented 50 rallies -- 30 in the last two months alone -- and has campaigned for dozens of candidates at all levels of government, according to White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, watched the results come in with friends and family in the White House residence. “The President has energised a staggering number of Americans at packed arenas and in overflow crowds at rallies across the country,” Sanders said. “Under Trump’s leadership, the Republican National Committee has raised more than a quarter billion dollars, fuelling an extraordinary ground game geared toward defying midterm history and protecting the GOP’s majorities,” she said. IMAGE: A supporter of Trump and Republican senate candidate Mike Braun attends the election night party in Indianapolis, Indiana. In her victory speech in Washington DC, Pelosi said: “Tomorrow will be a new day in America”. The former House speaker said that the election result is about “restoring the system of checks and balances” in Trump administration thus indicating that the new Democratic party would play the role of a strong opponent in for the US President. In victory, The Washington Post said Democrats regained some of the confidence -- although less of the power -- they lost in 2016, when Trump won a surprise victory over Hillary Clinton. “In this election, they sought to energise groups that Clinton did not: young voters, Latinos, African Americans and infrequent voters,” the daily said. IMAGE: Democratic congressional candidate Ilhan Omar is greeted by her husband’s mother after appearing at her midterm election night party in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to The New York Times, amid signs that the nation’s deep political and cultural divisions that lifted Trump in 2016 may only be deepening, “rural voters were breaking sharply” with their counterparts in the suburban districts and metropolitan areas, as turnout soared in a midterm election that came to serve as a national referendum on the president. The Democrats also won some of the high-profile governor’s race including Kansas, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota. The GOP retained its governorship in Florida. The elections also resulted in Rashida Tlaib becoming the first Muslim woman elected to the House of Representatives along with Somali-American Ilhan Omar.[SEP]All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for election on Tuesday, and who controls the House now after the 2018 midterms will determine whether or not the next two years on Capitol Hill will be roughly the same as the last two. It looks like business won't continue as usual though, as Democrats took back the House, CNN and NBC News projected. Fox News has also projected a House takeback for Democrats. Political analysts at FiveThirtyEight predicted ahead of the midterm election that the Democratic Party would win the majority after eight years in the minority. In order to do so, they needed to flip 24 GOP seats, and about 48 were considered competitive by The New York Times. More than 30 Republicans didn't seek re-election, as The Times notes, though many of their seats were expected to remain in GOP hands. The record number of women running for office this year, along with an extremely divisive president, played a big role in shifting many House races from Republican strongholds to tossups. After nearly 500 women entered House primaries, 237 advanced to a midterm general election, by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University's count. The vast majority ran as Democrats, and just 22 percent of the women candidates who won a primary were Republicans. NBC News was one of the first outlets to project that the Democratic Party would regain control of the House, something the party had not done in eight years. A party needs to control 218 seats in the House for a majority, the network noted, and some of the crucial elections that allowed NBC News to call a Democratic majority included ones in Minnesota, Colorado, Florida, New York, Virginia, Texas, and Michigan. The Democrats' recapture of the House will give the party new power to challenge President Trump for the next two years of his presidency. Prior to the midterm elections, Republicans controlled both the House and the Senate. CNN, NBC, and Fox have also projected that Republicans will hold on to their majority in the Senate, establishing a politically-split Congress until the 2020 elections. The GOP control of the Senate will continue to lift Trump's agenda, Fox News reported, allowing Republicans to have the final word on all federal judicial appointments, which includes nominations to the Supreme Court. But with Democrats in the House, the party will now have the ability to stop or delay several things that Trump has repeatedly pushed for, like funding for his controversial border wall and a recently-proposed middle-class tax cut. As Fox News noted, even if Democrats don't block the president on his legislative goals, they can still squeeze concessions out of the Republicans on hot-button issues like immigration before bills turn into law. The Democrats' majority presence in the House also means they will have to select a new speaker of the House, a position that Nancy Pelosi held from 2007 to 2011. But with the sea of new faces and the theme of change, there's the possibility the party will look beyond Pelosi for the job this time around. The two years to come will surely be different from the two that preceded it, and with an injection of progressive newcomers in an incredibly hostile political climate, it's anyone's guess what's to come.

The Democratic Party takes over control of the House, while the Republican Party increases their majority in the Senate.

A Record Number Of Women Will Serve In Congress (With Potentially More To Come) Enlarge this image toggle caption Win McNamee/Getty Images Win McNamee/Getty Images Note: NPR will be updating these numbers as more results come in. Updated at 10:44 a.m. ET Thursday After Tuesday's elections, a record number of women will serve in Congress come January 2019. With results still coming in, 98 women have won their House races as of early Wednesday morning, up from the current 84. In addition, at least 13 women won Senate seats. That's in addition to the 10 female senators who were not up for re-election this year. That means at least 121 women will serve in the 116th Congress, up from the current 107. It will bring the share of Congress members who are women up from the current 20 percent to nearly 23 percent — a new high, but far from parity. Loading... Don't see the graphic above? Click here. These new records represent the culmination of a record-setting year for female candidates. In elections for Congress, governorships and state legislatures alike, the number of women who ran outstripped previous years, as did the number of women nominated. Many first-time candidates this year were inspired to run for office, at least in part, by the 2016 presidential election — both the fact that the first female major-party nominee ever lost, and that Donald Trump, who is very unpopular among women (particularly Democratic women), won. And the women elected this year are overwhelmingly Democratic. Thus far, 85 of the 98 women elected to the House this year, as well as 10 of the 13 elected to the Senate, are Democrats. (One still-undecided Senate seat, in Arizona, will go to a woman no matter what, as both major-party candidates are women. That brings the total of women assured to be elected to the Senate this year to 14.) In fact, the number of Republican women in Congress, at latest count, will decline in the next session. With the record-breaking group of women elected this year comes a crop of other records and firsts. For example, the next Congress will feature a record number of women of color, as well as a record number of non-incumbent women, according to the Rutgers University Center for American Women and Politics. It will also feature the first Native American women, the first Muslim women and the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. A still-gaping gender gap Women swung far toward Democrats this year, but so did men — at least, relative to where they usually are. Which is to say, the gap between female and male voters remained roughly as big as it has been in recent years, according to exit polls. Women were 21 points more likely to vote for Democrats than Republicans in House races — 60 percent voted for Democrats, to 38 percent who voted for Republicans. Men, meanwhile, were about evenly split, with 50 percent voting for Republicans to 48 percent choosing Democrats. Loading... Don't see the graphic above? Click here. That's a big part of the story of 2018: many demographic groups swinging far more Democratic than they did in 2014, a wave year for Republicans. But within the exit polls there are a few more broad lessons about partisanship by gender in America. One is that it takes a lot to swing white women Democratic. According to exit polls, they were about evenly split this year, with 50 percent choosing Democrats, compared to 48 percent who chose Republicans. (And another massive pre-election poll found that white women may have slightly favored Republicans, 49 percent to 45 percent.) In other words, even in a year where there's a Democratic wave in the House, white women are about evenly split. This is also roughly in line with 2006, which was another wave year for Democrats. White women were evenly split that year, too. Another important trend from this year's exits (and any year's) is how gender interacts with race and education. Being white, a man, and not having a college degree all are factors correlated with being more Republican. Nonwhites, women and college graduates all tend to vote more Democratic. That can create some wide chasms between groups. White women with college degrees voted strongly for Democrats, by 22 points. White men with college degrees, meanwhile, were evenly split, and whites without degrees voted strongly Republican, according to CNN's exit polls. Meanwhile, about three-quarters of nonwhite voters, with or without college degrees, voted for Democratic candidates in their districts. (These results were not broken out by gender.) These breakdowns by education and gender are the sources of some of the most profound demographic shifts in recent American politics. College-educated women, in particular, have swung hard toward Democrats in recent years. Though that swing was already in progress, Trump may have accelerated that trend. Diverging views on gender Exit polls also showed wide partisan gaps in views of gender. An overwhelming majority of Americans, nearly 8 in 10, said it's important to elect more women to public office. Among those who consider that "important," two-thirds voted for Democrats. Meanwhile, more than 8 in 10 of those who consider that "not important" voted for Republicans. Views on sexual harassment diverged similarly: About 8 in 10 said they see it as a "serious problem," and nearly two-thirds of them voted Democratic. Among those who see harassment as "not a serious problem," nearly 8 in 10 voted Republican. With reporting from NPR's Renee Klahr and Sean McMinn.[SEP]From a pair of Native American women to a Somali refugee to the first openly gay man elected governor, the 2018 midterm elections brought a series of history-making votes that marked major accomplishments for women and LGBT candidates. Here’s a rundown of the history made Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. Record number of women to win seats in the House A record number of women are projected to win seats in the House in a massive night for female candidates across the political spectrum. As of early Wednesday morning, CNN projected 96 women would win House races, with 31 women newly elected to the House and 65 female incumbents. That bests the previous record of 85 representatives, according to the Congressional Research Service. Democrats Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland will become the first Native American women elected to Congress, CNN projected. Davids’ win in Kansas against GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder was a pickup for Democrats, who CNN projects to gain control of the House. Haaland will replace New Mexico Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who vacated the seat to run for governor. Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and Haaland is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, according to their respective campaigns. Davids identifies as a lesbian, making her the first openly LGBT member of Congress from Kansas as well. She will enter Congress having previously worked as a lawyer and a former mixed martial arts fighter. CNN projected Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party will become the first Muslim women in Congress. Victories for both were expected following primary victories earlier this year. Tlaib will fill the seat formerly occupied by Michigan Democratic Rep. John Conyers, who left office last year amid accusations of sexual misconduct. Omar will take the seat vacated by Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress. Ellison opted to run for Minnesota attorney general this year. Omar, in addition to being one of the first Muslim women in Congress, will also be the first Somali-American member. She came to the US more than two decades ago as a refugee. Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis’ bid for governor will be successful, CNN projected, meaning the openly gay member of Congress will become the first openly gay man elected governor. Polis will succeed Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is term-limited from seeking the office again, and will defeat Republican gubernatorial nominee Walker Stapleton. Oregon Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who identifies as bisexual, is already the first openly LGBT person to be elected governor. Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey came out as gay before he stepped down from office in the early 2000s. Polis was one of several LGBT candidates who ran for governor this cycle, along with Brown in Oregon, Vermont Democrat Christine Hallquist and Texas Democrat Lupe Valdez. Rep. Marsha Blackburn became the first female senator to represent Tennessee when she outlasted a challenge from former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat who looked to run against his party to win in a state President Donald Trump won by 26 percentage points in 2016. Blackburn, a conservative lawmaker closely tied to the President, looked to nationalize the Senate race as much as possible, hoping to tap into the same conservatism that elected Trump in order to blunt some goodwill Bredesen had built up during his two terms as governor. Trump visited the state three times. Blackburn has served in the US House since 2003. First female senator from Arizona guaranteed, if not yet known Arizona is guaranteed to elect its first female senator. Following GOP Sen. Jeff Flake’s decision last year not to seek re-election, Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema is facing off against GOP Rep. Martha McSally. Sinema and McSally are locked in a tight race as of just after midnight ET Wednesday and it was unclear when a projection in the race may come. Texas voters elected the state’s first two Hispanic women to Congress as Veronica Escobar won the seat to replace Rep. Beto O’Rourke in the congressional district near El Paso. O’Rourke gave up his seat in order to unsuccessfully run for Senate. CNN projects Escobar would defeat Rick Seeberger. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia won a Houston-area district that was relinquished by the retiring Democratic Rep. Gene Green. CNN projects Garcia will defeat Phillip Aronoff. Republican Kristi Noem will become South Dakota’s first female governor after defeating Democrat Billie Sutton, CNN projects. Noem had previously been serving as South Dakota’s at-large member of Congress. Some firsts out of reach While Tuesday marked a series of first steps for the nation, many other candidates fell short in their own groundbreaking bids. Tallahassee Democratic Mayor Andrew Gillum would have become Florida’s first black governor, and Tuesday night saw him losing to Florida Republican Ron DeSantis. And in Vermont, Democratic nominee Christine Hallquist already made history as the first transgender major party nominee for governor, but she was unable to defeat GOP Gov. Phil Scott, CNN projected. But as with Hallquist’s nomination being a first of its own, so were contests across the nation. The 2018 midterm elections saw a diverse field and a record high number of women running — and with votes cast, it remained to be seen as of Tuesday night how the full picture will shake out.[SEP]What is already the most diverse Congress ever will become even more so after elections which broke barriers of race and gender. For the first time, a pair of Native American congresswomen are heading to the House, in addition to two Muslim congresswoman. Massachusetts and Connecticut will also send black women to Congress as firsts for their states, while Arizona and Tennessee are getting their first female senators. The high-profile midterm cycle that produced a record number of women contenders and candidates of colour means a number of winners will take office as trailblazers. The inclusive midterm victories bode well for future election cycles, said Kimberly Peeler-Allen, co-founder of Higher Heights For America, a national organisation focused on galvanising black women voters and electing black women as candidates. “This is going to be a long process to get us to a point of proportionate representation, but tonight is a giant step forward for what leadership can and will eventually look like in this country,” Ms Peeler-Allen said. She added that even women of colour who were unsuccessful will inspire a new crop of candidates, similar to the white women encouraged to run after Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential election loss. Some of Tuesday’s black female pioneers, like Illinois nurse and Democrat Lauren Underwood and Connecticut teacher and Democrat Jahana Hayes, were first-time candidates. Others, like Massachusetts’ Ayanna Pressley, were political veterans. Most were considered long shots. Several will represent districts that are majority white and that have been historically conservative, their victories a rejection of conventional wisdom on electability and the effects of gerrymandering that have historically assigned elected officials of colour to represent minority communities. Ms Pressley, a Democrat and Boston city councilwoman, will represent Massachusetts’ Seventh Congressional District in the next Congress. Ms Pressley stunned the political establishment in September, defeating a 10-term incumbent in the Democratic primary, and ran unopposed in the general. “None of us ran to make history,” Ms Pressley told supporters in her acceptance speech Tuesday. “We ran to make change. However, the historical significance of this evening is not lost on me. The significance of history is not lost on me.” Half a century ago this week, New York’s Shirley Chisholm was elected the first black woman in Congress, and several of the black women elected Tuesday have said their campaigns were inspired by her example. Also in the House, Democrats Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan will be the first Muslim women to serve in Congress. Marsha Blackburn greets supporters after she was declared the winner over Phil Bredesen in Tennessee (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) New Mexico Democrat Deb Haaland and Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids were elected the first two Native American women to serve in Congress. Democrat Mike Espy, who will face Mississippi Republican Representative Cindy Hyde-Smith in a December runoff, could become the state’s first black senator since reconstruction. And regardless of who wins in Arizona’s competitive Senate race, the state will elect either Republican Martha McSally or Democrat Kyrsten Sinema as the state’s first woman to serve in the chamber. Also in the Senate, Republican Marsha Blackburn will become Tennessee’s first woman senator. Georgia candidate Stacey Abrams, a Democrat, was in a fierce battle to become America’s first black woman governor, while Democrat Andrew Gillum narrowly lost his bid to become the first black governor of Florida. Idaho gubernatorial candidate Paulette Jordan also lost her race to become the country’s first Native American governor. In Colorado, Jared Polis will be the country’s first openly gay man elected governor. In New Jersey, Democratic Governor Jim McGreevy, elected in 2001, had been outed as gay while in office.[SEP]CLOSE From the first gay man to win a governor’s race to the youngest woman elected to Congress, many candidates made history in the 2018 midterm election. USA TODAY Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the winner of a Democratic Congressional primary in New York, greets a passerby in New York, Wednesday, June 27, 2018, the morning after she upset U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley in Tuesday's primary election. (Photo: Mark Lennihan, AP) WASHINGTON – More women will serve in Congress than ever before, with at least 118 set to fill seats after Tuesday's election. As of midday on Wednesday, women had surpassed the current record of 107 voting members, according to race calls from the Associated Press analyzed by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. The new total includes 31 first-time House members, seven more than the record set for freshmen women during the 1992 "Year of the Woman" election. The surge was driven largely by Democrats as the party took over House control. Democrats account for 84 of 96 women set to serve in the House so far, including 30 of the 31 newcomers, according to a USA TODAY analysis. Women will represent two-thirds of the districts that Democrats flipped, building on momentum from the "Resist" movement that followed President Donald Trump's election in 2016. Next year’s freshman class will include women of color who have broken barriers in their states, plus the youngest woman ever elected to Congress – Democratic activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, of New York, who turned 29 in October. Eleven women senators were elected, nearly all Democrats. Marsha Blackburn, a GOP U.S. representative, defeated Tennessee’s former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen in her bid to become the state’s first woman senator. U.S. Rep. Jacky Rosen, a Democrat, ousted Republican Sen. Dean Heller in Nevada. Blackburn and Rosen will be joined by another freshman woman, although which one is not yet clear. Two U.S. representatives, Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, were locked in a tight Senate race in Arizona, where it may take days to count all ballots. Nine women, meanwhile, have won governors' races. Women were poised to make significant electoral gains in this “Year of the Woman” election. Their historic involvement follows the massive Women’s March to resist Trump’s presidency and the #MeToo movements’ protest against sexual misconduct in the workplace. In CNN exit polls, almost 80% of voters said it was very or somewhat important to see more women elected. That was a higher priority for women than for men, but not by much, CNN said. Women smashed records this election cycle in terms of the number who filed to run, the number of women who became their party's nominees for House, Senate and gubernatorial races, and even the number of women running against women in general election races. For the first time in history, Americans could elect more than 100 women to the House, said David Wasserman, the U.S. House editor for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. “That would not be occurring without Donald Trump in the White House,” Wasserman said. “It is a direct reaction to his election.” The majority of those women who ran for House seats – 185 – were Democrats, while 52 were Republicans. About one-third were women of color. Among the barrier-breaking races: Michelle Lujan Grisham, a U.S. representative from New Mexico, became the first Democratic Latina governor. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat and member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and Deb Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat and member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe, were elected as the first Native American congresswomen. Results are still pending for Yvette Herrell, a GOP state representative in New Mexico and a member of the Cherokee Nation, who is running for Congress. Davids is also Kansas’ first LGBTQ member of Congress. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have become the first Muslim women in Congress. Omar, a Democratic Minnesota state representative, already the nation’s first Somali-American legislator, is now the state’s first woman of color elected to Congress. Tlaib, a former Michigan state legislator who is also a Democrat, had no Republican opponent in the 13th Congressional District, which includes parts of Detroit. Guam elected its first woman governor, as former lawmaker Lou Leon Guerrero, a Democrat, claimed the position for her party for the first time since 2003. Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat who ran unopposed, became the first black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts. “When you think about what is a representative democracy, making sure that the perspectives and experiences of the entire population are mirrored in those legislative institutions, whether it’s at the state level or the federal level, is important,” said Debbie Walsh, director of Rutgers' Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP). “Those experiences shape the policy priorities of those elected officials.” Currently, 84 women serve as voting House members, including 61 Democrats and 23 Republicans. That has been the record since 2013, according to the Rutgers center. Twenty-three women serve in the Senate, including six Republicans and 17 Democrats. Six women – two Democrats and four Republicans – are governors. During the 1992 “Year of the Woman,” voters elected more new women – 24 – to Congress than in any previous decade, and that record has remained, according to Rutgers. That election followed Professor Anita Hill’s testimony on sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas during his confirmation to the Supreme Court. Congresswoman-elect Sharice Davids talks to a volunteer at her campaign office Oct. 1, 2018, in Overland Park, Kansas. Davids won election Tuesday, becoming one of the first Native American women headed to Congress. (Photo: Charlie Riedel, AP) This year, protests against sexual misconduct in the workplace contributed to women's political involvement. Some candidates have shared their own #MeToo movement stories in their campaigns. Others included their children in campaign ads, and in a couple of cases, even breastfed them. Another candidate, Liuba Grechen Shirley, a Long Island Democrat, won approval from the Federal Election Commission to use campaign funds for campaign-related child care expenses. “To me, women win because she ran,” Walsh said, even though Shirley lost her race on Tuesday. Midterm elections: Here are the candidates poised to make history Nov. 6 More: Women candidates put gender, family at forefront of campaigns More: Female veterans fight for a new mission: Fixing Congress More: Elections 2018 US Senate, House and Governor race results Trump at one year: Women's March returns, but the real focus is midterms Contributing: Matt Wynn, John Kelly, Chrissie Thompson Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/06/women-candidates-midterms/1845639002/[SEP]WASHINGTON — From a pair of Native American women to a Somali refugee to the first openly gay man elected governor, the 2018 midterm elections brought a series of history-making votes that marked major accomplishments for women and LGBT candidates. Here’s a rundown of the history made Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. Record number of women to win seats in the House A record number of women are projected to win seats in the House in a massive night for female candidates across the political spectrum. As of early Wednesday morning, CNN projected 96 women would win House races, with 31 women newly elected to the House and 65 female incumbents. That bests the previous record of 85 representatives, according to the Congressional Research Service. Democrats Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland will become the first Native American women elected to Congress, CNN projected. Davids’ win in Kansas against GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder was a pickup for Democrats, who CNN projects to gain control of the House. Haaland will replace New Mexico Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who vacated the seat to run for governor. Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and Haaland is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, according to their respective campaigns. Davids identifies as a lesbian, making her the first openly LGBT member of Congress from Kansas as well. She will enter Congress having previously worked as a lawyer and a former mixed martial arts fighter. CNN projected Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party will become the first Muslim women in Congress. Victories for both were expected following primary victories earlier this year. Tlaib will fill the seat formerly occupied by Michigan Democratic Rep. John Conyers, who left office last year amid accusations of sexual misconduct. Omar will take the seat vacated by Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress. Ellison opted to run for Minnesota attorney general this year. Omar, in addition to being one of the first Muslim women in Congress, will also be the first Somali-American member. She came to the US more than two decades ago as a refugee. Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis’ bid for governor will be successful, CNN projected, meaning the openly gay member of Congress will become the first openly gay man elected governor. Polis will succeed Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is term-limited from seeking the office again, and will defeat Republican gubernatorial nominee Walker Stapleton. Oregon Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who identifies as bisexual, is already the first openly LGBT person to be elected governor. Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey came out as gay before he stepped down from office in the early 2000s. Polis was one of several LGBT candidates who ran for governor this cycle, along with Brown in Oregon, Vermont Democrat Christine Hallquist and Texas Democrat Lupe Valdez. Rep. Marsha Blackburn became the first female senator to represent Tennessee when she outlasted a challenge from former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat who looked to run against his party to win in a state President Donald Trump won by 26 percentage points in 2016. Blackburn, a conservative lawmaker closely tied to the President, looked to nationalize the Senate race as much as possible, hoping to tap into the same conservatism that elected Trump in order to blunt some goodwill Bredesen had built up during his two terms as governor. Trump visited the state three times. Blackburn has served in the US House since 2003. First female senator from Arizona guaranteed, if not yet known Arizona is guaranteed to elect its first female senator. Following GOP Sen. Jeff Flake’s decision last year not to seek re-election, Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema is facing off against GOP Rep. Martha McSally. Sinema and McSally are locked in a tight race as of just after midnight ET Wednesday and it was unclear when a projection in the race may come. Texas voters elected the state’s first two Hispanic women to Congress as Veronica Escobar won the seat to replace Rep. Beto O’Rourke in the congressional district near El Paso. O’Rourke gave up his seat in order to unsuccessfully run for Senate. CNN projects Escobar would defeat Rick Seeberger. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia won a Houston-area district that was relinquished by the retiring Democratic Rep. Gene Green. CNN projects Garcia will defeat Phillip Aronoff. Republican Kristi Noem will become South Dakota’s first female governor after defeating Democrat Billie Sutton, CNN projects. Noem had previously been serving as South Dakota’s at-large member of Congress. Some firsts out of reach While Tuesday marked a series of first steps for the nation, many other candidates fell short in their own groundbreaking bids. Tallahassee Democratic Mayor Andrew Gillum would have become Florida’s first black governor, and Tuesday night saw him losing to Florida Republican Ron DeSantis. And in Vermont, Democratic nominee Christine Hallquist already made history as the first transgender major party nominee for governor, but she was unable to defeat GOP Gov. Phil Scott, CNN projected. But as with Hallquist’s nomination being a first of its own, so were contests across the nation. The 2018 midterm elections saw a diverse field and a record high number of women running — and with votes cast, it remained to be seen as of Tuesday night how the full picture will shake out.[SEP]From a pair of Native American women to a Somali refugee to the first openly gay man elected governor, the 2018 midterm elections brought a series of history-making votes that marked major accomplishments for women and LGBT candidates. Here’s a rundown of the history made Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. Record number of women to win seats in the House A record number of women are projected to win seats in the House in a massive night for female candidates across the political spectrum. As of early Wednesday morning, CNN projected 96 women would win House races, with 31 women newly elected to the House and 65 female incumbents. That bests the previous record of 85 representatives, according to the Congressional Research Service. Democrats Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland will become the first Native American women elected to Congress, CNN projected. Davids’ win in Kansas against GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder was a pickup for Democrats, who CNN projects to gain control of the House. Haaland will replace New Mexico Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who vacated the seat to run for governor. Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and Haaland is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, according to their respective campaigns. Davids identifies as a lesbian, making her the first openly LGBT member of Congress from Kansas as well. She will enter Congress having previously worked as a lawyer and a former mixed martial arts fighter. CNN projected Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party will become the first Muslim women in Congress. Victories for both were expected following primary victories earlier this year. Tlaib will fill the seat formerly occupied by Michigan Democratic Rep. John Conyers, who left office last year amid accusations of sexual misconduct. Omar will take the seat vacated by Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress. Ellison opted to run for Minnesota attorney general this year. Omar, in addition to being one of the first Muslim women in Congress, will also be the first Somali-American member. She came to the US more than two decades ago as a refugee. Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis’ bid for governor will be successful, CNN projected, meaning the openly gay member of Congress will become the first openly gay man elected governor. Polis will succeed Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is term-limited from seeking the office again, and will defeat Republican gubernatorial nominee Walker Stapleton. Oregon Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who identifies as bisexual, is already the first openly LGBT person to be elected governor. Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey came out as gay before he stepped down from office in the early 2000s. Polis was one of several LGBT candidates who ran for governor this cycle, along with Brown in Oregon, Vermont Democrat Christine Hallquist and Texas Democrat Lupe Valdez. Rep. Marsha Blackburn became the first female senator to represent Tennessee when she outlasted a challenge from former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat who looked to run against his party to win in a state President Donald Trump won by 26 percentage points in 2016. Blackburn, a conservative lawmaker closely tied to the President, looked to nationalize the Senate race as much as possible, hoping to tap into the same conservatism that elected Trump in order to blunt some goodwill Bredesen had built up during his two terms as governor. Trump visited the state three times. Blackburn has served in the US House since 2003. First female senator from Arizona guaranteed, if not yet known Arizona is guaranteed to elect its first female senator. Following GOP Sen. Jeff Flake’s decision last year not to seek re-election, Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema is facing off against GOP Rep. Martha McSally. Sinema and McSally are locked in a tight race as of just after midnight ET Wednesday and it was unclear when a projection in the race may come. Texas voters elected the state’s first two Hispanic women to Congress as Veronica Escobar won the seat to replace Rep. Beto O’Rourke in the congressional district near El Paso. O’Rourke gave up his seat in order to unsuccessfully run for Senate. CNN projects Escobar would defeat Rick Seeberger. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia won a Houston-area district that was relinquished by the retiring Democratic Rep. Gene Green. CNN projects Garcia will defeat Phillip Aronoff. Republican Kristi Noem will become South Dakota’s first female governor after defeating Democrat Billie Sutton, CNN projects. Noem had previously been serving as South Dakota’s at-large member of Congress. Some firsts out of reach While Tuesday marked a series of first steps for the nation, many other candidates fell short in their own groundbreaking bids. Tallahassee Democratic Mayor Andrew Gillum would have become Florida’s first black governor, and Tuesday night saw him losing to Florida Republican Ron DeSantis. And in Vermont, Democratic nominee Christine Hallquist already made history as the first transgender major party nominee for governor, but she was unable to defeat GOP Gov. Phil Scott, CNN projected. But as with Hallquist’s nomination being a first of its own, so were contests across the nation. The 2018 midterm elections saw a diverse field and a record high number of women running — and with votes cast, it remained to be seen as of Tuesday night how the full picture will shake out.[SEP]From a pair of Native American women to a Somali refugee to the first openly gay man elected governor, the 2018 midterm elections brought a series of history-making votes that marked major accomplishments for women and LGBT candidates. Here’s a rundown of the history made Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. Record number of women to win seats in the House A record number of women are projected to win seats in the House in a massive night for female candidates across the political spectrum. As of early Wednesday morning, CNN projected 96 women would win House races, with 31 women newly elected to the House and 65 female incumbents. That bests the previous record of 85 representatives, according to the Congressional Research Service. Democrats Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland will become the first Native American women elected to Congress, CNN projected. Davids’ win in Kansas against GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder was a pickup for Democrats, who CNN projects to gain control of the House. Haaland will replace New Mexico Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who vacated the seat to run for governor. Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and Haaland is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, according to their respective campaigns. Davids identifies as a lesbian, making her the first openly LGBT member of Congress from Kansas as well. She will enter Congress having previously worked as a lawyer and a former mixed martial arts fighter. CNN projected Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party will become the first Muslim women in Congress. Victories for both were expected following primary victories earlier this year. Tlaib will fill the seat formerly occupied by Michigan Democratic Rep. John Conyers, who left office last year amid accusations of sexual misconduct. Omar will take the seat vacated by Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress. Ellison opted to run for Minnesota attorney general this year. Omar, in addition to being one of the first Muslim women in Congress, will also be the first Somali-American member. She came to the US more than two decades ago as a refugee. Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis’ bid for governor will be successful, CNN projected, meaning the openly gay member of Congress will become the first openly gay man elected governor. Polis will succeed Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is term-limited from seeking the office again, and will defeat Republican gubernatorial nominee Walker Stapleton. Oregon Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who identifies as bisexual, is already the first openly LGBT person to be elected governor. Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey came out as gay before he stepped down from office in the early 2000s. Polis was one of several LGBT candidates who ran for governor this cycle, along with Brown in Oregon, Vermont Democrat Christine Hallquist and Texas Democrat Lupe Valdez. Rep. Marsha Blackburn became the first female senator to represent Tennessee when she outlasted a challenge from former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat who looked to run against his party to win in a state President Donald Trump won by 26 percentage points in 2016. Blackburn, a conservative lawmaker closely tied to the President, looked to nationalize the Senate race as much as possible, hoping to tap into the same conservatism that elected Trump in order to blunt some goodwill Bredesen had built up during his two terms as governor. Trump visited the state three times. Blackburn has served in the US House since 2003. First female senator from Arizona guaranteed, if not yet known Arizona is guaranteed to elect its first female senator. Following GOP Sen. Jeff Flake’s decision last year not to seek re-election, Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema is facing off against GOP Rep. Martha McSally. Sinema and McSally are locked in a tight race as of just after midnight ET Wednesday and it was unclear when a projection in the race may come. Texas voters elected the state’s first two Hispanic women to Congress as Veronica Escobar won the seat to replace Rep. Beto O’Rourke in the congressional district near El Paso. O’Rourke gave up his seat in order to unsuccessfully run for Senate. CNN projects Escobar would defeat Rick Seeberger. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia won a Houston-area district that was relinquished by the retiring Democratic Rep. Gene Green. CNN projects Garcia will defeat Phillip Aronoff. Republican Kristi Noem will become South Dakota’s first female governor after defeating Democrat Billie Sutton, CNN projects. Noem had previously been serving as South Dakota’s at-large member of Congress. Some firsts out of reach While Tuesday marked a series of first steps for the nation, many other candidates fell short in their own groundbreaking bids. Tallahassee Democratic Mayor Andrew Gillum would have become Florida’s first black governor, and Tuesday night saw him losing to Florida Republican Ron DeSantis. And in Vermont, Democratic nominee Christine Hallquist already made history as the first transgender major party nominee for governor, but she was unable to defeat GOP Gov. Phil Scott, CNN projected. But as with Hallquist’s nomination being a first of its own, so were contests across the nation. The 2018 midterm elections saw a diverse field and a record high number of women running — and with votes cast, it remained to be seen as of Tuesday night how the full picture will shake out.[SEP](CNN) Democrats Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland will become the first Native American women elected to Congress, CNN has projected. In New Mexico, Haaland will replace Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who vacated the seat to run for governor, and Davids will unseat Kansas GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder. Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and Haaland is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, according to their respective campaigns. The projected victories for the two Native American women mark a milestone in the US political system. Davids identifies as a lesbian, making her the first openly LGBT member of Congress from Kansas . She will enter Congress as a lawyer and a former mixed martial arts fighter. Read More[SEP]It has been a record-breaking season for women in politics. First, a record number of women filed to run for office. Then a record number won their primaries. With voters heading to the polls on Tuesday, the most important record remains to be broken. Can a record number take office? Experts say women appear poised to make a wave in the House of Representatives. But their chances are less robust in other areas. It is less likely that women will set records in the Senate and in races for governor, said Kelly Dittmar, a researcher at the Center for American Women and Politics, a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. She added that among Republicans, it's likely that women will actually lose representation in the House. Women will have to take 85 seats in order to surpass the House record of 84 set in 2013, according to CAWP's tally. In the Senate, the number to beat is 23. In 2004, women won nine governor races, a record that stands to this day. But Dittmar said it's important to look beyond the numbers. "It's not a single narrative of women success across the board, but about certain types of women candidates," Dittmar said. The narrative, she said, is about "women of color, and the potential to increase racial and ethnic diversity in these offices." Indeed, in Michigan, Democrat Rashida Tlaib, facing no Republican challenge, is on track to become the first Muslim-American woman in Congress. In Michigan, Somali refugee Ilhan Omar is also vying for the title. A victory for Omar would also mark the first time voters sent a Somali-American to Washington. Sharice Davids is favored by pollsters to make history as a lesbian Native American in Congress. She is poised to unseat Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder, who handily won election to his Kansas district in 2016. Another Native American woman, Deb Haaland, is also likely to win a seat in a Democrat-leaning New Mexico district that went for both Clinton and Obama by double digits. Democratic women are also positioned for gains in Pennsylvania, including three or more women who could crash the state's all-male House delegation. The state has never had more than two women at a time in its congressional delegation.[SEP]Women made history this Election Day, with the highest-ever number projected to win seats in the House of Representatives: As of early Wednesday morning, 96 women have reportedly won House races, with 31 women newly elected to the House and 65 female incumbents. The prior record of women in the House was 85 representatives, according to the Congressional Research Service. The women elected in this year’s midterms include Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, the first Muslim women ever elected to Congress, as well as Sylvia Garcia and Veronica Escobar, the first Latina congresswomen in Texas. Ayanna Pressley officially became Massachusetts’ first black woman elected to Congress, after unseating 10-term Representative Michael Capuano in the state primary. And as anticipated, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won her election to the House in New York’s 14th Congressional District, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. The first Native American women were also elected. Democrat Sharice Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, defeated the Republican incumbent in Kansas’s Third Congressional District by nine points, becoming not only the first Native American woman elected to Congress, but also the state’s first openly gay representative — and the first former mixed-martial-arts fighter. Deb Haaland, who is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, won a seat in the First District in New Mexico. “There is going to be a historic number of women walking onto the floor of the U.S. House in January … They’re going to change the way things work,” Stephanie Schriock, the president of the pro-choice PAC Emily’s List, told BuzzFeed News. “This is gonna be the most diverse freshmen class of women that we’ve ever brought in by far.” Women also made history in the Senate and in governorships. Arizona is guaranteed to elect its first female senator, with two women — Democrat Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Martha McSally — facing off in a close race after Jeff Flake’s departure. Meanwhile, Florida elected its first openly lesbian mayor, Teri Johnston. But although women came out in droves to vote for left-leaning candidates, forming what many are calling a “pink wave,” many white women still voted for Republicans — including Republican men. In Georgia, Republican Brian Kemp received 50.5 percent of the electoral vote for governor, beating the progressive candidate Stacey Abrams by a small margin; if elected, Abrams would have been the first black woman elected as governor in the U.S. A staggering 76 percent of white women voted for Kemp, who boasted about being “politically incorrect” during his campaign, while 97 percent of black women went with Abrams. Likewise, in Texas, 59 percent of white women voted for Republican Senator Ted Cruz, while 95 percent of black women supported his challenger, the beloved Beto O’Rourke. Nevertheless, the historic record of women and a Democratic majority in the House shows some promise for the years ahead.

At least 95 women attain congressional office, bringing the total number of women in all parts of Congress to a record 118. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar share the distinction of becoming the first Muslim congresswomen, while Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland become the first Native American congresswomen.

Colorado Congressman Jared Polis made history Tuesday night by becoming the first openly gay man to be elected governor of a U.S. state. A five-term member of Congress, Polis, a Democrat, beat his Republican rival Walter Stapleton by six points. Polis’ historic milestone came amid a night of other groundbreaking electoral moments. Polis joins Oregon Gov. Kate Brown as the second LGBTQ person to be voted a state governor. Brown, who identifies as bisexual, took office in 2015. Polis took 51.6% of the vote, with 84% of precincts reporting, after a campaign during which he championed progressive causes such as universal healthcare, renewable energy expansion and gun violence prevention. The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now The win is particularly significant in light of Colorado’s reputation as a “Hate State” — a moniker activists gave it after voters there passed a constitutional amendment in 1992 to prevent the creation of protections for the LGBTQ community. Polis has been open about his sexuality throughout his political career and before he was first elected to Congress in 2009. On the campaign trail, he emphasized his campaign’s distinction from the less “inclusive” tone of the Republican leadership. “I think it really gives Colorado an opportunity to stick a thumb in the eye of Mike Pence,” he told state democrats in a June speech , “whose view of America is not as inclusive as where America is today.” Mary Parker, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, a nationwide organization that supports LGBTQ candidates, told the Denver Post of Polis’ victory: “The fact that the state of Colorado, in 25 years, has gone from being dubbed the ‘Hate State’ to a place that can elect someone who is not just openly gay, but publicly gay, that’s historic.” Correction Nov. 7 The original version of this story misstated the name of Jared Polis’ Republican rival. He is Walker Stapleton, not Walter Stapleton. Write to Ciara Nugent at ciara.nugent@time.com.[SEP]First openly gay person elected governor in US LOS ANGELES: Democratic Congressman Jared Polis has won the governor´s race in Colorado, US networks projected on Tuesday, making him the first openly gay person to be elected governor in the United States. The five-term congressman, 43, who defeated Republican Walker Stapleton, was open about his sexual orientation during the campaign, often referring to it in his criticism of President Donald Trump. Kate Brown became the first bisexual governor when she was elected in Oregon in 2015, while another governor, Jim McGreevey of New Jersey, came out as gay before resigning in 2004. But Polis is the first openly gay candidate to be elected governor. He will succeed Democrat John Hickenlooper, who has been in office since 2011. A self-made millionaire and tech entrepreneur, Polis was admitted to Princeton at age 16 and has said that he set his sights on becoming governor when he was in college. Polis, who is Jewish, switched his name from Jared Schultz to Jared Polis at age 25 to honor his grandmother, he has said.[SEP]Colorado Democrat Jared Polis will be the first openly gay man elected governor in United States history—and only the second out LGBT person to win a gubernatorial election. Late Tuesday night, the Associated Press called Polis’ victory over Republican opponent Walker Stapleton, who is currently serving as the state’s treasurer. For LGBT advocates, this is a milestone that has been years in the making. “Generations of LGBTQ advocates have dreamed of the moment when voters would overcome tired stereotypes and elect an openly gay man who stands proudly with his partner and family—and this is that moment,” Victory Fund president and former Houston Mayor Annise Parker said in a statement. Polis is an entrepreneur and current U.S. House representative for Colorado’s second district, where he has been serving since 2009. He and his same-sex partner Marlon Reis have had two children while Polis was in political office, making him the first openly LGBT parent in Congress, as ABC News reported in 2011. The Polis campaign did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment on the victory. But via Twitter, Polis said, “Tonight, we reaffirm what makes Colorado the amazing state that it is. Here, we dream, we dare, and we do. We embrace big ideas and we work sun-up to sundown to make them realities. We see the highest mountains and we climb them. We face the tough decisions and we solve them.” LGBT political representation at the gubernatorial level has been sparse so far. Oregon Democrat Kate Brown, who is openly bisexual, took office in 2015 after her predecessor resigned while facing corruption allegations. Brown won a 2016 special election, making her not only the first openly bisexual person elected governor but also the first out LGBT person to win at that level nationwide. (Brown was also up for re-election Tuesday night and her race had not yet been called at the time Polis was projected to win.) The only other openly gay man to briefly serve as governor, however briefly, was former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey, who came out as “a gay American” in an August 2004 press conference after former aide Golan Cipel prepared a sexual harassment lawsuit. McGreevey resigned in that very press conference—but he did not officially leave office until September of that year. Victory Fund, a nonpartisan advocacy group that works to elect LGBT candidates, believes that Polis’ groundbreaking win will have a nationwide impact. “Jared shattered a lavender ceiling in Colorado, but its effect will extend well-beyond the state’s borders,” Parker said in a statement, noting that just 25 years ago Colorado was dubbed a “hate state” by boycotters of an anti-LGBT amendment. “Colorado has undergone a transformation that parallels the changing attitudes in the country at large,” she noted. But it remains to be seen whether those changing attitudes leads to more LGBT governors. Besides Polis and Brown, two other openly LGBT people ran for governor this cycle. In Vermont, Christine Hallquist, a transgender woman and former energy company executive, won the Democratic primary but lost Tuesday night to Republican incumbent Phil Scott. And in Texas, out lesbian sheriff Lupe Valdez lost to Republican incumbent Greg Abbott on Tuesday night. Still, though, LGBT advocates are finding plenty to celebrate in Polis’ win. In a statement, Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin called Polis a “bold pro-equality champion,” citing his longstanding record in support of LGBT rights. One of Polis’ major LGBT accomplishments was sponsoring the Student Non-Discrimination Act, a proposed piece of federal legislation that would ban anti-LGBT discrimination in public schools. Polis introduced the bill in 2011 and although it has not yet passed, Polis continued to make education a cornerstone of his career and political campaigning. He re-introduced the SNDA again as recently as this March. “For nearly a decade in Congress, Jared Polis fought to advance fairness and equality in Colorado and across America,” said Griffin. “He is a proven leader who will take his commitment to securing full equality to the governor’s mansion and fight to make Colorado a stronger and more inclusive state.”[SEP]In Colorado, Jared Polis Becomes First Openly Gay Elected Governor Voters in Colorado have made Jared Polis the nation's first openly gay elected governor. Polis speaks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about his plans while he's in office.[SEP]COLORADO – Democratic US Rep. Jared Polis will be Colorado’s next governor, becoming the nation’s first openly gay man elected to a governor’s mansion, CNN has projected. Polis will succeed Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is term-limited from seeking the office again, and will defeat Republican gubernatorial nominee Walker Stapleton. Oregon Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who identifies as bisexual, is already the first openly LGBT person to be elected governor. Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey came out as gay before he stepped down from office in the early 2000s. Polis was one of several LGBT candidates who ran for governor this cycle, along with Brown in Oregon, Vermont Democrat Christine Hallquist and Texas Democrat Lupe Valdez. The historic first for Polis means Democrats will retain the governor’s mansion in Colorado and the LGBT community will secure rare representation at the statewide level. Polis is no stranger to the distinction, having become the first openly gay man elected to the House as a freshman in 2008. During his gubernatorial bid, Polis has pushed for universal health care, free early childhood education and progressing Colorado to a 100% renewable energy state. As a freshman, Polis and his spouse Marlon Reis wrote about their experience as a same sex couple in Congress — years before same sex marriage was legalized at the federal level.[SEP]Sharice Davids Makes History as First Native American Elected to Congress, First LGBTQ Kansas Lawmaker Jared Polis has defeated Walker Stapleton to win Colorado’s gubernatorial race and he’s the nation’s first openly gay man to be elected governor. Polis has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2009 and will succeed Democrat John Hickenlooper as governor.[SEP]Colorado Democratic US Rep. Jared Polis will be his state’s next governor, becoming the nation’s first openly gay man elected to a governor’s mansion. Polis will succeed Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is term-limited from seeking the office again, after defeating Republican gubernatorial nominee Walker Stapleton on Tuesday. “Generations of LGBTQ advocates have dreamed of the moment when voters would overcome tired stereotypes and elect an openly gay man who stands proudly with his partner and family — and this is that moment,” said former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “Colorado has undergone a transformation that parallels the changing attitudes in the country at large. “In just 25 years, Colorado went from being labeled a ‘hate state’ for its anti-LGBTQ voter-approved ballot initiative to becoming the first state in the nation to elect an openly gay governor,” Parker added. “This is the evolution we will fight for in states all throughout the country — both red and blue — because we know voters are ready to support authentic, values-driven LGBTQ candidates who speak to the issues that matter most. Jared shattered a lavender ceiling in Colorado, but its effect will extend well-beyond the state’s borders.” Oregon Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who identifies as bisexual, is already the first openly LGBTQ person to be elected governor. Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey came out as gay before he stepped down from office in the early 2000s. Polis was one of several LGBTQ candidates who ran for governor this cycle, along with Brown in Oregon, Vermont Democrat Christine Hallquist and Texas Democrat Lupe Valdez. The historic first for Polis means Democrats will retain the governor’s mansion in Colorado and the LGBTQ community will secure rare representation at the statewide level. Polis is no stranger to the distinction, having become the first openly gay man elected to the House as a freshman in 2008. During his gubernatorial bid, Polis has pushed for universal health care, free early childhood education and progressing Colorado to a 100 percent renewable energy state. As a freshman, Polis and his spouse Marlon Reis wrote about their experience as a same sex couple in Congress — years before same sex marriage was legalized at the federal level.[SEP]Democratic candidate Jared Polis was projected to make American history Tuesday night likely becoming the first openly gay man to be elected as a U.S. governor. At the time of this reporting, Polis held approximately 51 per cent of the vote against Republican opponent Walker Stapleton’s 45 per cent. Going up against Stapleton, the state treasurer for Colorado, to fill outgoing Gov. John Hickenlooper’s seat, Polis won the primary election with approximately 44 per cent of the vote. He’s served five terms as a Congressman in Colorado He and his partner Marlon Reis are the fathers of two young children and previously told CNN about their experience as a same-sex couple on Capitol Hill in 2009. In addition, Polis is one of the wealthiest members of Congress, having founded several successful companies including the florist site Proflowers.com and online greeting card creator Bluemountain.com. Originally from Boulder, Polis’ first election win came in 2000 when he was voted into the Colorado State Board of Education. He was elected to represent Colorado’s Second Congressional District in 2008. Since then, he’s emerged as one of the most pro-cannabis politicians in Washington, CNN reports, as he advocated last year for decriminalizing marijuana and removing the substance as a Schedule 1 drug last year. READ MORE: Midterm election results could put the USMCA in jeopardy, which isn’t good for Canada: experts He campaigned for the governorship on universal free healthcare, free kindergarten and preschool, and movements towards a 100 per cent renewable energy state. Polis has told ABC that while being an openly gay governor puts him in the history books, he doesn’t think it’s unusual in a state like Colorado. “Colorado is a ground-breaking state,” said Polis. “We’ve had LGBT speakers in our state assembly, Senate minority leaders, commissioners.” In most polls leading up to the vote, Polis was projected to take at least 45 per cent of the vote to win the election. In the most recent polls cited by FiveThirtyEight, Polis held double-digit leads over Stapleton among women, unaffiliated voters and voters under 40. Throughout the campaign, ABC reports that Polis has talked frequently about lowering the cost of early childhood education and how his opponent, if elected, would simply be a “yes-man” for the president. He’s also talked often of electing diverse leaders to public office who are “fully representative of the people they’re elected to work for,” he told ABC. “That means we should have our communities of colour represented, women represented, the LGBTQ community represented. And the more diversity we have in elected leadership, responsible positions, I think the better result we’ll have,” he continued. READ MORE: 2018 U.S. midterms: The most outlandish political attack ads of this campaign He’s one of a handful of LGBTQ candidates running in these midterm elections. Vermont’s Democratic candidate for governor, Christine Hallquist, is the first transgender woman to be a major party’s candidate for governor. Gov. Kate Brown, who’s up for re-election in Oregon, became the first openly bisexual person to serve as a state’s governor. Following his victory, the LGBTQ Victory Fund, an American political action committee dedicated to having more LBGTQ-identifying candidates elected to public office, issued a statement by the president of the fund, Mayor Annise Parker. “This is the evolution we will fight for in states all throughout the country – both red and blue – because we know voters are ready to support authentic, values-driven LGBTQ candidates who speak to the issues that matter most. Jared shattered a lavender ceiling in Colorado, but its effect will extend well-beyond the state’s borders,” she said in the statement.,[SEP]BOULDER, Nov 7 — Democratic Congressman Jared Polis will be the new governor of the western state of Colorado, US news networks ABC and NBC projected this morning, after he defeated Republican Walker Stapleton. Five-term congressman Polis is the first openly gay man to win a gubernatorial race. Kate Brown became the first bisexual governor when she was elected in Oregon in 2015, while another governor, Jim McGreevey of New Jersey, came out as gay before resigning in 2004. — AFP[SEP]Democratic Congressman Jared Polis has won the governor's race in Colorado, networks projected on Tuesday, making him the first openly gay person to be elected as a US governor. The five-term congressman, 43, who defeated Republican Walker Stapleton, was open about his sexual orientation during the campaign, often referring to it in his criticism of President Donald Trump. Kate Brown became the first bisexual governor when she was elected in Oregon in 2015, while another governor, Jim McGreevey of New Jersey, came out as gay before resigning in 2004. But Polis is the first openly gay candidate to be elected governor. He will succeed Democrat John Hickenlooper, who has been in office since 2011. A self-made millionaire and tech entrepreneur, Polis was admitted to Princeton University at age 16. And he has said that he set his sights on becoming governor when he was in college. Polis, who is Jewish, switched his name from Jared Schultz to Jared Polis at age 25 to honor his grandmother, he has said. He was one of hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates in the midterm elections, including 21 for Congress and four for governor. "LGBTQ candidates are running for office in unprecedented numbers and in every state in the nation -- and it is already inspiring more LGBTQ people to run in the near future," Annise Parker, president of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, a nonpartisan group, said ahead of the elections. "This rainbow wave of candidates is certainly concentrated in blue states and districts, but LGBTQ leaders in conservative parts of the nation are standing up and determined to become public servants while remaining true to who they are. "The struggles and experiences of LGBTQ candidates provide a unique perspective that makes them authentic, values-driven leaders, and it is increasingly resonating with voters.” Polis's win comes as members of the LGBTQ community have faced mounting attacks since Donald Trump was elected president. Those include an effort by the Trump administration to change the legal definition of gender that would effectively reverse some transgender rights put in place by president Barack Obama. Polis ran on a progressive platform that called for affordable health care, stricter gun laws and more investment in renewable energy.

Jared Polis becomes the first openly gay person and second openly LGBT person elected as a governor in the United States.

Image copyright Bettmann Image caption Jewish refugees aboard the MS St Louis ocean liner wave as it docks in Antwerp, Belgium Canada's PM Justin Trudeau has apologised for his country's role in turning away a ship carrying over 900 Jewish refugees fleeing persecution. In 1939, German liner the MS St Louis sailed to Havana, Cuba, but that country's government refused them entry, although they had visas. The US and Canada also blocked them, denying the passengers safe haven. The ship was forced to return to Europe and 254 of the refugees later died in Nazi concentration camps. Addressing Canada's parliament, Mr Trudeau spoke of how the Liberal government of the day "was unmoved by the plight of these refugees". "The government chose to turn its back on these innocent victims of Hitler's regime," he said. Canada's refusal was indicative of its restrictive rules towards Jewish immigration at the time. "Bitter resentment towards Jews were enshrined in our policies," said the prime minister on Wednesday. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Gerald Granston was a six-year-old passenger on the SS St Louis During the 12-year Nazi regime in Germany, from 1933 to 1945, Canada accepted fewer Jewish refugees than any other Western nation. A senior Canadian immigration official, asked during the war about how many Jews would eventually be considered for entry into Canada, had a now infamous response: "None is too many." Mr Trudeau called Wednesday's formal recognition of the historic wrongdoing "a long overdue apology". "We are sorry for the callousness of Canada's response, we are sorry for not apologising sooner." Shimon Fogel, with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, told the BBC that the acknowledgment is "important to achieve closure and recognition of a particularly dark chapter in Canadian history". He hopes recognition of these types of historic wrongs will help ensure better policies during the current global period of upheaval and increased migration. The federal apology also comes in the wake of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, an attack motivated by anti-Semitism. The alleged gunman, Robert Bowers, is accused of killing 11 Jewish worshippers on 27 October. He has pleaded not guilty. American authorities have called the attack on the synagogue the worst anti-Semitic incident in US history. Mr Trudeau touched on the tragedy as he condemned ongoing anti-Semitic attitudes in Canada and around the world. "This was heinous anti-Semitic act of violence," he said. "These tragic events ultimately attest to the work we still have to do."[SEP]His speech, just over a week after the massacre at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, showed how anti-Semitism shaped Canada’s response to Jewish refugees fleeing Germany. “Today, I rise in this House of Commons to issue a long overdue apology to the Jewish refugees Canada turned away,” he said in Ottawa. “We used our laws to mask our anti-Semitism, our antipathy, our resentment. We are sorry for the callousness of Canada’s response. And we are sorry for not apologizing sooner.” Since taking office, Trudeau has delivered several high-profile apologies, so many that he has faced the charge of apologizing too much. Critics wonder what work an apology does, who benefits and whether saying “sorry” is ever really enough. But coming soon after what may have been the deadliest attack on Jews in American history, at a time when anti-Semitic memes and conspiracy theories abound, Trudeau’s remarks felt urgent. “His speech, his words and his apology were very moving and meaningful,” said Avi Benlolo, president of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, a Canadian nonprofit organization. “What we appreciated from his speech was his focus on contemporary anti-Semitism.” The apology connected past to present, showing how the hate that animated Canada’s treatment of Jewish refugees is still ingrained in contemporary politics in Canada, the United States and elsewhere. Trudeau said 17 percent of all hate crimes in Canada target Jews. “Holocaust deniers still exist,” he said. “Anti-Semitism is still far too present. Jewish institutions and neighborhoods are still being vandalized with swastikas.” He condemned the attacks in Pittsburgh as a “heinous anti-Semitic act of violence.” “Canada and Canadians will continue to stand with the Jewish community and call out the hatred that incited such despicable acts,” he said. “These tragic events ultimately attest to the work we still have to do.” The story of the M.S. St. Louis has long been a source of shame for a country that likes to think of itself as a refuge. In May 1939, just months before the outbreak of war, an ocean liner left Europe with more than 1,000 passengers, including 907 German Jews. The ship made it to Cuba, but the Jewish refugees were not allowed to disembark. The United States later turned them away. With the ship days from Halifax, the Canadian government decided not to help. The ship was sent back to Europe, and 254 of those on board died in the Holocaust. Canada’s rejection of the St. Louis was not an isolated incident. When it came to Jewish immigration, Canada’s policy at the time was “none is too many,” Trudeau said. “Of all the allied countries, Canada would admit the fewest Jews between 1933 and 1945. Far fewer than the United Kingdom and significantly less per capita than the United States,” Trudeau said. When the possibility of an apology for the M.S. St. Louis affair surfaced, some members of the Jewish community expressed concern that a decades-late apology for the turning away of the ship would be too little, too late. Writing in the Canadian Jewish News, Sally Zerker, an emeritus professor at Toronto’s York University who had family members among those turned away, last year argued that an apology from Trudeau would be “meaningless.” “It will not bring back my relatives, or offer me any solace,” she wrote. “Instead, it will whitewash a government that did nothing to help the Jews who were fleeing the Nazis and ignored the type of anti-Semitism that was endemic in Canada until the 1970s.” On the eve of the apology, Michael Mostyn, chief executive of B’nai Brith Canada, wrote that the Trudeau government to take action by devoting resources to developing a national action plan to combat anti-Semitism and engage with Jewish institutions, including synagogues, on security. “The Jewish community needs committed and concerted action on the part of government to combat the rising tides of anti-Semitism so that, hopefully, there will be no need for apologies in the future,” he said. Canada’s response to Jamal Khashoggi’s death is a test for Trudeau ‘Better than the Olympics’: Canadians line up for marijuana as it becomes legal ‘Third World conditions’: Many of Canada’s indigenous people can’t drink the water at home Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news[SEP]Canada apologizes for turning away Nazi era ship of Jews OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is formally apologizing on behalf of his nation for turning away a ship full of Jewish refugees trying to flee Nazi Germany in 1939. The German liner MS St. Louis was carrying 907 German Jews fleeing Nazi persecution and it also had been rejected by Cuba and the United States. The passengers were forced to return to Europe and more than 250 later died in the Holocaust. Trudeau called the apology long overdue. Trudeau said in Parliament Wednesday that officials at the time used Canadian laws to mask anti-Semitism. In the run-up to World War II and the ensuing Holocaust, the government heeded anti-Semitic sentiment and severely restricted Jewish immigration. From 1933 to 1945, only about 5,000 Jewish refugees were accepted.[SEP]Jewish passengers on the MS St. Louis sought safe haven in Canada after being turned away by governments in Cuba and the United States. After being rejected by the Canadian government, the 907 German Jews onboard eventually had to return to Europe, where historians estimate more than 250 later perished in the Holocaust. “We used our laws to mask our anti-Semitism, our antipathy, our resentment,” Trudeau said in Ottawa on behalf of his country. “We are sorry for the callousness of Canada’s response. And we are sorry for not apologizing sooner.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Nov. 7 delivers a formal apology on behalf of his nation for turning away a ship full of Jewish refugees trying to flee Nazi Germany in 1939. The prime minister also pledged to do more to combat anti-Semitism, noting that Jewish Canadians are “feeling vulnerable” after a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, left 11 people dead. The Oct. 27 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue has been described as the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in American history. One of the victims, 75-year-old Joyce Fienberg, grew up in Toronto and had ties to the city’s Jewish community. Trudeau said he’s heard calls “to protect synagogues and other places that are at risk of hate-motivated crimes.” Seventeen percent of all hate crimes in Canada target Jewish people, he added. “Canada and Canadians will continue to stand with the Jewish community and call out the hatred that incited such despicable acts,” Trudeau said about the Pittsburgh shooting. “These tragic events ultimately attest to the work we still have to do.” The MS St. Louis was a German ocean liner that set sail from Hamburg in May 1939. Just six months earlier, Nazis had unleashed a wave of violence against Jewish people. The Kristallnacht attacks destroyed synagogues and Jewish businesses, and resulted in the arrests and imprisonment of thousands of Jewish men. Desperate to flee this persecution, the Jewish families onboard the MS St. Louis attempted to find a safe haven in North America. The U.S. State Department turned the ship away, citing America’s annual immigration quota. Refugees go through customs on arrival in Antwerp onboard the MS St. Louis, after over a month at sea, during which they were denied entry to Cuba, the United States and Canada. The MS St. Louis eventually turned back to Europe, and the Jewish refugees scattered across the continent. As Nazi Germany expanded its reach, about 254 were captured and killed in death camps, The New York Times reports. The story of the MS St. Louis resurfaced in headlines again in 2017, when an American Jewish educator launched a Twitter account that names passengers of the ship who were later killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The Twitter account was a protest against President Donald Trump’s travel ban, which targeted refugees. “We refused to help them when we could have,” Trudeau said during his apology Wednesday. “We contributed to sealing the cruel fates of far too many at places like Auschwitz, Treblinka and Belzec. We failed them.” Some former passengers of the MS St. Louis were present at the apology. One of them, Ana Maria Gordon, survived a Nazi concentration camp after returning to Europe.[SEP]TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally apologized Wednesday on behalf of his nation for turning away a ship full of Jewish refugees trying to flee Nazi Germany in 1939. The German liner MS St. Louis was carrying 907 German Jews fleeing Nazi persecution and it also had been rejected by Cuba and the United States. The passengers were forced to return to Europe and more than 250 later died in the Holocaust. Hitler "watched on as we refused their visas, ignored their letters and denied them entry," Trudeau said in Parliament. "There is little doubt that our silence permitted the Nazis to come up with their own, 'final solution' to the so-called Jewish problem." He said lawmakers at the time used Canadian laws to mask anti-Semitism. "We let anti-Semitism take hold in our communities and become our official policy," Trudeau said. "To harbor such hatred and indifference toward the refugees was to share in the moral responsibility for their deaths." In the run-up to World War II and the ensuing Holocaust, the government heeded anti-Semitic sentiment and severely restricted Jewish immigration. From 1933 to 1945, only about 5,000 Jewish refugees were accepted. The ship arrived in Canada more than six months after the Nazis in Germany attacked Jewish homes and businesses, burned 250 synagogues and killed at least 91 people, on a night which came to be known as Kristallnacht, "The Night of Broken Glass." Before the apology, Trudeau met with Ana Maria Gordon, a St. Louis passenger who lives in Canada, to talk about how the country could fight anti-Semitism.[SEP](JTA) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally apologized for the government’s decision in 1939 to turn away a ship full of Jewish refugees who had escaped Nazi Germany. “Today I rise to issue a long-overdue apology to the Jewish refugees Canada turned away,” Trudeau said Wednesday in a speech to Parliament Canada denied asylum to the 907 German Jews on board the MS St. Louis when it arrived on its shores. Cuba and the United States also denied entry to the refugees and, after they returned to Europe, about one-quarter of those on board died in the Holocaust. “In 1939, Canada turned its back on 907 Jewish refugees, deeming them unworthy of a home, and undeserving of our help. Today, I issue an official apology on behalf of the Government of Canada to the passengers of the MS St. Louis and their families for this injustice,” he said in both English and French. “While decades have passed since we turned our backs on Jewish refugees, time has by no means absolved Canada of its guilt or lessened the weight of our shame,” he said. During his speech, Trudeau invoked the shooting attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue, calling it a “tragic reminder” that anti-Semitism still exists in Canada and elsewhere in the world. He called on Canadians to stand up against those “xenophobic and anti-Semitic attitudes.” Prior to the apology, Trudeau met with Ana Maria Gordon, who was a passenger on the St. Louis and who now lives in Canada. Trudeau announced in May that he would make the apology, saying: “An apology in the House of Commons will not rewrite this shameful chapter of our history. It will not bring back those who perished or repair the lives shattered by tragedy. But it is our collective responsibility to acknowledge this difficult truth, learn from this story, and continue to fight against antisemitism every day, as we give meaning to the solemn vow: ‘Never again.’” The US State Department apologized for the incident in 2012 B’nai Brith Canada in a statement welcomed the apology and called on the government to adopt a concrete, national action plan to fight antisemitism. “It was very important that the government made this statement and fulsome apology for the past,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada. “It was crucial that every political party joined in, acknowledging this unspeakable failure in Canada’s history.”[SEP]Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made good on a pledge Tuesday as he apologized to the passengers on board the ill-fated ship MS St. Louis. The luxury liner carrying nearly 1,000 Jews hoping to escape Nazi persecution was refused permission to dock in Halifax in 1939. Ana Maria Gordon is the only surviving Canadian passenger of the MS St. Louis. She was only four at the time and an aging photograph shows her and her mother on-board the ill-fated ship. “She had a book to learn the first words of Spanish so when they arrived (in Cuba), she could manage and you know, everybody was hopeful,” Gordon said. The hope was misplaced. About 900 who fled aboard the St. Louis were stunned when Cuba reneged on the visas it had sold them. The U.S., too, closed the door. The last hope was Canada. “She was not bound for Canada or for Halifax during this voyage of May and June of 1939, but there were Canadian advocates who looked for the ship to be admitted,” said Steve Schwinghamer, a historian with the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax. Facing pressure from advisors, and a petition with more than 130,000 names opposed to letting refugees in, Prime Minister Mackenzie King turned down the request. In the end, 254 passengers would die in the Holocaust. Amonument to the ship -- the “Wheel of Conscience” -- greets visitors at the Canadian Museum of Immigration. “The ship came right outside Halifax harbour!” said Jon Goldberg, former executive director of the Atlantic Jewish Council. Goldberg says the formal apology is nice, but actions will speak louder than words for future governments, who should focus on social justice for all. “I think that would be a much more positive step for those generations coming after us,” Goldberg said. Trudeau’s words are no doubt appreciated by Gordon, even 80 years after the fact. “Many, many years have passed,” she said. “You can't blame the present for the past.” And while that past is now recognized by the Prime Minister of Canada, it will never be forgotten by descendants of those on the ill-fated ship.[SEP]Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has formally apologized for Canada's refusal to accept hundreds of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany shortly before the outbreak of World War II. "There is little doubt that our silence permitted the Nazis to come up with their own, 'final solution' to the so-called Jewish problem," he said in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Wednesday. Cuba and the United States had rejected the 907 German Jews aboard the MS St. Louis, a German ship, before they attempted to land in Canada in 1939. More than 250 passengers were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust after the ship was forced to return to Europe. Read more: Canadian MPs vote for papal apology over abuse of aboriginal children in schools "We are sorry for not apologizing sooner," Trudeau said. Canadian politicians at the time had refused entry because they were anti-Semitic, he added. The government allowed some 5,000 Jewish refugees to enter the country from 1933 to 1945. Trudeau met the only surviving Canadian passenger of the St. Louis shortly before making the apology. Anti-Semitic incidents in Canada reached a record 1,752 in 2017, according to the Jewish advocacy organization B'nai B'rith. Every day, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.[SEP]Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized in parliament on Wednesday for Canada's refusal to admit Jewish asylum seekers fleeing Nazi Germany just months before the outbreak of World War II. On May 15, 1939 the ocean liner MS St. Louis departed Germany and crossed the Atlantic with 907 German Jews aboard, desperate for refuge from persecution. The passengers were barred from disembarking at Cuba, and then denied entry in the United States and Canada due to the discriminatory immigration policies of the time. Forced to return to Europe, many were sent to concentration camps, and 254 died in the Holocaust. Their emotional journey would later inspire the 1974 book "Voyage of the Damned" and a movie of the same title. "While decades have passed since we turned our backs on Jewish refugees, time has by no means absolved Canada of its guilt or lessened the weight of its shame," Trudeau said in a speech. "Today, I rise in this House to issue a long overdue apology to the Jewish refugees Canada turned away," he said. "We are sorry for the callousness of Canada's response," he said. "We refused to help them when we could have. We contributed to sealing the cruel fates of far too many at places like Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Belzec." Earlier the prime minister sat down in his office with one of the survivors of that tragic voyage, Ana Maria Gordon, and her family to discuss the need to continue fighting anti-Semitism. "We had a tragic reminder just a few weeks ago that we need to continue to work together," Trudeau told reporters, alluding to the massacre of 11 people at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh on October 27. The attack was believed to be the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent American history. In Canada, incidents of anti-Semitism -- including harassment, vandalism and violence -- reached a record high in 2017, doubling from the previous year to 1,752, according to the Jewish advocacy organization B'nai B'rith. In parliament, Trudeau called on all Canadians to "stand up against xenophobic and anti-Semitic attitudes that still exist in our communities, in our schools, and in our places of work." "Holocaust deniers still exist. Anti-Semitism is still far too present," he said. "Discrimination and violence against Jewish people in Canada and around the world continues at an alarming rate. "Sadly, these evils did not end with the Second World War."[SEP]Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will issue an official government apology for when Canada refused a ship of Jewish refugees in 1939. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS) OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will issue an official government apology today for what he will call the country’s moral failure when Canada closed its doors to Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. The apology is months in the making and will focus on the decision by the government of William Lyon Mackenzie King in 1939 to reject an asylum request from more than 900 German Jews aboard an ocean liner that was nearing Halifax. Instead, the MS St. Louis returned to Germany and the passengers scattered in Europe. More than 250 of them died in the Holocaust. A handful of surviving passengers from the St. Louis are to be in the House of Commons when Trudeau rises to issue the apology later this afternoon. But the shooting deaths of 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue almost two weeks ago have reframed the prime minister’s plan for the apology and Jewish leaders expect Trudeau to say something more than that the Canadian government is sorry for a decision made decades ago. What they hope instead is that the prime minister makes a bold statement about anti-Semitism and commits to fight it, such as with a plan to tackle hate speech online. “We certainly hope it is a catalyst for a greater discussion about contemporary anti-Semitism and what can be done by all of us — regardless of our background — and particularly what can be done on the part of government and elected officials to fight anti-Semitism,” Steve McDonald, the director of policy with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said last week. “Anti-Semitism directly affects Jews, but it doesn’t only affect Jews and it’s not a Jewish problem.” The most recent figures on hate crime from Statistics Canada show the Jewish population was the most frequent target of religiously motivated hate crimes in 2016. When the Liberals first hinted at making the apology, it was seen through the lens of anti-immigrant sentiment and debate about how Canada handles refugees. Pictures and stories of the victims from the St. Louis circulated on social media last year in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ban immigration and refugee settlement from certain countries. The question of immigration and refugees today is not likely to be lost in the apology. “A call to action is what I imagine the prime minister wants to convey,” said Robert Krakow, an American filmmaker who made a documentary about the St. Louis and its survivors.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issues an apology for the country's role in turning away the MS St. Louis, a ship carrying over 900 Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Nazi Germany.

Sign up for one of our email newsletters. MARSEILLE, France — Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille found the bodies of three people in the ruins of two collapsed buildings as the search for victims and survivors continued Tuesday. A man’s body was recovered from the rubble after the bodies of another man and a woman were found earlier in the day, a spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press. Several people remained missing after the adjacent multi-story structures collapsed Monday. French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said “air pockets” under the debris meant there’s “hope to locate and find someone that can be saved.” Castaner said at the site that 120 police officers and 80 firefighters took part in the search-and-rescue operation, working through the night in the pile of beams and rubble. The two buildings, one apparently vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed Monday at 9 a.m. local time. Authorities said the vacant building had been deemed substandard. It was not immediately clear why they collapsed, or how many people the apartment building housed. Fire crews working with sniffer dogs later brought down the remains of a third building they feared could topple over on them. Images of the buildings before they collapsed showed that one had five floors and the other six. In the spot where they had stood, a large gap appeared once the dust and debris settled. Cars around Marseille’s famous Old Port on the Mediterranean Sea, were covered with thick dust.[SEP]The death toll has risen to six in the collapse of two dilapidated apartment buildings in the southern French city of Marseille with the discoveries of two men’s bodies on Wednesday. The fire service has been toiling day and night with cadaver dogs to sift through the pile of rubble and beams. The two buildings, one condemned as substandard and seemingly empty, the other containing apartments, collapsed on Monday. Fire crews deliberately brought down an adjacent third building that was also in danger of collapse. The fire service has said the site remains dangerous. The collapse has provoked soul-searching and criticism about the parlous state of some housing in Marseille, France’s second-largest city. – AP[SEP]French rescue crews have found the body of a man in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in the southern city of Marseille. The discovery was confirmed by the city’s fire brigade on its Twitter feed. Authorities fear more people could be trapped inside (AP) Authorities fear other people may also be trapped in the ruins. The two buildings, one vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed on Monday morning.[SEP]MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - The body of a sixth victim has been found in the rubble of two dilapidated buildings that collapsed this week in the city of Marseille, said a public prosecutor official on Wednesday. The buildings collapsed on Monday morning. Emergency services combing through the rubble have now found the bodies of four men and two women. Authorities had initially said that up to eight people might have been buried in the debris. Rescue teams said their work had been complicated since the collapse had destabilised other nearby buildings in the street, which lies not far from the city’s historic Old Port area. Authorities said they were looking into what caused the collapse of the buildings, described by residents of the area as dilapidated and in need of repair.[SEP]MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - The body of a seventh victim has been found in the wreckage of two dilapidated buildings that collapsed this week in the city of Marseille, said the city's mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin and fire brigade services. The buildings collapsed on Monday morning, and emergency services have since been sifting through the rubble for anyone found trapped in the debris. Authorities had initially said that up to eight people might have been buried in the wreckage. Rescue teams said their work had been complicated since the collapse had destabilised other nearby buildings in the street, which lies not far from the city's historic Old Port area. Authorities said they were looking into what caused the collapse of the buildings, described by residents as dilapidated and in need of repair This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.[SEP]MARSEILLE, France (AP) — French rescue crews who labored through the night say they’ve found the body of a man in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in a pile of beams and rubble in the southern city of Marseille. The discovery was confirmed Tuesday morning by the city’s fire brigade on its Twitter feed . Authorities fear other people may also be trapped in the ruins. The two buildings, one vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed Monday morning. Fire crews working with sniffer dogs later brought down the remains of a third building they feared could topple over on them.[SEP]French rescue crews have found the body of a man in the ruins of two buildings that collapsed in the southern city of Marseille. The discovery was confirmed by the city’s fire brigade on its Twitter feed. Authorities fear other people may also be trapped in the ruins. The two buildings, one vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed on Monday morning.[SEP]PARIS (AP) - The death toll has risen to five in the collapse of two dilapidated apartment buildings in the southern French city of Marseille, with the pre-dawn discovery of a man's body. The Marseille fire service that has been toiling day and night with cadaver dogs to sift through the pile of rubble and beams reported the discovery on its Twitter feed . The two buildings, one condemned as substandard and seemingly empty, the other containing apartments, collapsed on Monday. Fire crews deliberately brought down an adjacent third building that was also in danger of collapse. The fire service says the site remains dangerous. The collapse has provoked soul-searching and criticism about the parlous state of some housing in Marseille, France's second-largest city. Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)[SEP]Firefighters are searching for survivors amid rubble after two buildings collapsed in Marseille, France, on Monday morning. So far, the bodies of two men and two women have been found. Authorities believe there may be five to eight victims. "The searchers have found some survival pockets so there is perhaps hope there may be people still alive," French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said, according to The Guardian. One of the buildings, 63 rue d'Aubagne, was condemned, but local officials could not rule out that squatters might have been living there. People were living in the other building that collapsed, 65 rue d'Aubagne. Sophie Dorbeaux, a 25-year-old philosophy student, was one of them. She told AFP that she had stayed with her parents the night before the collapse because many of the doors in the building would not close. "It could have been me," she said. The news service reports that nine of that building's 10 units were occupied, with a shop filling the lower level. An adjoining third building, number 67, sustained damage and was torn down for fear it would collapse, as well. Castaner said inspectors had visited number 65 on Oct. 18, and were concerned but did not see cause to evacuate. "The risk is that it's a house of cards. It was a dilapidated building but there were owners and tenants there. It wasn't a slum," Renaud Muselier, the president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, told the Guardian. Images taken in July for Google Street View show number 63 with a dilapidated façade and boarded-up windows. Number 65 appears to be in somewhat better condition. The collapse occurred near the city's Old Port, a bustling area full of aged buildings. A 2015 report by the government found that 100,000 residents of Marseille "were living in housing that was dangerous to their health or security," according to AFP. "This is not the time for controversy," Castaner wrote on Twitter. "The urgency is the clearing and the rescue: all our energy is dedicated to it. The time of the investigation will come." City officials have evacuated more than 100 nearby buildings following the collapse, which authorities believe may have been caused by heavy rains, AFP reports.[SEP]Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille have found the bodies of four people in the ruins of two collapsed buildings as the search for victims and survivors continued. Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille have found the bodies of four people in the ruins of two collapsed buildings as the search for victims and survivors continued. Four bodies found in ruins after buildings collapse in Marseille Marseille prosecutor Xavier Tabareux said the body of a woman was recovered after three other people – two men and a woman – were found dead in the rubble earlier. Several people remained missing after the adjacent multi-storey structures collapsed on Monday. French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said “air pockets” under the debris meant there’s “hope to locate and find someone that can be saved”. Mr Castaner said at the site that 120 police officers and 80 firefighters took part in the search-and-rescue operation, working through the night in the pile of beams and rubble. The two buildings, one apparently vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed Monday at 9 a.m. local time. Authorities said the vacant building had been deemed substandard. It was not immediately clear why they collapsed, or how many people the apartment building housed. Fire crews working with sniffer dogs later brought down the remains of a third building they feared could topple over on them. Images of the buildings before they collapsed showed that one had five floors and the other six. In the spot where they had stood, a large gap appeared once the dust and debris settled. Cars around Marseille’s famous Old Port on the Mediterranean Sea, were covered with thick dust.

Authorities find the bodies of two other men in the two collapsed buildings in Marseille, France, two days ago, bringing the death toll to six.

HARARE - At least 47 people were killed in Zimbabwe on Wednesday when two buses collided on a road between the capital Harare and the southeastern town of Rusape, police confirmed to AFP. "We confirm 47 people have died in a road traffic accident at the 166-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare highway," police spokesman Paul Nyathi said. In a post on Twitter, the state-run Herald newspaper said pictures from the scene were too graphic to post.[SEP]HARARE, Zimbabwe — Two long-distance buses in Zimbabwe have collided on a road after one of them tried to overtake two trucks, killing at least 47 people and injuring dozens more in a country with a reputation for poor roads and bad driving. The two buses slammed into each other near Rusape, about 100 miles east of the capital, Harare, on Wednesday evening, said a police spokesman, Paul Nyathi. The death toll could rise because 80 people were admitted to the hospital, some with serious injuries. One bus tried to pass two large trucks on a stretch of the road where overtaking is prohibited, causing the collision, the state broadcaster reported, citing Ellen Gwaradzimba, the provincial minister for Manicaland Province. Both buses were speeding, she said. The number of dead has overwhelmed Rusape, where the morgue can accommodate no more than 16 bodies, according to The Herald, a state-run newspaper.[SEP]At least 47 people have died in a crash involving two buses near the Rusape tollgate in Zimbabwe, state broadcaster ZBC reported on Wednesday. Police have so far identified 47 bodies at the accident scene, ZBC reported, citing a spokesperson for the police department. "We confirm 47 people have died in a road traffic accident at the 166km peg along the Harare-Mutare highway," police spokesman Paul Nyathi said.[SEP]Forty-seven people were killed in Zimbabwe Wednesday when two buses collided on a road between the capital Harare and the eastern town of Rusape, police told AFP. “We confirm 47 people have died in a road traffic accident at the 166-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare highway,” police spokesman Paul Nyathi said. On Twitter, the state-run Herald newspaper said pictures from the scene were too graphic to post. Related: Three killed, eight injured in road accident in Hyderabad The paper said the morgue at the local public hospital in Rusape had run out of space and sought help from a private funeral parlour to take in some of the corpses. Traffic accidents are common in Zimbabwe, where roads are riddled with potholes due to years of underfunding and neglect, but the highway where the accident occurred had been recently resurfaced. In June last year, 43 people were killed in a bus crash in the north of the country, along the highway leading to neighbouring Zambia. Related: 21 killed, 40 injured after two passenger buses collide in DG Khan Deputy Transport Minister Fortune Chasi said the government will take steps to curb the road carnage. “Totally needless loss of lives. This event should be the last before stern measures are taken,” he tweeted, promising to rein in public service vehicles and their owners.[SEP]Head on collision between 2 buses kills 47 in Zimbabwe HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A head-on collision between two buses has killed 47 people, where road accidents are common due to poor roads and bad driving. Two long distance buses going opposite directions collided near Rusape, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) east of the capital Harare on Wednesday evening, said police spokesman Paul Nyathi. The death toll could rise because there 80 others admitted to hospital, some with serious injuries. One of the buses tried to pass two haulage trucks on a stretch of the road where overtaking is prohibited, resulting in the collision with an oncoming bus, Ellen Gwaradzimba, the provincial minister for Manicaland province, told the state broadcaster. Both buses were speeding, she said. The number of dead bodies have overwhelmed the small town's morgue, which can only accommodate up to 16 bodies, reported the state-run Herald newspaper. Bus accidents are frequent in this southern African country, where speeding often means more money for bus crews that compete for customers and try to make as many trips as possible per day. The road where the accident happened was recently resurfaced as part of government attempts at rehabilitating collapsing road infrastructure.[SEP]Head on collision between 2 buses kills 47 in Zimbabwe HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A head-on collision between two buses has killed 47 people, where road accidents are common due to poor roads and bad driving. Two long distance buses going opposite directions collided near Rusape, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) east of the capital Harare on Wednesday evening, said police spokesman Paul Nyathi. He said the death toll could rise because there are others with serious injuries. The state-run Herald newspaper reported that the number of dead bodies have overwhelmed the small town's morgue, which can only accommodate up to 16 bodies. Bus accidents are frequent in this southern African country, where speeding often means more money for bus crews that compete for customers and try to make as many trips as possible per day. The road where the accident happened was recently resurfaced as part of government attempts at rehabilitating collapsing road infrastructure.[SEP]Forty-seven people were killed in Zimbabwe on Wednesday when two buses collided on a road between the capital Harare and the southeastern town of Rusape, police confirmed to AFP. “We confirm 47 people have died in a road traffic accident at the 166-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare highway,” police spokesman Paul Nyathi said. In a post on Twitter, the state-run Herald newspaper said pictures from the scene were too graphic to post. Traffic accidents are common in Zimbabwe, where roads are riddled with potholes due to years of underfunding and neglect, but the highway where the accident occurred had been recently resurfaced. In June last year, 43 people were killed in a bus crash in the north of the country, along the highway leading to neighbouring Zambia. DM While we have your attention... 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One of the buses tried to pass two haulage lorries on a stretch of the road where overtaking is prohibited, resulting in the collision with an oncoming bus, Ellen Gwaradzimba, the provincial minister for Manicaland province, said. The buses swerved to avoid a head-on collision but their sides collided. Both buses were speeding, police said. The number of bodies has overwhelmed the small town’s morgue, which can only accommodate up to 16 bodies, reported the state-run Herald newspaper. Bus accidents are frequent in the country, where speeding often means more money for crews that compete for customers and try to make as many trips as possible per day. The road where the accident happened was recently resurfaced as part of government attempts at improving collapsing road infrastructure.[SEP]A head-on collision between two buses has killed 47 people in Zimbabwe. Shocking pictures showed bodies strewn along the road next to the mangled coaches. The long distance buses collided near Rusape, about 100 miles east of the capital Harare, while one was overtaking. The death toll could rise because 80 were admitted to hospital, some with serious injuries. One of the buses tried to pass two haulage trucks on a stretch of the road where overtaking is prohibited, resulting in the collision with an oncoming bus. Both buses were speeding. Corpses have overwhelmed the small town's morgue, which can only accommodate up to 16 bodies, reported the state-run Herald newspaper. Bus accidents are frequent in Zimbabwe, where speeding often means more money for bus crews that compete for customers and try to make as many trips as possible per day. The road where the accident happened was recently resurfaced as part of government attempts at rehabilitating collapsing road infrastructure. One of the buses tried to pass two haulage trucks on a stretch of the road where overtaking is prohibited, resulting in the collision with an oncoming bus. Both buses were speeding[SEP](Reuters) - At least 47 people have died in a crash involving two buses near the Rusape tollgate in Zimbabwe, state broadcaster ZBC reported bit.ly/2ARq4XI on Wednesday. Police have so far identified 47 bodies at the accident scene, ZBC reported, citing a spokesperson for the police department.

A pair of buses collide on a road between Harare and Rusape, Zimbabwe, killing at least 47 people.

MANILA — One of the founding members of a Philippine lawyers’ group at the forefront of opposing President Rodrigo Duterte’s lethal war on drugs was gunned down on Tuesday, killed by three bullets as he was leaving his office for the night. The attorney, Benjamin Ramos, 56, was the 34th lawyer killed since Mr. Duterte became president two years ago. His group, the National Union of People’s Lawyers, specialized in doing no-cost work for poor clients whose families have been targeted by the police, soldiers and death squads associated with the president’s drug war. “We are shocked, devastated and enraged at the premeditated, coldblooded murder of our colleague and fellow people’s lawyer,” said Edre Olalia, a leader of the group. “We are disturbed and unbowed. These are dangerous times.” Initial police reports said that Mr. Ramos had just finished work when he was shot by motorcycle-riding men near the central town of Kabankalan on Tuesday night. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.[SEP]'Napaka-small time ko naman. Why would I assassinate him?' says President Rodrigo Duterte days after human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos was killed MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte denied he was behind the killing of a lawyer for communists, as critics blamed the Philippine National Police for the death of human rights lawyer and peasant advocate Benjamin Ramos in Negros Occidental. "What the fucking shit? Why would I kill a lawyer? Napaka-small time ko naman. (I would be too small time to do that.) Why would I assassinate him? For what?" Duterte said on Thursday, November 8, without naming any particular lawyer. "Whether you have a lawyer or not, you cannot occupy somebody else's land by force and intimidation. I will not allow it. That’s anarchy," Duterte said in a speech at the distribution of certificates of land ownership award in Boracay. Duterte also blasted the Left in his speech on Thursday. "Of course, the communists will never conquer us. They can never overwhelm this government. But certainly it will not stop trouble." Ramos, secretary general of the Negros Occidental arm of the National Union of People's Lawyers, was shot dead by riding-in-tandem killers on Tuesday evening, November 6, in Kabankalan City. Ramos represented political prisoners, farmers, and other marginalized sectors during his career as pro-bono lawyer. According to ABS-CBN News, he also helped the National Federation of Sugar Workers after unidentified assailants killed 9 sugarcane farmers– called the "Sagay 9" – at Hacienda Nene in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. Malacañang earlier slammed critics for blaming the government for Ramos' death. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said doing so "is reckless, irresponsible, and baseless." Human Rights Watch (HRW) tagged the incident as "a blow to the human rights movement in the country" which has suffered from threats, including from Duterte himself. "We demand an impartial investigation into Ramos' murder and the many other attacks against lawyers in the Philippines and that the authorities bring the perpetrators to justice," said Carlos Conde of HRW Asia Division. – Rappler.com[SEP]Blaming Ramos' slaying on the government is 'baseless' and 'reckless,' says Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang condemned the killing of human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos on Wednesday, November 7, adding an assurance that the government would conduct a "speedy and impartial" investigation. "We strongly condemn the brutal slaying of Atty Ben Ramos, lawyer and founding member of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL)," said Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo. Government agencies, he added, will do their utmost to bring to justice those behind "this detestable atrocity." "Any form of violence, other than legal, has no place in a civilized society," said Panelo. The night before, Ramos had been shot at close range by riding-in-tandem assailants while in front of a store near a public plaza in Kabankalan City. Ramos was the lawyer of youth leader Myles Albasin and her 5 companions – known as the Mabinay 6 – who were arrested in March this year in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, following an alleged clash with government troopers, although they later tested negative for gunpowder residues. Described as the go-to pro bono lawyer for political prisoners, environemntalists, and peasants by his NUPL colleagues, Ramos was described by local police as lawyer for "suspected rebels and suspected drug users." Panelo said the government should not be blamed for Ramos' death. "Putting the blame of the slaying on the government by a group or by a member of Congress not only is reckless, irresponsible and baseless as well," he said. Doing so will only "inflame emotions," he added. (READ: Murder of 'Mabinay 6' lawyer 'an attack vs human rights movement) He extended President Rodrigo Duterte's condolences to Ramos' family and friends. "He (Duterte) expresses his condolences to the grieving family and gives his assurance that there will be no stone left unturned in the solution of the killing of a fellow member of the bar," said Panelo. Yet Duterte has also directed threats at human rights defenders and advocates, slamming them for accusing him of human rights violations but supposedly turning a blind eye to the atrocities perpetrated by criminals. In August 2017, for instance, he warned he might order police to shoot human rights activists. (READ: Culture of impunity: Protecting human rights defenders vs threats) "Sabihin mo, 'Pulis, barilin mo na 'yang kasali diyan' (Tell them, 'Police, shoot those who are part of it'). If they are obstructing justice, you shoot them. Para makita talaga kung anong klaseng human right (So they can really see the kinds of human rights)," he had said. Panelo made no mention of such threats uttered by the President in his statement. But he vowed that Duterte would run after Ramos' murderers. "The President will not allow any person or group of persons violate any law and get away with it," said the spokesman. – Rappler.com[SEP]MANILA—One of the founding members of a Filipino lawyers’ group at the forefront of opposing President Rodrigo Duterte’s lethal war on drugs was gunned down Tuesday, killed by three bullets as he was leaving his office for the night. The lawyer, Benjamin Ramos, 56, was the 34th lawyer killed since Duterte became president two years ago. His group, the National Union of People’s Lawyers, specialized in doing no-cost work for poor clients whose families have been targeted by police, soldiers and death squads associated with the president’s drug war. “We are shocked, devastated and enraged at the premeditated, cold-blooded murder of our colleague and fellow people’s lawyer,” said Edre Olalia, a leader of the group. “We are disturbed and unbowed. These are dangerous times.” Initial police reports said Ramos just finished work when he was shot by motorcycle-riding men near the central town of Kabankalan on Tuesday night. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Colleagues described Ramos as passionately dedicated to pro-bono work for the poor, environmentalists, activists and political prisoners. Jose Manuel Diokno, a human rights lawyer for another organization, the Free Legal Assistance Group, said he was outraged by the killing. “I join the calls for the police to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation, to find the motive, the gunmen and the mastermind,” Diokno said in an interview, urging the Justice Department to take the lead in the inquiry. “I ask my fellow lawyers who fight for what is right and just to continue and not be cowed.” In a speech in August 2017, Duterte told the national police not to be daunted by rights lawyers investigating the thousands of deaths of what he called drug addicts and dealers. “If they are obstructing justice, you shoot them,” Duterte instructed police, referring to lawyers. (The president, himself a lawyer, began his political career as a prosecutor.) He often carries a list of the names of dozens of judges, members of the armed and police forces as well as of local politicians he claims are protecting drug suspects. Duterte has not publicly divulged how he came up with the list, although at least three mayors whose names appeared on it have been killed. Eight other mayors were also gunned down in suspicious circumstances. One of them was killed last year in a raid that left his wife and 10 other people dead. Another mayor was fatally shot during a flag-raising ceremony in July. Olalia said some members of the National Union of People’s Lawyers received threats, and were labelled by police and the military as sympathetic to the political left, in “open contempt of basic principles of the role of lawyers in democracy.” He said a colleague investigating abuses against women and children, Katherine Panguban, was recently criticized by police for leading a fact-finding mission into the killings of nine farmers in the central city of Sagay. The military said the farmers were recruited by a front organization for communist rebels and attributed their deaths to infighting among the cadres. Olalia said Ramos’ death would not stop the group’s work. “We will be there in the trenches in defence of the defenceless,” he said. “There is no other choice.” The group Human Rights Watch said Ramos’ killing was proof that impunity existed under Duterte’s drug war. “It is a blow to the human rights movement in the Philippines,” the group said in a statement. “We demand an impartial investigation into Ramos’ murder and the many other attacks against lawyers in the Philippines and that the authorities bring the perpetrators to justice.”[SEP]Philippine lawyer who resisted Duterte’s drug war is gunned down MANILA — One of the founding members of a Philippine lawyers’ group at the forefront of opposing President Rodrigo Duterte’s lethal war on drugs was gunned down Tuesday, killed by three bullets as he was leaving his office for the night. The lawyer, Benjamin Ramos, 56, was the 34th lawyer killed since Duterte became president two years ago. His group, the National Union of People’s Lawyers, specialized in doing no-cost work for poor clients whose families have been targeted by police, soldiers and death squads associated with the president’s drug war. “We are shocked, devastated and enraged at the premeditated, cold-blooded murder of our colleague and fellow people’s lawyer,” said Edre Olalia, a leader of the group. “We are disturbed and unbowed. These are dangerous times.” Initial police reports said that Ramos had just finished work when he was shot by motorcycle-riding men near the central town of Kabankalan on Tuesday night. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Colleagues described Ramos as passionately dedicated to pro-bono work for the poor, environmentalists, activists and political prisoners. In a speech in August 2017, Duterte told the national police not to be daunted by rights lawyers investigating the thousands of deaths of what he called drug addicts and dealers. “If they are obstructing justice, you shoot them,” Duterte instructed police, referring to lawyers.[SEP]By most accounts, Benjamin Ramos died doing exactly what he had always done as a human rights lawyer: helping his clients free of charge. On the evening of November 6, Ramos was taking a break from assisting a client when gunmen on a motorcycle shot him three times. Ramos was 56 years old. Ramos’s murder in the central Philippine province of Negros Occidental is shocking but, sadly, not surprising in a country where impunity for extrajudicial killings and other serious rights violations, including “drug war” murders, prevails. Lawyers like Ramos who represent the most marginalized people in the Philippines have themselves also been victims of abuse. For his work, authorities vilified Ramos as a communist and harassed his colleagues. According to the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, which he helped establish, Ramos was the 34th lawyer to have been murdered since President Rodrigo Duterte took office. Ramos’s murder also underscores the persistence of injustice in Negros, where landlessness has bred decades-old agrarian conflict. Ramos was representing families of victims of last month’s Sagay Massacre, when nine activists were gunned down after joining a protest on a sugarcane plantation. These protests, known as “bungkalan,” have often resulted in violence in Negros and elsewhere, as peasants and farmers occupy contested property and are met with resistance from landowners. Three decades since the Philippines’ “People Power” uprising spurred demands for change, agrarian reform remains an unfulfilled promise. The National Federation of Sugar Workers has reported that 172 farmers, peasants and land rights activists – 45 in Negros alone – have been killed during Duterte’s two years in office. Only about 15 cases have been filed in court and none have resulted in a conviction, according to the Philippine human rights group Karapatan. Attacks against farmers and peasants – and those who represent them – highlight the deadly consequences of land injustice in the Philippines and the government’s continued failure to address a long-simmering issue.[SEP]Benjamin Ramos was in front of a store near the public plaza in Kabankalan City when he was shot at close range by two unidentified men NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A human rights lawyer here was killed by riding-in-tandem assailants Tuesday night, November 6, in Barangay 5, Kabankalan City. Benjamin Ramos, secretary-general of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers-Negros Island, was in front of a store near the public plaza when he was shot at close range by two unidentified men. Karapatan-Negros secretary-general Clarizza Singson, quoting the victim's wife, said the lawyer was having a smoke when he was attacked around 10:20 pm. Singson said the victim was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to 4 gunshot wounds, 3 in the front and one in the back. Ramos, who represented a number of political prisoners, was the lawyer of youth leader and University of the Philippines Cebu alumna Myles Albasin and her 5 companions – known as the Mabinay 6 – who were arrested in March this year in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, following an alleged clash with government troopers, although they later tested negative for gunpowder residues. The lawyer, being a peasant advocate, had also founded the farmers' organization Paghiliusa Development Group. – Rappler.com[SEP]The six activists who were tagged as communist rebels and arrested by the military in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental want the Supreme Court (SC) to transfer the venue of their hearings from Bais City, Negros Oriental to Cebu City. This developed after one of their lawyers, Ben Ramos, was shot dead by still unidentified assailants in Kabankalan City, Negros Oriental on Tuesday evening (November 6) while on his way home. Lawyer Ian Sapayan, on of the lawyers of the activists, now known as the Mabinay 6 and vice chairperson for the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) in Visayas, expressed concern over their safety after Ramos’ death. “We’re afraid that when we step again in Negros, we too will be killed… It’s risky to travel back to Negros. One of our priorities right now is our safety,” said Sapayan. Ramos was handling the case of illegal possession of firearms lodged against the Mabinay 6, including youth leader and University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu) alumna Myles Albasin. The military alleged that a shootout happened with military troops last March. He was also a member of the quick reaction team for the peasants in Sagay town, Negros Oriental where nine sugar workers were massacred last month. The wake of Ramos will be in Kabankalan City where he was born and raised, said Sapayan. Ramos, secretary-general for NUPL – Negros, is survived by his wife, Clarissa, and their three children. Condemnation Ramos’ death sparked condemnation and outrage not only from NUPL but also from other groups critical of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, including the Human Rights Watch (HRW). Grace Albasin, Myles’ mother, extended her sympathies and expressed sadness over Ramos’ death. “He knew he was targeted, but it didn’t deter his spirit to take the cases of the ordinary folks including the Mabinay 6. He lived for the people without fear. The legacy he left behind is etched in the hearts of the people he served,” Grace said in a statement sent to reporters. NUPL, in a separate statement, reported that Ramos is the 34th lawyer killed under the Duterte administration, and eighth in the Visayas. “We are urging the investigators to conduct a thorough investigation on the matter, free from any influence, and we’re hoping they know and will do what is right,” Sapayan said. Possible Motives Although police are yet to establish the motive into the slay of Ramos, Sapayan said they suspected it was in relation to the cases he is currently handling. “Three weeks ago, we started the hearings for the motion we filed to allow the Mabinay 6 to post bail. Attorney Ben was set to cross-examine the final witness this November 21,” explained Sapayan. “We will not attend the November 21 hearing,” he added. Sapayan also said they do not discount the possibility that Ramos’ death could be a case of state-sponsored killing. He showed to members of the media a copy of a flier allegedly made and distributed by the military in Negros Occidental, accusing Ramos and 60 other individuals, of being members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). “Anyone they found out who was helping the poor, will be tagged as communist, including our members from NUPL. Just like the lawyers defending drug suspects, this is the danger we’re facing now,” said Sapayan.[SEP]Human rights groups call on the government to 'act with urgency' in addressing the rising violence against human rights defenders MANILA, Philippines – Groups on Wednesday, November 7, condemned the murder of lawyer Benjamin Ramos, which comes amid continuous violence against human rights defenders in the Philippines. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed concern that Ramos' death is the latest in the "growing incidents of injustices reported." "We call on the government to act with urgency in pinning down the perpetrators of this violence and proceed with active measures that would protect the safety of human rights defenders who continue to serve this country's most vulnerable and marginalized," CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said. Ramos, the secretary-general of the Negros Occidental arm of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), was shot dead by riding-in-tandem assailants on Tuesday night, November 6, in Kabankalan City. A known human rights defender, Ramos represented political prisoners, farmers, and other members of marginalized sectors in his career as a pro-bono lawyer. Among those he worked with were the Mabinay 6, including youth leader and University of the Philippines Cebu alumna Myles Albasin. They were arrested in March 2017 in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, following an alleged clash with government troops. NUPL, in a statement, said "beastly attacks by treacherous cowards cannot go on." "Not a few of our members have been attacked and killed before while literally practicing their profession and advocacies in the courts, in rallies, in picket lines, in urban poor communities, and in fact-finding missions," NUPL said. Human Rights Watch (HRW), meanwhile, tagged the incident as "a blow to the human rights movement in the country" which has suffered from threats, including from President Rodrigo Duterte himself. "We demand an impartial investigation into Ramos' murder and the many other attacks against lawyers in the Philippines and that the authorities bring the perpetrators to justice," said Carlos Conde of HRW Asia Division. In 2017 alone, Ireland-based Front Line Defenders recorded 60 deaths in the Philippines. Since 2001, there have been at least 613 documented killings. Facing death threats, human rights groups have repeatedly called on the government to recognize their role in society by passing the human rights defenders' protection bill. – Rappler.com Read Rappler's in-depth series on human rights defenders in the Philippines PART 1: Powering through a crisis: Defending human rights under Duterte PART 2: Culture of impunity: Protecting human rights defenders vs threats[SEP]The Provincial Government of Camarines Norte, one of the provinces of the Philippines, will be fighting the country’s ongoing controversial war on drugs in an unusual way, by staging a Dota 2 tournament for the youth of the province. The tournament, called “Dota Kontra Droga” or “Dota Over Drugs” in Filipino, features a PHP100,000 (approximately USD2,000) prize pool, a cosplay competition, and job fairs for attendees. It will be held at the Agro Sports Center in Daet, Camarines Norte from December 14 to 16, those interested in participating in the tournament can register here until November 25. The tournament will be held in the midst of a controversial war on drugs in the Philippines under the regime of President Rodrigo Duterte. With thousands having already been killed in the ongoing drug war, the Dota tourney will surely be a less violent way to combat the spread and influence of drug use in the country. Dota 2 has long been one of the most popular and influential esports titles in the Philippines, with heralded teams such as TNC Predator and Mineski hailing from the country. The province’s Sports Office also warned against excessive trash talk and usage of profanities to those looking to join the tournament in light of a Filipino pro player recently coming under fire for making racist remarks during an international tournament. The event comes as a partnership between Camarines Norte’s Provincial Government, Provincial Sports Office, and Provincial Youth Development Office alongside local esports organizations Bantayog Esports, Metadaet Meta, Wargods Pro Gaming Arena Daet, Zen Xtreme Gaming Cafe, Noxus Gaming Lounge, Cyber Arena Gaming, RAWDOGS, and AT Productions.

An unidentified attacker fatally shoots Benjamin Ramos, a Philippines lawyer opposing President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, in Kabankalan.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Asia Bibi's escape from Pakistan death row Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy after spending eight years on death row, has been freed from prison. Last week's Supreme Court ruling sparked violent protests from Islamists and the government agreed to their demand to stop her leaving Pakistan. News of her release led to some confusion, with reports she had been taken to another country. But the foreign office later said she was still in Pakistan. The case is highly sensitive and Information Minister Fawad Hussein said journalists had been "extremely irresponsible" in reporting she had left the country without official confirmation. Those reports were based on comments from her lawyer, Saiful Malook, who has been granted temporary asylum in the Netherlands after facing death threats. Asia Bibi's husband had said they were in danger and pleaded for asylum. A number of Western countries are understood to have held discussions with Asia Bibi's family about granting them asylum. The mother-of-five was released from prison in the city of Multan on Wednesday and the foreign office says she is in "a safe place in Pakistan". Also known as Asia Noreen, she was convicted in 2010 of insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a row with neighbours. The Pakistani government has said it will start legal proceedings to prevent her going abroad after agreeing the measure to end the violent protests. Image copyright EPA Image caption Asia Bibi's acquittal sparked protests by Islamists Many of the protesters were hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws and called for Asia Bibi to be hanged. One Islamist leader said all three Supreme Court judges also "deserved to be killed". A spokesman for the hardline Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party, which blocked roads in major cities for several days, said Asia Bibi's release was in breach of their deal with the government. "The rulers have showed their dishonesty," TLP spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters. The deal also saw officials agree not to block a petition for the Supreme Court to evaluate Asia Bibi's acquittal in the light of Islamic Sharia law. What was Asia Bibi accused of? The trial stems from an argument Asia Bibi had with a group of women in June 2009. They were harvesting fruit when a row broke out about a bucket of water. The women said that because she had used a cup, they could no longer touch it, as her faith had made it unclean. Prosecutors alleged that in the row which followed, the women said Asia Bibi should convert to Islam and that she made offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad in response. She was later beaten up at her home, during which her accusers say she confessed to blasphemy. She was arrested after a police investigation. Acquitting her, the Supreme Court said that the case was based on unreliable evidence and her confession was delivered in front of a crowd "threatening to kill her". Why is this case so divisive? Islam is Pakistan's national religion and underpins its legal system. Public support for the strict blasphemy laws is strong. Hard-line politicians have often backed severe punishments, partly as a way of shoring up their support base. But critics say the laws have often been used to exact revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence. The vast majority of those convicted are Muslims or members of the Ahmadi community who identify themselves as Muslims but are regarded as heretical by orthodox Islam. Since the 1990s scores of Christians have also been convicted. They make up just 1.6% of the population. The Christian community has been targeted by numerous attacks in recent years, leaving many feeling vulnerable to a climate of intolerance. Since 1990, at least 65 people have reportedly been killed in Pakistan over claims of blasphemy.[SEP]Asia Bibi, Pakistani Woman Acquitted Of Blasphemy, Is Freed From Jail Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman acquitted days ago of blasphemy, has been freed from jail after spending more than eight years in solitary confinement awaiting execution. The acquittal of Bibi, who is Catholic, was announced just over a week ago by Pakistan's Supreme Court, which said her accusers had not definitively proved her guilt. She was permitted to leave jail immediately after the verdict, but her release was delayed after protests from an extremist religious group, demanding she be killed. Citing officials, the BBC reports that Bibi left her detention facility in Punjab province under heavy security on Wednesday and was flown to a secure location in Islamabad. Bibi was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 and sentenced to death. The conviction stemmed from an argument with her fellow Muslim farm workers. They accused her of being impure by virtue of her faith and claimed she insulted Islam. Her case galvanized the country's religious right and sparked international concern over human rights and religious freedom in Pakistan, which is overwhelmingly Muslim. As her conviction was reversed, "followers of a hard-line Pakistani religious group rushed onto major roads across the country to paralyze traffic in protest of the decision," according to NPR's Islamabad-based correspondent Diaa Hadid. The mobs demanded Bibi, as well as the three Supreme Court judges who acquitted her, be killed. The Italian government said earlier this week it would help Bibi and her family relocate. Several other Western countries have also offered her asylum. In the past, both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have advocated for her.[SEP]A Pakistani Christian woman has been freed from prison a week after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction and death sentence for blasphemy against Islam, and she is at a secure location in the country, officials said on Thursday. Officials dismissed some media reports that the woman, Asia Bibi, had been flown abroad, which would enrage hardline Islamists who have been protesting against her release and calling for her to be banned from leaving. The release overnight of the mother of five prompted immediate anger from an Islamist party that has threatened to paralyse the country with street protests if her acquittal is not reversed. Bibi, 53, was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 over allegations she made derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. She always denied having committed blasphemy. The case has outraged Christians worldwide, and Pope Francis met Bibi’s family this year, saying he prayed for her. Italy said on Tuesday it would try to help Bibi, who is Catholic, to leave Pakistan. Pakistan’s foreign ministry denied reports that Bibi had left the country and pointed out that a review of the Supreme Court decision to free her was pending. “Asia Bibi is completely secure at a safe place in Pakistan,” said ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal. “Her writ is in court, when that is decided, Asia Bibi can go anywhere she wants to, she is a free national … if she wants to go abroad, no harm in it.” In Rome, the Catholic aid agency Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) said Bibi has been able to see her husband in an undisclosed location. Their daughters were “close by” but had not yet seen their mother as of early afternoon, Pakistan time. The agency, which arranged a meeting for Bibi’s husband and daughter with Pope Francis at the Vatican this year, said the family was awaiting visas but declined to disclose from which country for security reasons. Insulting Islam’s Prophet Mohammad carries a mandatory death penalty in Pakistan, which is about 95 percent Muslim and has among the harshest blasphemy laws in the world. No executions for blasphemy have been carried out in Pakistan but enraged mobs sometimes kill people accused of blasphemy. Rights groups say the blasphemy law is exploited by hardliners as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores. Christians make up about 2 percent of the population. Security officials told Reuters early on Thursday that Bibi had been released from a prison in Multan, a city in the south of Punjab province. She was flown to Islamabad and was in protective custody because of threats to her life, said three officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. Bibi’s lawyer, who has fled Pakistan and this week sought asylum in the Netherlands, confirmed she was no longer in prison. “All I can tell you is that she has been released,” lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook told Reuters by phone from the Netherlands, where the government said on Thursday it had offered him temporary asylum. A spokesman for the hard-line Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party, which took to the streets after the Supreme Court ruling, said her release violated a deal with the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan to end the protests. “The TLP activists are agitated as the government has breached the agreement with our party. The rulers have showed their dishonesty,” party spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters. Under the deal, the government said it would not block a petition to the Supreme Court to review Bibi’s acquittal in light of sharia, Islamic religious law, the TLP said. It also said the government promised to work to ensure Bibi could not leave the country. If the government allows Bibi to leave, it would likely face more paralysing protests from the TLP and other Islamist parties.[SEP]Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan last week, has been freed from prison, her lawyer says. "I have been told that she is on a plane, but nobody knows where she will land," lawyer Saiful Mulook said on November 7 in a message sent to the AFP news agency. The Associated Press quoted unidentified government officials as saying Bibi left a detention facility in Punjab Province, where she was detained, and was flown to an undisclosed location in the capital, Islamabad. Bibi had spent eight years on death row for allegedly insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad before Pakistan's Supreme Court overturned her conviction on October 31, triggering violent protests by hard-line Islamists calling for her execution. In a deal with the hard-line Tehrik-e Labaik (TLP) party that ended the protests, the Pakistani government on November 3 indicated that it will bar Bibi from traveling abroad pending a "review" of the Supreme Court’s decision to acquit her. Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, has pleaded for asylum from Western countries, saying his family is in great danger in Pakistan. Mulook, her lawyer, fled to The Netherlands. Bibi, a mother of five, has denied the blasphemy charges against her. Insulting Islam is punishable by death in Pakistan, and the mere rumor of blasphemy can lead to lynchings by mobs. Based on reporting by AFP and AP[SEP]The lawyer who helped Asia Bibi, a Christian woman freed from jail after Pakistan’s top court overturned her death sentence in a blasphemy case, was offered a temporary asylum in the Netherlands on Thursday after he fled from Pakistan fearing for the safety of his family. Lawyer Saiful Mulook defended Asia Bibi who spent 8 years on death row until being acquitted on Wednesday. This has come a day after Asia Bibi was released from Multan jail. There were reports that she was taken to Noor Khan Airbase Rawalpindi from where she was supposed to fly to the Netherlands, however, earlier today Pakistani authorities refuted these reports, saying she has not left for the Netherlands and was in Pakistan. WHAT IS THE ENTIRE CASE? Aisa Bibi is the second Pakistani Christian who was sentenced to death under country’s blasphemy laws under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code for defaming Prophet Mohammad. The offence if proven carries the mandatory death penalty under the law. The case dates back to 2009 when as per Asia she entered into a quarrel with Mafia and Asma, both are eyewitnesses in the case and deposed to Asia making blasphemous remarks. The argument started when both the women refused to drink water brought by Asia Bibi because she was Christian. The two, Mafia and Asma along with a local cleric, Qari Mohammad Salaam later filed the case of blasphemy against her. A trial court convicted Asia Bibi for blasphemy in November 2010 and sentenced her to death, but the order was suspended by the Supreme Court in 2015. In 2018, the Supreme Court gave the final verdict acquitting Asia from all charges. The case attracted international coverage and became a high profile one when two officials, former Punjab governor Salman Taseer and former Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti (a Christian) were assassinated for taking Asia’s side publicly.[SEP]A Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy has been freed from jail a week after her acquittal in a landmark case triggered angry Islamist protests, her lawyer said Thursday. Asia Bibi's conviction was overturned by the country's highest court last Wednesday, but she remained in prison as the government negotiated with hardliners who blockaded major cities and demanded her immediate execution. "She has been freed," lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook said in a text message to AFP. "I have been told that she is on a plane but nobody knows where she will land." According to a civil aviation official, the aircraft which collected Bibi from jail is registered in Pakistan and is therefore obliged to land in Islamabad. Following protests at last week's ruling, the government agreed in a deal with Islamists to impose a travel ban on Bibi, and not to challenge an appeal in the Supreme Court. An order for her release arrived Wednesday at the jail in the central city of Multan where she was detained, a prison official told AFP. "Asia Bibi has left the prison and has been transferred to a safe place!" tweeted Antonio Tajani, president of the European Parliament. Another civil aviation official, in Multan, said a small plane arrived in the city with "a few foreigners and some Pakistanis" on board to fetch Bibi. Her case has underscored deep divisions between traditionalists and modernisers in the devoutly Muslim country. The conviction stemmed from a 2009 incident when Bibi was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields. Muslim women labourers objected to her touching the water bowl as a non-Muslim, and a fight reportedly erupted. Bibi has consistently denied the charges, and her prosecution rallied international rights groups, politician, and religious figures. Pope Benedict XVI called for her release in 2010, while his successor, Pope Francis, met the prisoner's daughter in 2015. Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih has appealed for Britain or the United States to grant the family asylum, while her lawyer has fled to the Netherlands. Several governments including Italy and France have offered to help. Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini tweeted: "I will do everything humanly possible to guarantee this young woman's future." Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated allegations of insulting Islam can result in death at the hands of mobs. Mere calls to reform the law have provoked violence, most notably the assassination of Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, by his own bodyguard in broad daylight in Islamabad in 2011. Taseer had called for Bibi's release, and his son Shahbaz tweeted "Pakistan Zindabad" ("Long live Pakistan") following last week's ruling. Thousands of Islamist hardliners poured onto the streets in protest after Supreme Court judges overturned Bibi's conviction last Wednesday. Demonstrations broke out in major cities across Pakistan in the ruling's wake, with club-wielding protesters blocking Islamabad's main highway and barricading roads in Karachi and Lahore. One of the most vocal groups -- the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) -- called for "mutiny" against the army's top brass and the assassination of the top court's justices. Mulook and Pakistani media criticised the government for caving in to the Islamist hardliners after Prime Minister Imran Khan had at first appeared to stand up to them.[SEP]Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi, who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy, has been freed from jail, her lawyer said Thursday. The country's highest court last week overturned Bibi's conviction and ordered her release, but she had remained incarcerated as the government agreed to allow a review following Islamist protests over the bitterly divisive case. "She has been freed. I have been told that she is on a plane but nobody knows where she will land," lawyer Saif-ul-Malook said in a message sent to AFP. A release order arrived Wednesday at the prison in the central city of Multan, where Bibi was detained, a prison official told AFP. Her husband Ashiq Masih has appealed for Britain or the United States to grant the family asylum, while Malook has fled to the Netherlands. Bibi's case has underscored divisions between traditionalists and modernisers in the devoutly Muslim nation. It stems from an incident in 2009 when she was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields. Muslim women labourers objected, saying that as a non-Muslim, she should not touch the water bowl, and reportedly a fight erupted. A local imam then claimed Bibi insulted the Prophet Mohammed -- a charge she denies. Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated allegations of insulting Islam can result in death at the hands of mobs. Thousands of Islamists poured onto the streets in protest after Supreme Court judges overturned Bibi's conviction last Wednesday, causing Prime Minister Imran Khan's administration to sign a controversial deal.[SEP]A Pakistani Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy after spending eight years on death row has been freed from prison, her lawyer said. Some reports say Asia Bibi has boarded a plane but its destination was not known, BBC reported on Wednesday. The Supreme Court ruling sparked protests from Islamists and the government had said it would bar her from leaving Pakistan. Her husband had said they were in danger and pleaded for asylum. Also Read: Pakistani Christian woman in limbo despite acquittal by top court Asia Bibi, a mother-of-five, was released from prison in the city of Multan, her lawyer Saif Mulook said. Also known as Asia Noreen, she was convicted in 2010 of insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a row with neighbours. Several countries have offered her asylum. The Pakistani government has said it will start legal proceedings to prevent her going abroad after agreeing the measure to end the violent protests. Many of the protesters were hardliners who support strong blasphemy laws and called for Asia Bibi to be hanged. One Islamist leader said all three Supreme Court judges also “deserved to be killed”. Also Read: Fearing for life, Asia Bibi’s lawyer flees Pakistan, requests government to protect family A spokesman for the hardline Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) party said Asia Bibi’s release was in breach of their deal with the government. “The rulers have showed their dishonesty,” TLP spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi said. The deal also saw officials agree not to block a petition for the Supreme Court to evaluate Asia Bibi’s acquittal in the light of Islamic Sharia law. The trial stems from an argument Asia Bibi had with a group of women in June 2009. They were harvesting fruit when a row broke out about a bucket of water. The women said that because she had used a cup, they could no longer touch it, as her faith had made it unclean. Prosecutors alleged that in the row which followed, the women said Asia Bibi should convert to Islam and that she made offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad in response. She was later beaten up at her home, during which her accusers say she confessed to blasphemy. She was arrested after a police investigation. Acquitting her, the Supreme Court said that the case was based on unreliable evidence and her confession was delivered in front of a crowd “threatening to kill her”.[SEP]Asia Bibi's release comes a week after her acquittal in a landmark case that triggered angry Islamist protests in Muslim-majority Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – A Pakistani Christian woman who spent 8 years on death row for blasphemy has been freed from jail and is believed to have already flown out of the city of Multan where she was being held, heading for an unknown destination, her lawyer said Thursday, November 8. Asia Bibi's release comes a week after her acquittal in a landmark case that triggered angry Islamist protests in Muslim-majority Pakistan and following appeals from her husband for Britain or the United States to grant the family asylum. Her lawyer fled to the Netherlands on Saturday, November 3, under threat to his life. Bibi's conviction was overturned by the country's highest court last Wednesday, November 7, but she remained in prison as the government negotiated with hardliners who blockaded major cities and demanded her immediate execution. "She has been freed," lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook said in a text message to Agence France-Presse (AFP). "I have been told that she is on a plane but nobody knows where she will land." According to a civil aviation official, the aircraft that collected Bibi from jail would be required to land in Islamabad but it was unclear if she may have had a connecting flight. Following protests at last week's ruling, the government agreed in a deal with Islamists to impose a travel ban on Bibi, and not to challenge an appeal in the Supreme Court. An order for her release arrived Wednesday at the jail in the central city of Multan where she was held, a prison official told AFP. "Asia Bibi has left the prison and has been transferred to a safe place!" tweeted Antonio Tajani, president of the European Parliament. Another civil aviation official, in Multan, said a small plane arrived in the city with "a few foreigners and some Pakistanis" on board to fetch Bibi. Her case has underscored deep divisions between traditionalists and modernizers in the devoutly Muslim country. The conviction stemmed from a 2009 incident when Bibi was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields. Muslim women laborers objected to her touching the water bowl as a non-Muslim, and a fight reportedly erupted. Bibi has consistently denied the charges, and her prosecution rallied international rights groups, politician, and religious figures. Pope Benedict XVI called for her release in 2010, while his successor, Pope Francis, met her daughter in 2015. Bibi's husband Ashiq Masih has appealed for Britain or the United States to grant the family asylum and several governments including those if Italy and France have offered to help. Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini tweeted: "I will do everything humanly possible to guarantee this young woman's future." Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated allegations of insulting Islam can result in death at the hands of mobs. Mere calls to reform the law have provoked violence, most notably the assassination of Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, by his own bodyguard in Islamabad in 2011. Taseer had called for Bibi's release, and his son Shahbaz tweeted "Pakistan Zindabad" ("Long live Pakistan") following last week's ruling. Thousands of Islamist hardliners poured onto the streets in protest after Supreme Court judges overturned Bibi's conviction last Wednesday. Demonstrations broke out in major cities across the country in the wake of the ruling, with club-wielding protesters blocking Islamabad's main highway and barricading roads in Karachi and Lahore. One of the most vocal groups in the protests – the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) – called for "mutiny" against the army's top brass and the assassination of the top court's justices. In a statement, the TLP termed Bibi's release "against the government agreement." "The entire atmosphere of Pakistan is in pain and grief after hearing the news about the blasphemer of the holy prophet Asia," it said. One resident in Multan, Rizwan Khan, told AFP that Bibi would not be safe wherever she went, while another, Qari Muneer, said the decision should be reversed and called for her to receive "strict punishment." – Rappler.com[SEP]Bibi is no longer allowed to the leave the jail, but her security has reportedly increased, and she is being kept in an undisclosed location. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The husband of the Pakistani Catholic woman who was recently acquitted of blasphemy charges is asking several Western nations to provide asylum for his family, whom he says is in danger of death. In a video message, Ashiq Masih requested asylum for his family from the U.S., Canada and the U.K. His wife, Asia Bibi, had her death sentence overturned in a high-profile case last week, but riots following the verdict have endangered the lives of the entire family, Masih said. Bibi was previously found guilty of making disparaging comments against the Islamic prophet Muhammad during an argument with some neighbors. In 2010, she was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death by hanging. Defaming Muhammad carries a mandatory death sentence in Pakistan. After the Pakistan Supreme Court overturned the verdict on Oct. 31, noting Bibi was free to leave the prison, violent protests erupted throughout the predominantly Muslim country. In a move to appease the riots, the government made an agreement with the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), the Islamist political party, which coordinated protests against Bibi’s release. The agreement requested an end to the protests in exchange for the government to review the acquittal and add her name to the country’s “exit control list,” which would bar her from leaving the country. Several arrested protesters were also released. Bibi is no longer allowed to the leave the jail, but her security has reportedly increased, and she is being kept in an undisclosed location. Masih told German broadcaster DW that the agreement has sparked fear in his family, noting they have consistently changed locations to hide during this dangerous time. Bibi’s lawyer, Saif Mulook, fled the country on Saturday. “The agreement has sent a shiver down my spine. My family is frightened, my relatives are frightened, and my friends are also frightened. This agreement should never have been struck,” he said. He expressed worry that the review of the verdict could be influenced by outside forces, who are heavily pressuring the court to convict Bibi. “Now during the review petition, the clerics might gather outside the Supreme Court and try to influence the verdict. It is wrong to set a precedent in which you pile pressure onto the judiciary,” he said. “I went to session court, where I could see that the judge was under tremendous pressure to convict Asia.” “My wife, Asia Bibi, has already suffered greatly. She has spent 10 years in jail. The verdict of the Supreme Court had created a ray of hope; we were excited that we would meet her soon,” he added. Bibi was accused of making derogatory comments about Muhammad in 2009, when an argument broke out between her and some other farmworkers when they were harvesting berries. The argument stemmed from Bibi taking a drink of water from a cup that previously had been used by Muslims. An onlooker informed her that she could not do so, as she was “unclean” due to her faith. An argument ensued, and Bibi was then reported to Muslim clerics. According to the BBC, Bibi was later attacked at her home, where she confessed to blasphemy, her accusers said. However, the Supreme Court said this was inadmissible evidence, as her confession was spoken in front of a mob who threatened to kill her. Although the government has never executed a person under the blasphemy law, accusations alone have inspired mob and vigilante violence. Blasphemy laws are reportedly used to settle scores or to persecute religious minorities. Many of those accused of blasphemy are murdered, and advocates of changing the law are also targeted by violence. Masih told DW: “The situation is dangerous for Asia. I feel that her life is not secure.”

Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi, sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 and recently acquitted, is released from prison. Bibi has reportedly boarded a plane; however, its destination was not known. Several countries have offered her asylum.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Jason Coffman: The last thing I said was 'Son, I love you." A US Marine Corps veteran with suspected mental health issues killed 12 people in a busy bar in California, including a policeman, officials say. The shooting began at 23:20 local time on Wednesday in Thousand Oaks about 40 miles (65km) north-west of Los Angeles. At least 200 people were reportedly inside the Borderline Bar and Grill, which was hosting a student line-dancing night. Police named the suspect as 28-year-old Ian David Long. Earlier this year, police mental health professionals cleared him after he was found behaving "irrationally" at his home, said authorities. Image copyright CBS Image caption The suspect had served in the US Marines and fought in Afghanistan How did the shooting happen? Police say the suspect was dressed in black, and forced his way into the bar after shooting the bouncer. A college country music night was under way when the suspect apparently threw a smoke grenade before opening fire, witnesses say. Police say he used a legally owned .45 calibre Glock semi-automatic handgun, which had an extended magazine that is illegal in the state of California. The extended magazine allowed the gun to carry more than its typical 11-bullet capacity. Police say they do not yet know how many shots were fired, or whether the gunman reloaded during the attack. One witness, Teylor Whittler, who was celebrating a friend's 21st birthday, said: "I was on the dance floor and I heard the gunshots, so I looked back and then all of a sudden everyone screamed: 'Get Down!' "It was a huge panic, everyone got up, I was trampled, I was kind of left on the floor until some guy came behind me and grabbed me and dragged me out." People escaped the bar by using chairs to break windows, while others reportedly sheltered inside the venue's toilets. Image copyright EPA Image caption The night is popular among the area's local university students At least 10 people are known to have been wounded and others are self-reporting with injuries at local hospitals. One survivor said he and his friends also escaped death last year in the deadliest US mass shooting of modern times, when a gunman killed 58 people at a Las Vegas country music concert. Nicholas Champion told CBS News: "We're all a big family and unfortunately this family got hit twice." Popular among students, the bar is close to California Lutheran University, Pepperdine University and Moorpark College. Nightmare without end By James Cook, BBC News, Thousand Oaks For the United States, this is the nightmare that never ends. The names of countless schools, churches, colleges and even entire cities have become synonymous with mass murder. To the list of Las Vegas, Orlando, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, Sutherland Springs and Parkland we now add Thousand Oaks. At the Borderline Bar and Grill survivors huddled together in the darkness, shivering in the clothes they had been wearing in the warm, friendly bar. Many of the patrons were regulars who had come to enjoy country music and dance together. The mood among the little groups of friends was one of shock and despair - but what was absent was a sense of surprise. What have police said? Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean described the scene inside the bar as "horrific" and said there was "blood everywhere". He said first responders arrived less than three minutes after the first emergency calls from the venue were made. Ventura Sheriff's Sergeant Ron Helus, who later died in hospital, tried to enter the active scene with a local highway patrolman when he was shot several times. Image copyright Social Media Image caption Sgt Ron Helus was one of the first officers on the scene The husband and father-of-one had been a policeman for 29 years and was a professional firearms instructor. He was due to retire next year. "It saddens us all and tears at our emotions," the sheriff said. "He died a hero. He went in to save lives, to save other people." Sheriff Dean, who on Thursday completes his last day serving as Ventura County sheriff, warned: "It doesn't matter how safe your community is, it doesn't matter how low your crime rate is - there are people who just don't think properly everywhere, I don't care where you are, and they commit horrific acts like this. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Survivors of California shooting describe what they saw. "There's no way to process. There's no way to make sense out of the senseless." President Donald Trump issued a proclamation ordering flags to be lowered halfway at the White House and all public and military buildings to commemorate victims of the "terrible" attack. Who is the suspect? Police say they have had several minor contacts with Long in recent years, including in April 2018 when they were called to his house after a report of a disturbance. During talks with police, he appeared "somewhat irate, acting a little irrationally", the sheriff said. A police crisis intervention team interviewed him, and determined that it was not necessary to hold him against his will in a mental health facility. What is PTSD? Being caught up in a traumatic event that is overwhelming, frightening and life-threatening can lead to PTSD The symptoms usually start within a few weeks of the trauma, but they can start later After the traumatic event people can feel grief-stricken, depressed, anxious, guilty and angry People may have flashbacks and nightmares People may be 'on guard' - staying alert all the time Physical symptoms can be aches and pains, diarrhoea, irregular heartbeats, headaches, feelings of panic and fear, depression People may start drinking too much alcohol or using drugs (including painkillers). Source: Royal College of Psychiatrists Mental health professionals believed he suffered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), the sheriff said. In a statement, the US Marine Corp confirmed that he had served from 2008-13 as a machine gunner and rose to the rank of corporal. He served in Afghanistan from November 2010 to June 2011 and received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. According to the website Gun Violence Archive, more than 12,000 people have been killed by firearms in the US so far this year, including about 3,000 people under 18. That number does not include an annual estimate of 22,000 suicides via firearm. In the last two weeks alone, a man shot dead two people yoga studio in Florida, and another gunman opened fire on a synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11.[SEP]Eleven people were injured after a gunman opened fire at a country-music bar late Wednesday in Thousand Oaks, Calif., authorities said. Police responded to a call about the shooting at Borderline Bar & Grill at around 11:20 p.m., said Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Garo Kuredjian. The gunman was dead inside the bar following the...[SEP]Here are some ways to help those impacted by the mass shooting at a Thousand Oaks nightclub, where a gunman opened fire and killed 12 people Multiple blood drives are being held to help the victims:Ventura County Health Care Agency (125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks)La Reina High School (106 West Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks) from Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Best Western/Thousand Oaks Inn (75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks)To donate at La Reina High School or the Best Western/Thousand Oaks Inn, you need to register online atA blood drive is being held Thursday at La Reina High School (106 West Janss Road, Thousand Oaks) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Also, you can donate to a fund set up to support the victims. To make a donation, visit. The fund was set up by the Ventura County Community Foundation, in coordination with the city of Thousand Oaks, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and others.[SEP]A woman wearing a blanket stands next to a police office near the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Nov. 8, 2018. THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Twelve people, including a sheriff's sergeant, were killed by a tall, hooded gunman dressed in black who opened fire inside a crowded country dance bar in Southern California late Wednesday. Authorities said the gunfire broke out at the Borderline Bar & Grill, a country-western dance bar in Thousand Oaks, which is about 40 miles west of Los Angeles. It was reportedly college night at the venue. Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus and a highway patrolman were responding to several 911 calls when they arrived at the bar. They heard gunfire and went inside. Helus was immediately hit with multiple gunshots, and died at a hospital early Thursday. The gunman also died. Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said authorities did not yet know the name of the shooter or his motive. USA TODAY will provide live coverage of the scene and updates from police as they happen. Watch in the player above.[SEP]Twelve people were killed after a Marine combat veteran opened fire during college night at a country music bar in Southern California. Investigators are still working to identify all of the victims and notify their families. As more names are released publicly they will be added below. Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Helus was shot late Wednesday when he entered the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif., after reports of a shooting. He is being described as a "cop's cop" that would take on some of the toughest assignments and was on the SWAT team, according to a friend, Sgt. Eric Buschow. The Ventura County Sheriff said the report of the shooting came as Helus was on the phone with his wife. The sheriff said Helus told her, "Hey I gotta go handle a call. I love you. I'll talk to you later." Ventura County Sheriff's Sergeant Ron Helus was killed when he confronted a gunman at a Southern California bar late Wednesday. Colleagues of Helus described him as a friend and an exceptional man and officer. Helus was married with a grown son and took up fly fishing a few years ago, Buschow said. He loved fishing in the Sierra Nevada mountains with his son. According to his father, 22-year-old Cody Coffman is among the 12 people who died in the shooting. Jason Coffman told reporters the last thing he told his son Cody was "I love you." "I've been here fighting for him all morning long, and we did just get the news that he was one of the 11 killed last night. He was Cody Coffman, my first-born son," Jason Coffman tearfully described. He added that Cody Coffman had dreams of joining the military and had been talking to Army recruiters. Before authorities told him Cody was one of the victims Jason Coffman had said he was afraid his son "went toward the action" because he was the type of person who would stand up for others. Jason Coffman displays a photo of his son Cody outside the Thousands Oaks Teene Center where he came hoping to find his son who was at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, on November 8, 2018. 23-year-old Justin Meek was killed in Wednesday night's shooting, according to a statement on Thursday from California Lutheran University. The statement said Meek was a recent graduate of the university, which is located a few miles from the Borderline Bar & Grill. "Meek heroically saved lives in the incident," the statement said. The university planned on holding several memorials and gatherings throughout the day to remember the victims. Alaina Housley, a freshman at Pepperdine University, was killed during the attack at the Borderline Bar & Grill on Wednesday night, her aunt and "The Real" host Tamera Mowry-Housley said in a statement. A statement issued to USA TODAY on behalf of Mowry-Housley and her husband, former Fox News correspondent Adam Housley, confirmed their niece was a victim in the mass shooting. "Our hearts are broken. We just learned that our niece Alaina was one of the victims of last night’s shooting at Borderline bar in Thousand Oaks," the couple stated via their joint representative, Chantal Artur. "Alaina was an incredible young woman with so much life ahead of her and we are devastated that her life was cut short in this manner. We thank everyone for your prayers and ask for privacy at this time." Earlier Thursday, the couple took to social media to frantically look for Alaina. Mowry-Housley gushed over her niece on Instagram in March of last year. This story will be updated as more victims are identified. The Associated Press contributed to this report.[SEP]At least eleven people were injured, including a sheriff’s deputy, during a mass shooting at a bar in Southern California on late Wednesday. Authorities said shots were fired and people hit at the Borderline Bar & Grill, a country-western dance bar in Thousand Oaks, which is about 40 miles west of Los Angeles. The extent of the victims' injuries was not immediately clear. Hundreds of people were inside the bar when the shooting occurred, the Los Angeles Times reported. Law enforcement and emergency crews flooded the scene and police urged the public to avoid the area. The perpetrator of the assault may still be at large. "It's still a very active scene," said Capt. Garo Kuredjian of Ventura County police. Officers at the scene said the gunman might have used smoke bombs in the incident, but authorities later said they could not confirm that. Earlier eyewitness accounts suggested that the shooter, who may have dressed all in black with a large trench coat, threw a smoke grenade into the bar before opening fire with a semi-automatic weapon. Shots were still being fired when officers arrived on the scene. Officers indicated that about 30 shots had been fired and that victims fled from the bar into the surrounding neighborhood. The Borderline Bar & Grill describes itself on its website as the county's "Largest Country Dance Hall & Live Music Venue" with 2,500 square feet of open dance floor. It was reportedly college night at the venue when the shooting occurred.[SEP]People comfort each other at the scene of a mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Nov. 8, 2018. Some survivors who were inside a California bar during a mass shooting leaving 13 dead, including the gunman, also escaped another mass shooting last year in Las Vegas, according to reports. Three witnesses who spoke to The Los Angeles Times said they knew people inside the Borderline Bar & Grill, a country-western themed bar in Thousand Oaks, Calif., during the shooting who had also survived a mass shooting during an outdoor country music festival in October 2017. "A lot of people in the Route 91 situation go here," Chandler Gunn, 23, told the Times. "There’s people that live a whole lifetime without seeing this, and then there’s people that have seen it twice." Carl Edgar, 24, said a lot of his friends survived the Vegas attack, where 58 people died. "If they survived that, they’ll survive this," Edgar told the Times. Edgar also said all of his friends appear to be safe. More: What we know about the fatal mass shooting at a Thousand Oaks, California, dance bar Chris Weber, who rushed to the bar after learning a friend might have been shot, told The New York Times he believed people inside the bar at the time had also attended the festival. Journalists on the scene have said on Twitter they have heard similar stories about victims who had survived both shootings. On Wednesday night, a gunman entered the Borderline Bar & Grill and opened fire, killing eleven people and a sheriff's sergeant. The shooter also died during the attack. More: 'Horrific scene': Sheriff’s sergeant, 11 others dead in Thousand Oaks, California, bar shooting More: 'He died a hero': Ventura County Sheriff Sgt. Ron Helus among those killed in bar shooting[SEP]In just three minutes Wednesday night, 12 people were killed, and many others injured after after a gunman unloaded his semi-automatic handgun in Southern California bar in Southern California. About 40 miles west of Los Angeles, hundreds of people — many of them college students — were inside the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif. At least 11 people were killed at the scene; a deputy later died from his injuries, said Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean. The gunman, later identified by police as Ian David Long, was found dead inside. Here's a look at how the Wednesday evening's events unfolded, as detailed by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department: The western-style bar’s website says it’s the county's "largest dance hall and live music venue," with a 2,500 square-foot dance floor, pool room, and areas for eating and drinking. It's been open for more than 25 years. The bar is popular with students from nearby California Lutheran University and is close to California State University Channel Islands, Pepperdine University and Moorpark College. “Multiple” Pepperdine University students who attend school in Malibu were at the bar during the shooting, the university said Thursday morning. According to witnesses, Long says nothing as he shoot. People use furniture to break windows and jump out of second-floor windows to escape. Some hide under pool tables, others in an attic. The shooting lasts for about three minutes, but it's one of the most deadly of the year. Sgt. Ron Helus, of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, died after being shot while responding to a mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif. After deputy Helus had been shot several times, the patrolman pulls him out of the building. Other officers soon arrive, enter the building and find 11 people dead. Helus, a 29-year veteran of the department, was looking to retire "in the next year or so," Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said. "Ron was a hardworking dedicated sheriff’s sergeant," said Dean, trying to hold back tears. "He was totally committed. He gave his all. Tonight, as I told his wife, he died a hero because he went in to save lives, to save other people." Helus, 54, was survived by his wife and son. A Marine corporal, Long served for five years from 2008 to 2013, including a tour in Afghanistan, according to Marine Corps records. He was known to law enforcement for minor offenses, including traffic violations. The home of suspected nightclub shooter Ian David Long is searched on November 8 2018, in Thousand Oaks, California. - The gunman who killed 12 people in a crowded California country music bar has been identified as 28-year-old Ian David Long, a former Marine, the local sheriff said Thursday. The suspect, who was armed with a .45-caliber handgun, was found deceased at the Borderline Bar and Grill, the scene of the shooting in the city of Thousand Oaks northwest of downtown Los Angeles. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images ORG XMIT: Shooting ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1AO6HY[SEP]Sgt. Ron Helus, of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, died after being shot while responding to a mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Nov. 8, 2018. Sheriff Sgt. Ron Helus "died a hero" after being shot by a gunman who killed 11 others at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. Helus was among the first to arrive on the scene, entering the bar with a California Highway Patrol officer. Helus exchanged gunfire with the suspect, identified by authorities as Ian David Long, before being shot multiple times. Helus died at the hospital Thursday morning. Helus, a 29-year veteran of the department, was looking to retire "in the next year or so," Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said. "Ron was a hardworking dedicated sheriff’s sergeant," said Dean, trying to hold back tears. "He was totally committed. He gave his all. Tonight, as I told his wife, he died a hero because he went in to save lives, to save other people." Helus, 54, was survived by his wife and son. On Wednesday night, a gunman dressed in black opened fire at the country dance bar in Southern California, killing Helus and 11 others. The shooter, apparently firing at random, also died. Prior to heading to the scene, Helus talked to his wife, as he does several times during his shift, Dean said. "Hey I gotta go handle a call. I love you. I’ll talk to you later," Dean said of the conversation. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said it will hold a procession for Helus on Thursday morning. "Ron’s selfless, heroic actions will never be forgotten," said the office in a statement. "Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time." More: Sheriff’s sergeant, 11 other victims dead in Thousand Oaks, Calif., bar shooting More: What we know about the fatal mass shooting at a Thousand Oaks, California, dance bar The Associated Press contributed to this report.[SEP]THOUSAND OAKS — Authorities say there were at least 11 injuries — including one officer — after a man opened fire in a Southern California bar late Wednesday. Police tell the Ventura County Star that the initial report came around 11:20 p.m. that a man opened fire at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, which is about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The extent of the victims’ injuries wasn’t immediately known. Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Garo Kuredjian said early Thursday that it was still “a very active scene.” Witnesses tell ABC News that a man fired several shots from a handgun before tossing smoke bombs and starting to fire again. At least one officer was injured, the Ventura County Star reported. The Ventura County Fire Department said on social media at 12:11 a.m. Thursday that it was an active incident. The Borderline is a popular country music hall at 99 Rolling Oaks Dr. The bar — which was promoting College Country Night on Wednesday night — is near the 101 Freeway and Moorpark Road.

At least 12 people, including a police sergeant, are killed while ten others are injured by a gunman at the Thousand Oaks Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California at around 11:15 PM PST (UTC-8). The gunman committed suicide at the end of the attack after a stand-off with police.

This article is more than 9 months old This article is more than 9 months old Senior Republicans led a chorus of public warnings that the special counsel Robert Mueller must be allowed to continue his Russia investigation after Donald Trump finally fired his attorney general, Jeff Sessions. Jeff Sessions' biggest crime? Putting loyalty to his office above Trump | Lawrence Douglas Read more As Trump replaced Sessions with a senior aide, Matthew Whitaker, a critic of Mueller’s inquiry, Senator Susan Collins was among the first Republicans to warn: “It is imperative that the administration not impede the Mueller investigation … Special Counsel Mueller must be allowed to complete his work without interference.” Mitt Romney, who won the race on Tuesday to become a senator for Utah, aimed his first broadside at Trump, tweeting: “It is imperative that the important work of the Justice Department continues, and that the Mueller investigation proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded.” Sign up for the new US morning briefing As progressives activated a plan for mass protests across the United States, starting at 5pm on Thursday in all time zones, the former CIA chief John Brennan predicted that it was likely Mueller had already completed his report for the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, who was yesterday relieved of his duty overseeing the investigation into Russian election interference and any collusion with the Trump campaign. Brennan told MSNBC: “If there are some major indictments coming down the pike, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re going to see it very soon. Generally the report that the special counsel will draft and deliver to Rod Rosenstein, I wouldn’t be surprised if that is ready to go.” Sessions looked close to tears as he was applauded by justice department staff on his way out of the building on Wednesday night. His departure came hours after he received a White House call ordering him to resign. He was replaced by his former chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, who has previously called for Mueller’s investigation to be defunded and reined in. Trump said in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon that Whitaker had been appointed acting attorney general and that a permanent replacement would be nominated later. Donald Trump fires Jeff Sessions, US attorney general – live updates Read more Whitaker, 49, will take charge of the inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion with Trump’s campaign. Sarah Isgur Flores, a justice department spokeswoman, said in an email: “The acting attorney general is in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice.” Democrats expressed concern that the president was moving to sabotage Mueller’s investigation, which has obtained guilty pleas to federal criminal charges from Trump’s former campaign chairman, deputy campaign chairman, White House national security adviser and campaign foreign policy adviser. Play Video 0:42 Trump warns of ’warlike posture’ if his opponents investigate him – video Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, said in a statement that Whitaker should recuse himself from the Russia issue in light of “his previous comments advocating defunding and imposing limitations on the Mueller investigation”. Trump’s decision concluded a long-running public feud between the president and his beleaguered attorney general. Sessions said in an undated letter to Trump released on Wednesday: “At your request, I am submitting my resignation.” He took credit for reversing a recent rise in violent crime. He was later applauded by staff as he left the department’s headquarters. “We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well,” Trump said. A US official said on Wednesday that Sessions was told he had to resign in a telephone call from John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, rather than Trump himself. Sessions, a former US senator for Alabama, was one of the earliest supporters of Trump’s presidential campaign, but ran into trouble soon after being confirmed to the new administration. He enraged Trump by recusing himself in March 2017 from investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election, following revelations that he had two undisclosed meetings with Sergey Kislyak, then Russia’s ambassador to the US. Sign up for the new US morning briefing Sessions had not disclosed the discussions when asked under oath during his Senate confirmation hearing in early 2017 about contacts between Trump’s campaign and Moscow. Following his recusal, the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, took over responsibility for Russia matters. In May 2017, after Trump fired the FBI director, James Comey, Rosenstein shocked the White House by appointing the former FBI chief Robert Mueller as a special counsel to investigate Russia’s interference and any coordination with Trump’s campaign team. That investigation has since continued without Sessions being involved, leaving Trump deeply frustrated. Trump has publicly lambasted Sessions for recusing himself, claiming he ought instead to have protected Trump against what the president has termed a “witch-hunt” over Russia. Sessions and Rosenstein have defended Mueller’s integrity. Whitaker’s view on the investigation appears to be in more line with the president’s. He has publicly proposed choking off funding for Mueller’s investigation and wrote an article for CNN last year declaring that the special counsel was “going too far” and needed to be brought under control. “The president is absolutely correct,” Whitaker said, after Trump suggested Mueller would exceed his remit by looking into the president’s finances. “Mueller has come up to a red line in the Russia 2016 election-meddling investigation that he is dangerously close to crossing.” Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York, the likely new chairman of the House judiciary committee, said the American public “must have answers immediately” on Trump’s reasons for firing Sessions. “Why is the president making this change and who has authority over Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation? We will be holding people accountable,” Nadler said on Twitter. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the senior Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, urged senators from both parties to “speak out now and deliver a clear message” to Trump that he must not interfere with Mueller’s investigation. Legal analysts said that Trump’s decision, announced soon after a lengthy and chaotic post-midterm election press conference at the White House, may set off a long-feared constitutional crisis over the fate of the inquiry, which followed a conclusion by US intelligence agencies that Russia intervened to help Trump win in 2016. Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor at Harvard University, said Trump’s replacement of Sessions with Whitaker was arguably an impeachable offence in itself. “This rule of law crisis has been a slow-motion train wreck for a long time,” said Tribe. In any case, the firing of Sessions will conclude a bitter public dispute between the attorney general and his president that is unprecedented in recent times. In August, Trump sharply criticised Sessions in a television interview the day after the president’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and his former campaign manager Paul Manafort was convicted of fraud – both cases having stemmed from the Mueller investigation. Trump said: “I put in an attorney general that never took control of the justice department.” Sessions struck back with a statement that said: “I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in … While I am attorney general the actions of the department will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.”[SEP]U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks at the Religious Liberty Summit at the Department of Justice July 30, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) (CBS SF) — Attorney General Jeff Sessions has submitted his resignation in a letter to President Donald Trump Wednesday, a day after the midterm elections. In his letter, Sessions told Trump he was resigning at the President’s request. Trump announced via Twitter that Sessions’ Chief of Staff, Matthew Whitaker, would replace Sessions as the head of the Justice Department. We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well…. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018[SEP]United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has resigned from his post. Sessions’ resignation letter has been delivered to White House chief of staff John Kelly. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is expected to remain in charge of the Russia investigation and special counsel Robert Mueller. President Trump did not answer a direct question about Sessions during his news conference Wednesday, saying that on the whole he is “extremely” satisfied with his Cabinet. “We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well… We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date,” Trump tweeted.[SEP]WASHINGTON - Attorney General Jeff Sessions was pushed out Wednesday as the country's chief law enforcement officer after enduring more than a year of blistering and personal attacks from President Donald Trump over his recusal from the Russia investigation. Sessions told the president in a one-page letter that he was submitting his resignation "at your request." Trump announced in a tweet that he was naming Sessions' chief of staff Matthew Whitaker, a former United States attorney from Iowa, as acting attorney general. The resignation was the culmination of a toxic relationship that frayed just weeks into the attorney general's tumultuous tenure, when he stepped aside from the investigation into potential coordination between the president's Republican campaign and Russia. Trump blamed the decision for opening the door to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who took over the Russia investigation and began examining whether Trump's hectoring of Sessions was part of a broader effort to obstruct justice and stymie the probe. The implications for Mueller's investigation were not immediately clear. The Justice Department did not announce a departure for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller more than a year and a half ago and has closely overseen his work since then. The relentless attacks on Sessions came even though the Alabama Republican was the first U.S. senator to endorse Trump and despite the fact that his crime-fighting agenda and priorities -- particularly his hawkish immigration enforcement policies -- largely mirrored the president's. But the relationship was irreparably damaged in March 2017 when Sessions, acknowledging previously undisclosed meetings with the Russian ambassador and citing his work as a campaign aide, recused himself from the Russia investigation. The decision infuriated Trump, who repeatedly lamented that he would have never selected Sessions if he had known the attorney general would recuse. The recusal left the investigation in the hands of Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller as special counsel two months later after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey. The rift lingered for the duration of Sessions' tenure, and the attorney general, despite praising the president's agenda and hewing to his priorities, never managed to return to Trump's good graces. The deteriorating relationship became a soap opera stalemate for the administration. Trump belittled Sessions but, perhaps following the advice of aides, held off on firing him. The attorney general, for his part, proved determined to remain in the position until dismissed. A logjam broke when Republican senators who had publicly backed Sessions began signaling a willingness to consider a new attorney general. In attacks delivered on Twitter, in person and in interviews, Trump called Sessions weak and beleaguered, complained that he wasn't more aggressively pursuing allegations of corruption against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and called it "disgraceful" that Sessions wasn't more serious in scrutinizing the origins of the Russia investigation for possible law enforcement bias -- even though the attorney general did ask the Justice Department's inspector general to look into those claims. The broadsides escalated in recent months, with Trump telling a television interviewer that Sessions "had never had control" of the Justice Department and snidely accusing him on Twitter of not protecting Republican interests by allowing two GOP congressmen to be indicted before the election. Sessions endured most of the name-calling in silence, though he did issue two public statements defending the department, including one in which he said he would serve "with integrity and honor" for as long as he was in the job. The recusal from the Russia investigation allowed him to pursue the conservative issues he had long championed as a senator, often in isolation among fellow Republicans. He found satisfaction in being able to reverse Obama-era policies that he and other conservatives say flouted the will of Congress, including by encouraging prosecutors to pursue the most serious charges they could and by promoting more aggressive enforcement of federal marijuana law. He also announced media leak crackdowns, tougher policies against opioids and his Justice Department defended a since-abandoned administration policy that resulted in parents being separated from their children at the border. His agenda unsettled liberals who said that Sessions' focus on tough prosecutions marked a return to failed drug war tactics that unduly hurt minorities and the poor, and that his rollbacks of protections for gay and transgender people amount to discrimination. Some Democrats also considered Sessions too eager to do Trump's bidding and overly receptive to his grievances. Sessions, for instance, directed senior prosecutors to examine potential corruption in a uranium field transaction that some Republicans have said may have implicated Clinton in wrongdoing and benefited donors of the Clinton Foundation. He also fired one of the president's primary antagonists, former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, just before he was to have retired -- a move Trump hailed as a "great day for democracy." Despite it all, Sessions never found himself back in favor with the president. Their relationship wasn't always fractured. Sessions was a close campaign aide, attending national security meetings and introducing him at rallies in a red "Make America Great Again" hat. But the problems started after he told senators during his confirmation hearing that he had never met with Russians during the campaign. The Justice Department, responding to a Washington Post report, soon acknowledged that Sessions had actually had two encounters during the campaign with the then-Russian ambassador. He recused himself the next day, saying it would be inappropriate to oversee an investigation into a campaign he was part of. The announcement set off a frenzy inside the White House, with Trump directing his White House counsel to call Sessions beforehand and urge him not to step aside. Sessions rejected the entreaty. Mueller's team, which has interviewed Sessions, has been investigating the president's attacks on him and his demands to have a loyalist in charge of the Russia investigation. Sessions had been protected for much of his tenure by the support of Senate Republicans, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, who had said he would not schedule a confirmation hearing for another attorney general if Trump fired him. But that support began to fade, with Grassley suggesting over the summer that he might have time for a hearing after all. And Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, another Judiciary Committee member who once said there'd be "holy hell to pay" if Trump fired Sessions, called the relationship "dysfunctional" and said he thought the president had the right after the midterm to select a new attorney general.[SEP]Trump says Sessions' chief of staff Matthew Whitaker will become acting attorney general WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump says Sessions' chief of staff Matthew Whitaker will become acting attorney general.[SEP]Wednesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump, via a letter hand-delivered to Chief of Staff John Kelly. “At your request, I am submitting my resignation,” Sessions wrote. Sessions was the first sitting US senator to endorse Trump during the campaign, but over the past year, he and the President have clashed over his decision to recuse from the US Department of Justice’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Chief of Staff Matthew G. Whitaker has become acting Attorney General, President Trump confirms.[SEP]WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigned Wednesday as the country's chief law enforcement officer after enduring more than a year of blistering and personal attacks over his recusal from the Russia investigation. Sessions announced his resignation in a letter to President Donald Trump. He said the resignation came at "your request." Trump announced in a separate tweet that he was naming Sessions' chief of staff Matthew Whitaker, a former United States attorney from Iowa, as acting attorney general. The resignation was the culmination of a toxic relationship that frayed just weeks into the attorney general's tumultuous tenure, when he stepped aside from the investigation into potential coordination between the president's campaign and Russia. Trump blamed the decision for opening the door to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who took over the Russia investigation and began examining whether Trump’s hectoring of Sessions was part of a broader effort to obstruct justice and stymie the probe.[SEP]US attorney general Jeff Sessions has resigned as the country’s chief law enforcement officer. Mr Sessions announced his resignation in a letter to President Donald Trump and said it came at “your request”. The decision to leave his post comes after Mr Sessions endured more than a year of blistering and personal attacks over his recusal from the investigation into ties between Russia and Mr Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Mr Trump announced the resignation in a tweet and tweeted separately that he was naming Mr Sessions’ chief of staff Matthew Whitaker, a former United States attorney from Iowa, as acting attorney general. The resignation was the culmination of a toxic relationship that frayed just weeks into Mr Sessions’ tumultuous tenure, when he stepped aside from the investigation into potential co-ordination between the president’s campaign and Russia. Mr Trump blamed the decision for opening the door to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who took over the Russia investigation and began examining whether Mr Trump’s hectoring of Mr Sessions was part of a broader effort to obstruct justice and stymie the probe. The Justice Department did not announce a departure for deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mr Mueller more than a year-and-a-half ago and has closely overseen his work since then. The relentless attacks on Mr Sessions came even though the Alabama Republican was the first US senator to endorse Mr Trump and despite the fact that his crime-fighting agenda and priorities – particularly his hawkish immigration enforcement policies – largely mirrored the president’s. But the relationship was irreparably damaged in March 2017 when Mr Sessions, acknowledging previously undisclosed meetings with the Russian ambassador and citing his work as a campaign aide, recused himself from the Russia investigation. The decision infuriated Mr Trump, who repeatedly lamented that he would have never selected Mr Sessions if he had known the attorney general would recuse. The recusal left the investigation in the hands of Mr Rosenstein, who appointed Mr Mueller as special counsel two months later after Mr Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey. The rift lingered for the duration of Mr Sessions’ tenure, and the attorney general, despite praising the president’s agenda, never managed to return to Mr Trump’s good graces. The deteriorating relationship became a soap opera stalemate for the administration. Mr Trump belittled Mr Sessions but, perhaps following the advice of aides, held off on firing him. The attorney general, for his part, proved determined to remain in the position until dismissed. A logjam broke when Republican senators who had publicly backed Mr Sessions began signalling a willingness to consider a replacement. In attacks delivered on Twitter, in person and in interviews, Mr Trump called Mr Sessions weak and beleaguered, complained that he was not more aggressively pursuing allegations of corruption against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and called it “disgraceful” that Mr Sessions was not more serious in scrutinising the origins of the Russia investigation for possible law enforcement bias – even though the attorney general did ask the Justice Department’s inspector general to look into those claims. The broadsides escalated in recent months, with Mr Trump telling a television interviewer that Mr Sessions “had never had control” of the Justice Department and snidely accusing him on Twitter of not protecting Republican interests by allowing two Republican congressmen to be indicted before the election.[SEP]Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. (Terms and conditions). Sign Up For Our Newsletter! “At your request I am submitting my resignation,” he wrote in a letter to the White House. Though President Donald Trump basically fired Session, he thanked him for his service after announcing his acting replacement: Matthew G. Whitaker, who was the Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice. CNN reports “Whitaker is expected to take charge of the the Russia investigation and special counsel Robert Mueller from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.” Trump has yet to answer questions about Sessions during a press conference today, but says he is “extremely” satisfied with his adjusted Cabinet. Jeff Sessions Resigns From Role As Attorney General At The Request Of Trump was originally published on rickeysmileymorningshow.com[SEP]WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Wednesday asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign, effectively firing him. Sessions’ resignation letter has been delivered to White House chief of staff John Kelly. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is expected to remain in charge of the Russia investigation and special counsel Robert Mueller. Trump did not answer a direct question about Sessions during his news conference Wednesday, saying that on the whole he is “extremely” satisfied with his Cabinet.

Jeff Sessions asked to resign as United States Attorney General at the request of President Donald Trump. Matthew Whitaker, Sessions' chief of staff, is appointed acting Attorney General.

A Ryanair plane sits on the tarmac at the Bordeaux-Merignac airport in southwestern France, after being impounded by French authorities, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Storms, strikes, computer failures _ you can now add "your plane has been seized by the government" to the list of things that can delay your flight. (AP Photo) A Ryanair plane sits on the tarmac at the Bordeaux-Merignac airport in southwestern France, after being impounded by French authorities, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Storms, strikes, computer failures _ you can now add "your plane has been seized by the government" to the list of things that can delay your flight. (AP Photo) PARIS (AP) — Storms, strikes, computer failures — you can now add “your plane has been seized by the government” to the list of things that can delay your flight. In France, 149 passengers were preparing to take off for London late Thursday when French authorities ordered their Ryanair Boeing 737 impounded. The budget carrier owed money and it was “regrettable that the state was forced” to evacuate the plane, the civil aviation authority said. The passengers had gone through passport control and security and were about to walk on the tarmac to board the plane when airport authorities told them to turn around, passenger Boris Hejblum said. “The airport staff told us there was an issue with the plane,” he told The Associated Press in an email. No Ryanair staff members were available, and the only communication from the airline was two text messages saying simply that the departure was delayed, and a 5-euro ($5.75) voucher for food — “less than what a sandwich cost at the airport café,” the 30-year-old Frenchman said. “I found it strange that the police were the only ones giving us information,” he said. The passengers were put on another flight that finally brought them to London’s Stansted airport — five hours late. The multi-million dollar jet, meanwhile, was released only Friday after Ryanair paid a bill of 525,000 euros ($610,000). The scene unfolded at the Bordeaux-Merignac airport in western France, where authorities say the airline was ordered to pay back funds that the European Union had declared to be illegal subsidies. Ryanair did not publicly comment on the seizure. French aviation agency spokesman Eric Heraud said regional authorities who originally gave the subsidies had been trying since 2014 to recover the money, and sent its final legal warning in May. After six months without a response from Ryanair, it decided to act Friday. The standoff with French authorities will not help Ryanair, which more than most carriers, has come to symbolize budget airlines’ relentless focus on the bottom line at the cost of customer service. Ryanair has become Europe’s largest airline by number of passengers by persistently offering some of the cheapest fares available. That ensures its planes are packed. It then makes extra money with add-on fares. Besides charging for seating choice and food — now standard practice on budget flights the world over — it also has travelers pay for any carry-on bag that’s larger than a purse. It manages to keep its costs down by flying to out of the way airports at odd hours to get cheaper airport slots. Its CEO, Michael O’Leary, personifies the airline’s brash approach, sparring with unions and EU authorities. And despite conceding in 2013 that “we should try to eliminate things that unnecessarily piss people off,” the airline retains its reputation as something to be endured for the sake of flying cheaply around Europe. “I would say we just took it as another Ryanair problem, having no information from them,” Hejblum said of Thursday’s incident. “When we found out about the seizure, I would say the general sentiment was to blame Ryanair for not complying with the law.” ___ Piovano reported from London.[SEP]A Ryanair plane full of passengers was seized by French authorities as it was about to leave for London over a long-running cash dispute. The French civil aviation authority stopped the aircraft setting off at Bordeaux airport on Thursday evening, from which it was due to fly to Stansted. There were 149 passengers on board. The dispute dates back to 2008/09, officials said, when French subsidies were paid to Ryanair to provide flights from Angouleme, the capital of the Charente region, to London. The European Comission later ruled the deal had been illegal and ordered Ryanair to pay back the cash. In a statement released on Friday, the authorities said the plane would remain grounded until the outstanding sum was paid, adding that the move was a “last resort” after multiple attempts to reclaim the money. “It is unfortunate that the state had to take such action, which led to the inevitable inconvenience of the 149 passengers on board the immobilised plane,” the statement continued. “Those passengers were able to eventually reach their destination later that evening on another Ryanair plane, but with a five-hour delay.”[SEP]Passengers aboard a plane headed to London this week were ordered to evacuate by French authorities after it was revealed that the carrier owed a substantial amount of money from 2014. The Ryanair Boeing 737 was impounded and all 149 passengers were told to turn around and head back to the Bordeaux-Merignac airport in western France. Travelers were left out of the loop for most of the ordeal, with only two text messages telling them that the departure was delayed and that they would receive vouchers worth about $6 for food. One passenger told The Associated Press that airport authorities told them there “was an issue with the plane.” In reality, Ryanair’s plane was seized because of overdue bills. Ryanair had been ordered for some time to pay back funds that the European Union had declared to be illegal subsidies. French aviation agency spokesman Eric Heraud said regional authorities who originally gave the subsidies to the carrier had been trying since 2014 to recover the money. A final legal warning was sent in May, but after six months without a response from Ryanair, it was time to act. The aircraft was only released after Ryanair paid a bill of $610,000. The budget airliner is known in Europe for its inexpensive flight tickets, achieved with the aid of add-on fares including food and carry-ons larger than a purse. Passengers from the Thursday flight were put on another plane, which eventually took them to their destination at London’s Stansted airport – five hours late. The Associated Press contribute to this report.[SEP]Ryanair has been forced to pay the French government €525,000 (£450,000) to release one of its planes after it was impounded at Bordeaux airport in a decade-long legal battle over illegal subsidies. French officials seized the aircraft on Thursday ahead of a planned flight to Stansted and forced 149 passengers to disembark. The French civil aviation authority said it was “regrettable that the state was forced” to seize the plane, but that it took the measure because the low-cost airline had repeatedly ignored demands to repay subsidies a regional government handed to Ryanair. The European commission ruled that about €1m of subsidies paid to Ryanair in return for it providing flights from Angoulême, 80 miles (130km) north-east of Bordeaux, to London between 2008 and 2009 were illegal. Ryanair was ordered to repay all the money, which the commission said gave the airline an unfair advantage. But the French government said Ryanair had only paid back half the money, so it seized the plane and demanded the balance. The airline paid the bill on Friday. “It is unfortunate that the state had to take such action, which led to the inevitable inconvenience of the 149 passengers onboard the immobilised plane,” the French civil aviation authority said. “Those passengers were able to eventually reach their destination later that evening on another Ryanair plane, but with a five-hour delay.” Ryanair did not respond to requests for comment.[SEP]More than 140 London-bound passengers were forced to get off a Ryanair plane when French authorities seized it over outstanding repayments. French authorities said Ryanair owed them €525,000 (£458,000) in subsidies wrongfully paid out to the airline. A bailiff was escorted by police to seize the plane on the tarmac of Bordeaux airport as it was readying to take off for London Stansted. Some 149 passengers had to disembark the Boeing 737 at Bordeaux's Merignac airport in southwestern France and wait five hours before resuming their journey. Ryanair paid the outstanding debt within 24 hours and was able to reclaim the aircraft. The president of the French regional airport authority, Didier Villat, said Ryanair had tried to haggle over the price and accused the carrier of "stinginess". "They owed us €525,585.05 and they paid €524,907.80, which is the sum fixed on September 15," Mr Villat said. He added that the figure did not take account of accrued interest since that date. "Such stinginess, but we won't take the matter any further," he said. "This measure was taken as a last resort by the French authorities after several reminders and attempts to recuperate the money failed," the DGAC civil aviation body said of the seizure. In 2014, the EU Commission ruled that subsidies Ryanair received from a regional authority a decade ago had to be repaid. DGAC said the Irish low-cost airline had not complied despite repeated warnings - including a final warning in May. It was "regrettable" that the passengers on board the plane were delayed, the civil aviation body added. Ryanair have not publicly commented on the matter. Ryanair has had a string of troubles in recent months, including issues over their sole use of Irish legislation in employment contracts. In July, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers. Ryanair is also fighting an order to suspend a charge for carry-on bags in Italy. In the Netherlands, it is also embroiled in a row over shutting down its Eindhoven base for winter.[SEP]Ryanair passengers were forced to disembark the flight after it was impounded before taking off. French authorities seized the Boeing 737-800 due to a disagreement over subsidies to the airline. Taken at Bordeaux Airport, and bound for London Stansted, the flight was not allowed to depart. All 149 passengers were unable to take their flight and left on another plane five hours later. The dispute between the French authorities and Ryanair is in regard to funds in 2008-2009. French subsidies were paid to the airline, which were later deemed illegal by the European Commission, according to the BBC. It is rumoured to be as much as £457,000, with the plane being held until the amount is paid. The French CAA told the BBC: “It is unfortunate that the state had to take such action, which led to the inevitable inconvenience of the 149 passengers on board the immobilised plane. "Those passengers were able to eventually reach their destination later that evening on another Ryanair plane, but with a five-hour delay." Passengers would be able to claim for compensation, seeing as their flight was delayed for over three hours. Under EU law, flights that are more than three hours delayed and are to or from a country in the EU are eligible for a pay out. Depending on the length of the delay and the length of the journey, passengers can receive hundreds of pounds in compensation. EU regulation 261/2004 allows up to £536 in compensation per person.[SEP]French aviation authorities have seized a Ryanair plane bound for London, stranding nearly 150 passengers. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) revealed that it commandeered the aircraft at Bordeaux airport on Thursday in response to allegations Ryanair owes French authorities €525,000 (£457,000). Ryanair arranged another plane and customers arrived in London around five hours late. France is demanding the Irish airline hand back money paid by the small airport of Angulema-Cognac to Ryanair between 2008 and 2009. The European Commission declared in 2014 that the payments were in breach of EU competition laws as they amounted to state aid. A current bid to go to court over the unpaid...[SEP]Officials in the western department of Charente and France's aviation authority DGAC which is home to over 6,000 Brits, ordered the bailiffs to Bordeaux airport on Thursday evening to seize the Ryanair plane before it took off bound for London Stansted airport. Passengers were not allowed to board the plane and the aircraft was forced to remain on the tarmac until a debt had been paid. Regional newspaper Charente Libre reported that the plane was close to take-off for London's Stansted airport when a bailiff declared it seized on the tarmac and sealed the aircraft. The Irish airline reportedly owes €525,000 to the department of Charente, a debt that dates back to the subsidies paid to Ryanair to provide flights from Angouleme airport to London in 2008 and 2009. Those subsidies were judged illegal by the European Commission in 2014. Ryanair was ordered by court to repay the €965,000 subsidies it received but has only stumped up around half the money. Charente airport union leader Didier Villat told SudOuest newspaper: "To my knowledge it's the first time a Ryanair plane has been seized in this way." "Just because we manage a little airport in Charente it doesn't mean we are not going to defend ourselves," he added. A statement from France's aviation authority the DGAC read: "By this act the French state reaffirms its desire to guarantee the conditions of fair competition between airlines and its airports," adding that the move to seize the plane was a "last resort" after several failed efforts to reclaim the debt. The plane "will remain immobilised until the sum is paid". Passengers who were supposed to board the grounded flight were put on another plane that left five hours later. The DGAC called the disruption to passengers "regrettable". The Local has approached Ryanair for comment. Last month, EU anti-trust authorities opened an investigation into whether Ryanair benefited from measures at a German airport that give the Irish low-cost carrier an unfair leg-up over competitors. And last week ministers from five European governments warned Ryanair that it could face legal trouble if it ignores national labour laws after a series of strikes across the continent. The pan-European stoppages prompted the airline to cut its profit forecast, but it still expects to make profits after tax of 1.10-1.20 billion euros in its current financial year. Ryanair is also fighting an order by Italian regulators to suspend a charge for carry-on bags.[SEP]Nearly 150 passengers were stranded after the London-bound flight was commandeered at Bordeaux Airport on Thursday. A row over French subsidies Ryanair was paid for flights from Angouleme airport in the Charente region between 2008 and 2009 was blamed for the Boeing 737’s seizure. The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) grounded the Boeing 737 with 149 passengers, claiming it was a “last resort”. The European Commission later ruled around £873,000 (€1million)in subsidies paid to Ryanair were illegal and ordered the Irish carrier to repay all the money. Following the commission’s 2014 ruling that the payments gave Ryanair an unfair advantage, around half the subsidies were repaid. A bailiff seized the Boeing 737 as it was on the airport tarmac preparing for take off. The budget airline’s plane would remain grounded “until the sum is paid”, France’s aviation authority said. Another plane was arranged for passengers, who arrived in London five hours late. "It is unfortunate that the state had to take such action, which led to the inevitable inconvenience of the 149 passengers on board the immobilised plane," the French civil aviation authority said. "Those passengers were able to eventually reach their destination later that evening on another Ryanair plane, but with a five-hour delay." A DGAC spokesman added: “This measure was taken as a last resort by the French authorities after several reminders and attempts to recuperate the money failed. “By this action, the government reaffirms its intention to guarantee the conditions of fair competition between airlines and between airports.” French airport official Didier Villat told Sud Ouest newspaper: "To my knowledge it's the first time a Ryanair plane has been seized in this way. "Just because we manage a little airport in Charente it doesn't mean we are not going to defend ourselves." Ryanair has been hit by a number of setbacks in recent months,with pilots and cabin crews across Europe going on strike.[SEP]Ryanair jet seized by French authorities just before takeoff

French authorities impound a Ryanair jet, because of payments owed to the European Union for illegal subsidies, at the Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport just before 149 London-bound passengers boarded.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The KNM Helge Ingstad takes in water amid fears that it might sink Norway has evacuated all 137 crew from one of its warships after it collided in a fjord with a Maltese oil tanker. Eight people were lightly injured in the collision in the Hjeltefjord near Bergen. The KNM Helge Ingstad frigate has been listing dangerously. The warship had been returning from Nato military exercises. The tanker, the Sola TS, was slightly damaged and it appears that it did not spill oil. The incident led to the shutdown of a major oil terminal and a gas plant. What is known about Thursday's incident? The two vessels collided at about 04:00 local time (03:00 GMT) as the frigate was sailing inner fjords for training, officials say. The tanker had already left Equinor's Sture oil terminal with a cargo of North Sea crude, Reuters news agency reports. Image copyright EPA Image caption The Norwegian frigate (right) joined a Belgian warship and other Nato vessels for exercises last month "Due to the damage to the frigate it was moved to a safe place," Nato's Allied Maritime Command said in a statement. The tanker, which has a crew of 23, returned to port for inspection. It was not immediately clear what had caused the collision. What about economic damage? The Sture export oil terminal, as well as the Kollsnes gas plant and several offshore oilfields, were shut down as a precaution but resumed operation on Thursday afternoon, Equinor said in a statement. The Sture terminal is a major tanker port, with almost 25% of Norway's oil production passing through the facility. Meanwhile, the Kollsnes plant processes gas from several fields for a number of European countries, including the UK. It was not immediately known how the temporary closure of the facilities would impact on wholesale gas prices. An unnamed official told AFP news agency that a "small oil slick" had been detected from the frigate. "It took on a lot of water and there is a real danger that it sinks where it is," the official said.[SEP]A Norwegian Navy warship was rammed by an oil tanker while it was docked in a harbour on the country's west coast, injuring eight crew members. Sola TS tanker crashed into Helge Ingstad, tearing a large hole in its side, near the Sture terminal in Oygarden at around 4 a.m (0300GMT) on Thursday. The frigate's 137 crew members were evacuated amid fears that the warship may sink. Andreas Stensoenes, Head of the Royal Norwegian Navy, said: "Helge Ingstad took in water after the collision, lost control and then drifted aground." "The crew were evacuated when it was evaluated that the vessel was unstable." "The eight crew members who are reported injured have been taken into medical care." The Sola TS did not spill oil, it appears, but the collision forced the shutdown of a North Sea crude export terminal and Norway's largest gas processing plant, as well as a number of offshore fields. The frigate had recently taken part in a NATO exercise. The Norwegian military is investigating the incident.[SEP]A Norwegian navy frigate and an oil tanker from Malta collided in Øygarden in western Norway. Seven people were injured. Returning from Nato’s Trident Juncture exercise, KNM Helge Ingstad frigate collided with the Sola TS oil tanker, Norwegian Royal Army confirmed. A total of 137 people were on board the frigate while 23 were on the tanker. The oil tanker received only slight damage, while the frigate has been seriously damaged. A small oil slick from the frigate has been detected but nothing large,” the official added. Built in 2009, the KNM Helge Ingstad participated in chemical disarmament operations in Syria between December 2013 and May 2014.[SEP]Eight people have been injured in a collision between Norwegian warship KNM Helge Ingstad and a Maltese oil tanker. All 137 of the ship’s crew have been evacuated. The Helge Ingstad was returning from the NATO Trident Juncture 18 exercises when it collided with the Maltese oil tanker Sola–which is reportedly undamaged and resuming its route from Norway to a terminal in northeast England, according to the website Marine Traffic. Norwegian newspaper Aldrimer reports that the oil tanker and maritime traffic authorities repeatedly radioed warnings to the frigate that they were on a collision path, but the Helge Ingstad’s captain said it had control. Shortly thereafter, the warship drove into the oil tanker with great force in the Hjeltefjord near Bergen. The frigate lost power and control after the crash Sola, and the ship was pushed by tugboats into shallow water where it can’t fully sink. Both Norway’s Accident Investigation Board and Malta’s Marine Safety Investigation Unit will investigate the collision, as the tanker was registered in Malta. The Equinor Sture oil shipment terminal, from which the oil tanker left fully loaded, was closed as a precautionary measure but reopened Thursday. The state-controlled terminal is the loading point for about 15% of the country’s crude. Total, Shell and ExxonMobil were all due to take on loads there in the next few days, according to the November loading programs seen by Platts. The Trident Juncture 18 event are the biggest NATO exercises since the Cold War in the 1980s.[SEP]One of the biggest warships in the Norwegian navy was warned repeatedly it was on a collision course with a Britain-bound oil tanker before the two vessels smashed into each other, it has been claimed. Crew on board the KNM Helge Instad, part of a NATO fleet in the Atlantic, insisted they 'had control' before smashing into Sola TS in Sture, north of Bergen, Norway. The frigate had received alerts from the tanker and from the Coastal Maritime Traffic Center Fedje VTS, sources have told the Norwegian news website Aldrimer. But ship management are said to have responded: 'We are in control' in the run-up to the crash. Some 10,000 litres of helicopter fuel from the frigate has leaked into the sea after the collision tore a large hole in its side, the military said. The frigate's 137 crew members were evacuated amid fears that it may sink. Eight people on the KNM Helge Instad were injured in the 4am collision said Rear Adm. Nils Andreas Stensoenes, the head of Norway's navy. Two of them were taken to a nearby hospital. The ship, which had recently taken part in the vast Trident Juncture NATO military drill in Norway, is 'strongly listing,' Stensoenes told a news conference Thursday afternoon. The frigate was lying in the water almost on its side with its stern under the water. The 442ft long frigate, built in Spain in 2009, is part of a NATO fleet in the Atlantic. The alliance has been informed of the accident, he said. The Maltese-flagged oil tanker, Sola TS, was not damaged and its 23-man crew remained on board. The shipping site Sysla reported the tanker had been loaded with crude oil and was on its way to Britain. Stensoenes said the cause of the accident was not clear and the Navy would wait for the findings of Norway's Accident Investigation Board. Earlier reports had said a towboat was also involved in the collision, but Stensoenes denied that report. He said the frigate had been pushed by towboats into shallow water where it could not sink fully. 'We are in a security phase for the time being,' he said. He declined to comment on what would happen to the weapons on board the ship. Some 10,000 liters of helicopter fuel from the frigate has leaked into the sea, said Johan Marius Ly of the Norwegian Coast Guard. The fuel was expected to evaporate quickly. Norway's largest oil and gas company, Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, said its non-emergency activities at the Sture terminal where the collision occurred were shut down as a precaution for many hours but were gradually starting up again late Thursday afternoon. The Accident Investigation Board said because the tanker is Maltese-registered, the Marine Safety Investigation Unit (MSIU) of Malta will participate in the investigation.[SEP]A rescue operation is underway after a Norwegian Navy frigate reportedly lost control and collided with an oil tanker off Norway’s coast. Seven people were injured, local media says. The vessels involved in the accident on Thursday morning were reportedly carrying around 160 people – 137 aboard the navy ship and 23 on the tanker. Those injured were among the oil tanker’s crew, local newspaper VG reported. The frigate is believed to be the KNM Helge Ingstad, which took part in NATO’s massive ongoing Trident Juncture 2018 wargames. The collision occurred as the warship was heading back to its base, VG says, citing military spokesperson Vegard Finberg.[SEP]Norwegian frigate is rammed by tanker in harbor, could sink COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — An oil tanker rammed a Norwegian navy frigate Thursday in a harbor on the country's western coast, tearing a large hole in its side, the military said. The frigate's 137 crew members were evacuated amid fears that it may sink. Eight people on the KNM Helge Instad were injured in the 4 a.m. collision in Sture, north of Bergen, said Rear Adm. Nils Andreas Stensoenes, the head of Norway's navy. Two of them were taken to a nearby hospital. The ship, which had recently taken part in the vast Trident Juncture NATO military drill in Norway, is "strongly listing," Stensoenes told a news conference Thursday afternoon. The frigate was lying in the water almost on its side with its stern under the water. The 134-meter (442-foot) long frigate, built in Spain in 2009, is part of a NATO fleet in the Atlantic. The alliance has been informed of the accident, he said. The Maltese-flagged oil tanker, Sola TS, was not damaged and its 23-man crew remained on board. The shipping site Sysla reported the tanker had been loaded with crude oil and was on its way to Britain. Stensoenes said the cause of the accident was not clear and the Navy would wait for the findings of Norway's Accident Investigation Board. Earlier reports had said a towboat was also involved in the collision, but Stensoenes denied that report. He said the frigate had been pushed by towboats into shallow water where it could not sink fully. "We are in a security phase for the time being," he said. He declined to comment on what would happen to the weapons on board the ship. Some 10,000 liters of helicopter fuel from the frigate has leaked into the sea, said Johan Marius Ly of the Norwegian Coast Guard. The fuel was expected to evaporate quickly. Norway's largest oil and gas company, Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, said its non-emergency activities at the Sture terminal where the collision occurred were shut down as a precaution for many hours but were gradually starting up again late Thursday afternoon. The Accident Investigation Board said because the tanker is Maltese-registered, the Marine Safety Investigation Unit (MSIU) of Malta will participate in the investigation.[SEP]One of the biggest warships in the Norwegian navy had to be evacuated after it collided with a Maltese oil tanker and started sinking. The KNM Helge Ingstad frigate collided with the tanker in a fjord in western Norway this morning and eight people were left injured. All 137 people on board the warship had to be evacuated after the clash with the Sola TS tanker and it eventually ran aground. The ship, which was returning from NATO's Trident Juncture exercises, is one of five such frigates in the Norwegian navy and is the second newest. There were fears it would sink as it took on water after the crash but it ran aground just off the shore near Bergen. An image published by Norwegian broadcaster NRK showed that water had almost reached the level of the frigate's helicopter platform. A total of 137 people were on board the frigate while 23 were on the tanker, which was flying the Maltese flag. The 62,000-tonne tanker was only slightly damaged and oil appears not to have spilled from it. 'A small oil slick from the frigate has been detected but nothing large,' an official said. The circumstances of the accident, which took place shortly after 4am in the Hjeltefjord near Bergen, are not yet clear. 'The armed forces is now reviewing all the means available in the region to assist the KNM Helge Ingstad,' said Lieutenant Colonel Ivar Moen. Built in 2009, the KNM Helge Ingstad participated in chemical disarmament operations in Syria between December 2013 and May 2014.[SEP]A Norwegian navy frigate and a Maltese oil tanker collided in a fjord in western Norway this morning, injuring seven people. The KNM Helge Ingstad frigate, which was returning from NATO's Trident Juncture exercises, was evacuated after the collision with the Sola TS tanker. There were fears it would sink as it took on water but it ran aground just off the shore near Bergen. An image published by Norwegian broadcaster NRK showed that water had almost reached the level of the frigate's helicopter platform. A total of 137 people were on board the frigate while 23 were on the tanker, which was flying the Maltese flag. The 62,000-tonne tanker received only slight damage and is waiting to be towed to a nearby oil terminal. 'A small oil slick from the frigate has been detected but nothing large,' an official said. The circumstances of the accident, which took place shortly after 4am in the Hjeltefjord near Bergen, are not yet clear. 'The armed forces is now reviewing all the means available in the region to assist the KNM Helge Ingstad,' said Lieutenant Colonel Ivar Moen. Built in 2009, the KNM Helge Ingstad participated in chemical disarmament operations in Syria between December 2013 and May 2014.[SEP]A Norwegian Navy frigate carrying a crew of 137 was rammed by a tanker while in a harbour on the country’s west coast, tearing a large hole in its side, the military has said. A Norwegian Navy frigate carrying a crew of 137 was rammed by a tanker while in a harbour on the country’s west coast, tearing a large hole in its side, the military has said. Fears Norwegian frigate may sink after collision with oil tanker Eight people on the KNM Helge Instad were slightly injured, two of whom were taken to a nearby hospital, in the 4am accident in Sture, north of Bergen, said Rear Admiral Nils Andreas Stensoenes, the head of Norway’s Navy. The crew were evacuated amid fears the vessel would sink. The ship, which had recently taken part in the vast Nato drill Trident Juncture in Norway, is “strongly listing”, Rear Admiral Stensoenes told a news conference. The frigate was lying in the water almost on its side with its stern under the water. The Maltese-flagged tanker, Sola TS, was not damaged and its 23-man crew remained on board. The shipping site Sysla reported that the tanker had been loaded with crude oil and was on its way to the UK. Rear Admiral Stensoenes said the cause of the accident was not clear and the Navy would wait for the findings of Norway’s Accident Investigation Board. Earlier reports had said a towboat was also involved in the accident, but Rear Admiral Stensoenes denied this. Some 10,000 litres of helicopter fuel from the frigate’s tanks leaked into the sea, Johan Marius Ly of the Norwegian Coast Guard said. The fuel was expected to evaporate quickly. The 134-metre long frigate, built in Spain in 2009, has a helipad platform on its stern. Rear Admiral Stensoenes said the frigate had been pushed by towboats into shallow waters where it could not sink fully. “We are in a security phase for the time being,” he added. He declined to comment on what would happen to the weapons on board the ship. The frigate is part of a Nato fleet in the Atlantic and the alliance has been informed of the accident, he told reporters. Norway’s largest oil and gas company, Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, said it shut down non-emergency activities at the Sture terminal where the collision occurred “as a precautionary measure”. The Accident Investigation Board added that, because the tanker is Maltese-registered, the Marine Safety Investigation Unit (MSIU) of Malta will also participate in the investigation.

Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad collides with a Maltese oil tanker in the Heltefjord while returning from NATO military exercises, prompting the evacuation of all 137 crew members. Seven sailors were injured in the collision.

• The so-called Camp Fire started around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday in Butte County, California, which is roughly 90 miles north of Sacramento. • So far, at least 18,000 acres have burned, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Thousands of residents were under evacuation orders as of Thursday evening. • California witnessed the worst wildfire in its history in July. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which also occurred in the northern part of the state, burned nearly 460,000 acres. Video posted on social media shows a driver trying to escape a wildfire in North California. The blaze, known as the Camp Fire, started in Butte County, California, on Thursday morning, about 90 miles north of Sacramento. As of Thursday night, at least 20,000 acres were scorched and thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes. Read more: The Coast Guard is looking, but it really seems like Japan has lost an island At the height of its speed, The Camp Fire burned 80 acres per minute USA Today reports. The fire has destroyed several homes in the city of Paradise, which has been completely evacuated along with the nearby towns of Pulga and Concow, Cal Fire Public Information Officer Scott Mclean said at a press conference Thursday. Because of the pace of the fire, several residents in Paradise were forced to abandon their vehicles on the road and flee on foot, according to the Sacramento Bee. A video emerged online revealed the danger of the fire by showing a flare up by a street outiside of Paradise. Others, like the man in this video in the nearby town of Concow, drove through what looked like a wall of fire and smoke to escape. California witnessed the worst wildfire in its history in July. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which also occured in the northern part of the state burned nearly 460,000 acres, according to California fire authorities.[SEP]Three massive fires are still raging in California, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes–and in some cases literally run for their lives, reports CNN . And things may only get worse as there are currently 20 million people under red flag warnings in the state. A red flag warning means that warm temperatures, low humidities, and stronger winds are scouring in an area, and thus provide an increased risk of fire danger. Right now there are three main fires, including Camp Fire in Northern California, and Hill Fire and Woosley Fire northwest of Los Angeles. The Camp Fire has so far forced 40,000 residents to evacuate in Butte County, California. That follows evacuations in the town of Paradise, home to 26,000 people. After breaking out, Camp Fire spread at a rate of about 80 football fields per minute. There are fears that Camp Fire could reach the city of Chico, home of 90,000 people, many of whom have already evacuated to shelters. The Woolsey Fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties has led to the mandatory evacuation of residents with more than 30,000 homes under threat from the fire. The fire there reportedly grew from 2,000 acres to 7,500 acres in a matter of hours. The Hill Fire is raging just miles away from the Woolsey Fire in Ventura County. Currently, it has spread to more than 10,000 acres. The fire spread across the 101 Freeway, leaving some drivers stranded. The highway is expected to be closed on Friday morning. CBS Los Angeles says mandatory evacuations have been ordered for all areas of Camarillo Springs, Vallecito Trailer Park, California State University Channel Islands, Point Mugu Naval Base, as well as Dos Vientos and South Coast.[SEP]On a day when a fire cropped up this morning in Butte County and quickly grew to 8,000 acres, firefighting resources in California have also had to focus on a number of other fires. Two of these cropped up this afternoon in Ventura County. One is the Hill Fire, which has grown rapidly to somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 acres, and is near Camarillo Springs. The other is the Woolsey Fire which is smaller, but might pose problems if not quickly contained. High winds have helped today’s fires grow fast in the California region. The Hill Fire is the largest of the two Ventura County fires, and it’s the one that has led to mandatory evacuations in the region. This fire was first reported at 2:03 p.m. at Hill Canyon and Santa Rosa roads. It’s west of Simi Valley and east of Camarillo, and possibly headed to 101/Camarillo Springs. It quickly grew to 100 acres, with the help of 20 to 25 mph winds, VC Star reported. The fire was reportedly moving toward the Conejo Grade and possibly the CSU Channel Islands, VC Star reported. The fire has since grown to 8,000 to 10,000 acres, according to CAL FIRE. You can get emergency alerts about Ventura County by texting VCALERT to 313131 or visiting vcalert.org. You can watch a live Facebook feed of the Hill Fire below: The fire grew to nearly 10,000 acres in just a couple hours. Somewhere between 3,000 to 5,000 strucrures are threatened by the fire, which is burning in an area similar to the 2013 Springs Fire. According to VCStar, mandatory evacuations have been issued in the following areas: Highway 101 has been closed between Borchard and Pleasant Valley roads. Crews said the fire may be burning behind the Dos Vientos area of Newbury Park, moving toward CSUCI. Remember, you can get emergency alerts about Ventura County by texting VCALERT to 313131 or visiting vcalert.org. The Woolsey Fire is a smaller fire in Simi Valley near the Rocketdyne facility in Santa Susana Pass, ABC 7 reported. The Woolsey Fire is now 600 acres in size, according to VC Star. The Woolsey Fire is close enough that you can see it in arial photos of the Hill Fire: Sadly, these fires are near the Thousands Oaks area that just endured a mass shooting earlier today.[SEP] • The so-called Camp Fire started around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday in Butte County, California, which is roughly 90 miles north of Sacramento. • So far, at least 18,000 acres have burned, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Thousands of residents were under evacuation orders as of Thursday evening. • California witnessed the worst wildfire in its history in July. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which also occurred in the northern part of the state, burned nearly 460,000 acres. Video posted on social media shows a driver trying to escape a wildfire in North California. The blaze, known as the Camp Fire, started in Butte County, California, on Thursday morning, about 90 miles north of Sacramento. As of Thursday evening, at least 18,000 acres were scorched and thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes. Read more: The Coast Guard is looking, but it really seems like Japan has lost an island At the height of its speed, The Camp Fire burned 80 acres per minute USA Today reports. The fire has destroyed several homes in the city of Paradise, which has been completely evacuated along with the nearby towns of Pulga and Concow, Cal Fire Public Information Officer Scott Mclean said at a press conference Thursday. Because of the pace of the fire, several residents in Paradise were forced to abandon their vehicles on the road and flee on foot, according to the Sacramento Bee. Others, like the man in this video in the nearby town of Concow, drove through what looked like a wall of fire and smoke to escape. California witnessed the worst wildfire in its history in July. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which also occured in the northern part of the state burned nearly 460,000 acres, according to California fire authorities.[SEP] • The so-called Camp Fire started around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday in Butte County, California, which is roughly 90 miles north of Sacramento. • So far, at least 18,000 acres have burned, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Thousands of residents were under evacuation orders as of Thursday evening. • California witnessed the worst wildfire in its history in July. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which also occurred in the northern part of the state, burned nearly 460,000 acres. Video posted on social media shows a driver trying to escape a wildfire in North California. The blaze, known as the Camp Fire, started in Butte County, California, on Thursday morning, about 90 miles north of Sacramento. As of Thursday evening, at least 18,000 acres were scorched and thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes. Read more: The Coast Guard is looking, but it really seems like Japan has lost an island At the height of its speed, The Camp Fire burned 80 acres per minute USA Today reports. The fire has destroyed several homes in the city of Paradise, which has been completely evacuated along with the nearby towns of Pulga and Concow, Cal Fire Public Information Officer Scott Mclean said at a press conference Thursday. Because of the pace of the fire, several residents in Paradise were forced to abandon their vehicles on the road and flee on foot, according to the Sacramento Bee. Others, like the man in this video in the nearby town of Concow, drove through what looked like a wall of fire and smoke to escape. California witnessed the worst wildfire in its history in July. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which also occured in the northern part of the state burned nearly 460,000 acres, according to California fire authorities.[SEP]A fast-moving wildfire that has grown to 5,000 acres has prompted evacuations in California's Butte County. Dozen of resources have been called in from across the state, according to fire officials. The Butte County Sheriff's office says an evacuation order was issued for areas of Paradise, a town of about 27,000 people 180 miles northeast of San Francisco. CBS Sacramento reports that thousands of PG&E customers in Butte County have lost power because of the blaze. "This Fire is very dangerous, please evacuate if asked to do so!" the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) tweeted. CAL FIRE said Wednesday that a Red Flag Warning was issued for most of Northern California's interior as well as parts of Southern California through Friday morning. Gusty winds and low humidity were among the factors that led to the warning. Red Flag Warnings are issued for conditions that could lead to "extreme fire behavior" within 24 hours, according to CAL FIRE.[SEP]BUTTE COUNTY (CBS SF) – In just 24 hours, the disastrous Camp Fire in Northern California has burned at the rate of almost an acre per second and scorched an area more than twice the size of San Francisco. As of Friday Morning, the wildfire in Butte County has scorched 70,000 acres (109.38 square miles) since it was first reported around 6:30 a.m. Thursday. The area burned is more than 2.3 times the size of San Francisco (47 square miles). Over 24 hours, the fire has burned at the rate of about 0.8 acres per second or 48.6 acres per minute. In the fire’s first three hours, the fire grew to 5,000 acres, burning an area the size of a football field every three seconds in that period. The Camp Fire’s most significant growth happened Thursday afternoon, when it grew 10,000 acres in about 90 minutes, more than one football field per second, according to CNN. • ‘This Fire Is Very Dangerous’ – Thousands Flee Paradise In Butte County • Remember The Five “Ps” Of Wildfire Evacuations The fire burning east of Chico has destroyed much of the community of Paradise, a city with a population of nearly 27,000 people. About 15,000 structures are threatened, but the number of structures destroyed is not known. At a briefing Friday, the California Office of Emergency Services announced that 52,000 people have been evacuated. Dozens of people have been reported missing and remained unaccounted for Friday morning. Cal OES director Mark Ghilarducci said the fire has claimed lives, but the exact number of deaths was not immediately known. Cal Fire said the Camp Fire is only 5 percent contained. More than 2,200 firefighters have been dispatched to the scene, including several crews from the Bay Area. © Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten. CNN contributed to this report.[SEP]If you're viewing on the ABC10 App, tap here for multimedia. A day after a Northern California wildfire forced tens of thousands to evacuate, dozens of people are unaccounted for and relatives are flooding social media with desperate pleas for help finding them. Dozens of people, many of them elderly, remained unaccounted for. Debbie McCrea has lived on a quarter-acre lot in Paradise for about 40 years and has had to evacuate from wildfires several times. Usually she calls her sister and other relatives to let them know she's getting out. Her brother-in-law Steve Christensen said she has trouble walking, and he is concerned that she hasn't called. Cherri Rolla lives in North Dakota and says a relative tried to get her 83-year-old aunt to leave her house in Paradise, but she refused. She is hoping her aunt made it to an evacuation center. Both Butte County Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board have deployed "Purple Air" sensors to help monitor the smoke impacts in Butte County. Butte County AQMD notes that the data is experimental and unofficial but it will help provide additional information for official air quality data. An air quality report from the National Weather Service is available below: With the Butte County website down, the county is using a Google Doc to provide current Camp Fire Information to its residents. The Camp Fire is currently burning on both sides of the Feather River, South of Jarbo Gap, according to Cal Fire's Butte Unit. ABC10's Michael Anthony Adam's is at the Camp Fire. As firefighters attempt to combat flames while dealing with wind gusts and a lack of water, they captured a fire whirl on camera. Blocks and blocks of homes and businesses in a Northern California town have been destroyed by a wildfire. Parts of the town of Paradise were still on fire on Friday. At least five people in the town died. Patrick Knuthson, a fourth-generation resident of Paradise, said only two of roughly 22 houses on his street survived. Knuthson stayed behind and was able to save his home. He said he lost his previous home to a wildfire in 2008. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said about 20 deputies have also lost their homes. Firefighters will save what they can in the Camp Fire, whether it's a building, a home, or on two legs or four. Alameda County Firefighters saved a donkey running along Highway 70 at Big Bend Road. Their Strike Team Leader was able to contact animal control which responded with a trailer to transport the animal. A day after a Northern California wildfire forced tens of thousands to evacuate, dozens of people are unaccounted for and relatives are flooding social media with desperate pleas for help finding them. Many are searching for seniors who lived alone or at retirement homes. Diane Forsman lives in New Hampshire and says she's been trying to get information about her 83-year-old mother, who lives in the community of Magalia near the devastated town of Paradise. She says her mother can't walk by herself and is on oxygen. Dawn Johnson says she hasn't been able to reach her father or his wife who live in an RV park in Paradise that's believed to have burned in the fire. Johnson says her father has late-stage cancer and his wife is mostly confined to her bed. A surgical nurse who evacuated from a Northern California hospital with a wildfire roaring nearby says she had to return after her vehicle went up in flames and one of her pant legs caught fire. Nichole Jolly said Friday that she helped evacuate patients Thursday from Adventist Health Feather River Hospital in the town of Paradise, where at least five people died. When she tried to leave, she got stuck in the firestorm. She said firefighters extinguished her smoldering pants, covered her in a fire blanket and brought her back to the hospital, where she waited out the fire. She said doctors extinguished burning trees around the hospital to try to keep the flames at bay. The Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley is functioning as an evacuation shelter for the Camp Fire. It was one of the suggested shelters to go to after the Neighborhood Church in Chico was full. They've notified supporters that they are "overwhelmed with food and waters," and are in need of new clothes for women and jeans, sweatshirts, and jackets for men and kids. Schools in Butte County will be closed until November 23. County Superintendent Tim Taylor announced the closure on Friday, which comes in response to the Camp Fire. According to the Butte County Office of Education, the county and its residents need time to understand the extent of loss and disruption caused by the Camp Fire in the area and find ways to provide services to schools and their students. Modesto area resources responding to the Butte County for the Camp Fire. Thousands of firefighters are combating wildfires up and down the state. Modesto, West Stanislaus Fire, Burbank Paradise Fire, Stanislaus Consolidated Fire, and Hughson Fire join the thousands of firefighters providing mutual aid across the state. At last count, there were 2,303 personnel combating the Camp Fire, 303 engines, 11 water tenders, 18 helicopters, and 24 dozers. Nurses and patients have recounted their dramatic escapes from a hospital in a Northern California town that was devastated by a ferocious wildfire. Nurse Darrel Wilken told the Chico Enterprise-Record newspaper on Friday that the fire in the town of Paradise came so quickly that he and other employees at the Feather River Hospital used their own cars to evacuate patients. Wilken said he took three patients in his car and that two of them were in critical condition. He says he battled gridlocked traffic on a road surrounded on both sides by fire. Paradise resident Cody Knowles said his wife, Francine, was having gallbladder surgery Thursday morning. When the evacuation was announced, she was still asleep from anesthesia. He waited until she woke up and they escaped in a hospital employee's car. The hospital says it evacuated 60 patients to other facilities. Public safety attempts to save what they can and get people to safety, but even as they do so the Camp Fire rages. Deputies have lost their homes and so have members of the Butte College family. California Highway Patrol - Oroville confirms that four of their officers have lost their homes while they saved others. Road closures are a fluid situation due to the wildfires. State Route 99 is open from Los Molinos to Chico, however, it closes again upon reaching Chico. The road closes due lack of visibility caused by the Camp Fire The Camp Fire smoke has impacted air quality in other areas and has turned day to night in other areas. ABC10's Brandon Rittiman sees the impact firsthand driving down Highway 99 where the Camp Fire burned just South of Chico. ABC10's John Bartell is at the Lime Saddle Estates area about four miles from Paradise. He's found belongings and valuables brought to the outside and, in some areas, one home was spared while another was destroyed. Bartell revisits a home on Pentz Road that was seen in flames just last night that firefighters were unable to save and sees how the neighborhood is doing. "Last night we were here, this home was in flames when we left. We had to leave. There was nothing that the fire crews could do, and obviously, this is what's left." When Paradise was evacuated, the order set off a desperate exodus in which many motorists got struck in gridlocked traffic and abandoned their vehicles to flee on foot. People reported seeing much of the community go up in flames, including homes, supermarkets, businesses, restaurants, schools and a retirement center. Rural areas fared little better. Many homes have propane tanks that were exploding amid the flames. "They were going off like bombs," said Karen Auday, who escaped to a nearby town. McLean estimated that the lost buildings numbered in the thousands in Paradise, about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco. "Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed. It's that kind of devastation," he said. The massive blaze that hit Paradise spread north Friday, prompting officials to order the evacuation of Stirling City and Inskip, two communities north of Paradise along the Sierra Nevada foothills. The wind-driven flames also spread to the west and reached the edge of Chico, a city of 90,000 people. Firefighters were able to stop the fire at the edge of the city, where evacuation orders remained in place Friday, Cal Fire Cpt. Bill Murphy said. Concerned friends and family posted frantic messages on Twitter and other sites saying they were looking for loved ones, particularly seniors who lived at retirement homes or alone. About 20 of the same deputies who were helping to find and rescue people lost their own homes. The department was trying to find them temporary housing, Sheriff Kory Honea said. "There are times when you have such rapid-moving fires ... no amount of planning is going to result in a perfect scenario, and that's what we had to deal with here," Honea told the Action News Network. 16 inmate fire crews are confirmed to be assisting with the Camp Fire. The Camp Fire has pulled resources from up and down the state with mutual coming from local fire departments like Turlock, San Francisco, Sacramento, West Sacramento, Folsom, and many others along with help from police officers from Sacramento, Stockton, and the Placer County Sheriff's Department. Among them are the inmate firefighters who have come from six different conservation camps from Alturas and down to Sonora to fight wildfires at only one dollar an hour. A total of 200 inmate firefighters are part of the thousands of personnel combating the Camp Fire. Due to the Camp Fire, a Friday morning in Chico looks more like a night sky. Members of the Butte College family have lost their homes and have been displaced, according to a message from Butte College President Samia Yaqub. Last night, fire surround the campus on three sides, according to Yaqub. Firefighters stationed crews around the campus and were able to keep the fire to the outer perimeter of Campus Drive. The college's main campus has been serving as a staging area for emergency service personnel, and their football field has been used to medevac burn victims via helicopter. The main campus, Chico Center, Skyway Center, Glenn County Center, and Cosmetology Center will all be closed today. The Camp Fire has compromised air quality in Chico. Air quality is currently at moderate, but it is expected to drop into the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range. Chico State University will have a limited amount of masks available for students and employees who identify as a sensitive population. ABC10's Brandon Rittman has reported from scene yesterday. Rittiman says the news of the five fatalities is heartbreaking. A large number of people needed to evacuate the area after the fire broke out. According to authorities with the Butte County Sheriff's Office, five fatalities have been located in the area of Edgewood Lane in Paradise on November 8. Authorities says the victims were located in vehicles that were overcome by the Camp Fire; due to burn injuries, identifications were not immediately able to be made. Autopsies will be conducted to determine the circumstances of the deaths and start the identification process. The Butte County Coroner's Office is investigating and attempting to identify other fatalities. Investigators are challenge by fatalities reported in areas where fire is still active and locations where hazards are in the area. The sheriff's office asks that you you are not able to find a loved one to contact the Butte County Sheriff's Office at 530-538-7322. Due to the Camp Fire, Comcast has opened thousands of WiFi hotspots throughout the impacted areas in northern California to all residents so they can stay connected with friends, family, and emergency personnel. A total of 3,200 XFINITY WiFi hotspots are open throughout Yuba and Butte Counties Residents do not have to have Comcast as their provider in order to take advantage of the utility. They are free to use. Simply select a hot spot with the "xfinitywifi" name and launch a broswer. XFINITY customers can sign in as normal and non-XFINITY customers should visit the "Not an XFINITY Internet Customer" section on the sign-in page. For a map of XFINITY hotspots, click HERE. Organizations are reaching to shelters and evacuation centers helping people impacted by the Camp Fire. North Valley Community Foundation is deploying funds from their Camp Fire Evacuation Relief Fund to organizations and groups that are sheltering and aiding evacuees. Money is available to help evacuation centers and those sheltering evacuees. Organizations with requests can contact NVCF@NVCF.org with requests. Information on donations to organizations Camp Fire fund can be found here. Due to firefighting and weather conditions, the Camp Fire has not entered the city limits of Chico and continues to move away from the city. Sutter Dining and the residence halls remain open for on-campus students. From San Joaquin County to Butte County, officers from the City of Stockton are joining hundreds of other officers to help with the Camp Fire. They'll be working with first responders and trying to assist the community. 125 personnel from the California Highway Patrol have been deployed to help with the three main fires in California. About 75 of them are located at the Camp Fire and helping with traffic control and evacuation, according to CHP Commissioner Warren Stanely. All CHP offices in Sacramento County are on alert, working 12 hour shifts, so the CHP can move them to different fires to provide support. “We are a long ways from being out of the firefight,” said Pimlott. Right now the focus is on life safety. There are active rescues going on with all the fires in California-particularly the Camp Fire, according to Pimlott. “That fire [the Camp Fire] from the second it started was off to the races- quickly grew 1,000 acres and was well off to burning at dangerous rates of spread,” said CAL FIRE Director Ken Pimlott. He added that the Camp Fire is currently one of California's three most critical fires, including the Hill Fire and Woolsey Fire. Local firefighters, CAL FIRE, and inmate fire crews are among the 6,000 firefighters across the state. Per Ghilarducci, due to wildfires around the state 105,000 people have been evacuated in Southern California. 52,000 have been evacuated in northern California, predominantly due to the Camp Fire. The wildfires have brought in local firefighters, totaling 1,860, to provide mutual aid up and down California and hundreds of law enforcement officers helping with security, evacuations, and any other necessary operations. Additional aid is being requested from other states to see what resources would be available: “We’re not just responding to what’s in front of us but also contemplating what the next 24 and 48 hours are going to look like,” said Ghillarducci. Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the California's Office of Emergency Services on the state-wide Red Flag Warning. “We’re seeing it literally from border to border, which is making our job obviously much harder,” he said. The fire that broke out in Butte County “has been an extremely challenging fire that resulted in significant and catastrophic for that community, the community of Paradise specifically just outside of Chico,” said Ghilarducci. Per Major General Dave Baldwin of the California National Guard, there are 185 personnel on duty providing support to the Camp Fire, some flying manned and unmanned aircrafts. According to the Major General, the rest of the National Guard is on alert and prepared to deploy if necessary. CAL FIRE Director Ken Pimlott says are critical and hundreds of resources are in the area, and every available aircraft is signed and responding. However, high winds and visibility can hinder their ability to use those resources. “Right now, it’s on all hands on deck…,” said Pimlot. Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the California's Office of Emergency Services says there have been injuries and loss of life in the California wildfires. However, numbers are still being accounted for as officials work with local authorities. Ghilarducci adds that the magnitude of this situation is heartbreaking and adds that there is a state wide Red Flag warning. Evacuations have been ordered for the edges Chico, which is about 15 miles from a town where thousands of buildings were destroyed by the fast-moving Camp Fire, which grew to 70,000 acres overnight. Capt. Scott McLean of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says flames from the blaze that devastated the town of Paradise had reached the eastern side of Chico, a city of about 90,000 people. The fire is only currently five percent contained. Authorities have said that at least two firefighters and multiple residents were injured in Paradise. McLean said Friday morning that he had no immediate update on injuries. He says strong winds made it difficult for aircraft to drop retardant effectively on the fire. The Butte County Sheriff's Office says an evacuation ordered was issued Friday for the small communities of Stirling City and Inskip, north of Paradise, where thousands of homes were destroyed. Cal Fire Capt. Bill Murphy says winds have calmed down in the valley but that there are "shifting, erratic winds" with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour (72 kph) along ridge tops. The blaze that started Thursday morning east of Paradise and decimated the town also spread to the west. All public schools are closed in Butte County today due to the fire, the Butte County Office Education announced. Chico State University via Twitter said its campus is safe and not under evacuation at this time. The campus is closed today and events scheduled for the weekend have been canceled. Harrowing tales of escape and heroic rescues emerged from Paradise, where the entire community of 27,000 was ordered to evacuate. Witnesses reported seeing homes, supermarkets, businesses, restaurants, schools and a retirement home up in flames. "Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it's that kind of devastation," said Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean late Thursday. "The wind that was predicted came and just wiped it out." RELATED STORY: Latest evacuations and where to find evacuation centers[SEP]Authorities on Friday morning said the Woolsey fire has expanded to 10,000 acres, prompting evacuations and street congestion as people flee their homes. Strong winds and poor visibility due to thick smoke created a dangerous situation for thousands of firefighters battling the blaze late Thursday night into Friday morning, officials said. More than 88,000 homes have been evacuated across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. “It’s been a long night,” said Corey Rose, assistant chief with L.A. City Fire Department. “But what makes this good is that we’ve done it together.”[SEP]A fast-moving wildfire in Northern California has grown rapidly, scorching some 18,000 acres and forced thousands of residents to evacuate, according to officials. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency in Butte County Thursday due to the "Camp Fire." The Butte County Sheriff's office said an evacuation order was issued for areas of Paradise, a town of about 27,000 people 180 miles northeast of San Francisco. "This fire is very dangerous, please evacuate if asked to do so!" the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) tweeted. Officials said the blaze has consumed more than 26 square miles so far. CBS Sacramento reported that thousands of PG&E customers in Butte County have lost power because of the blaze, which has destroyed homes and threatened critical infrastructure, according to the governor's office. Five people were burned in Paradise, according to California Highway Patrol (CHP). Authorities were working Thursday afternoon to close traffic heading north on Highway 99 into Chico. The fire was heading toward the city, according to CBS Sacramento. Cal Fire said Wednesday that a Red Flag Warning was issued for most of Northern California's interior as well as parts of Southern California through Friday morning. Gusty winds and low humidity were among the factors that led to the warning. Red Flag Warnings are issued for conditions that could lead to "extreme fire behavior" within 24 hours, according to Cal Fire. Cal Fire said several hundred structures have been been destroyed, but an official count won't be available until they can get into the area. Butt County CalFire Chief Darren Read told The Associated Press the destruction in Paradise could be near a thousand structures. Read also said that at least two firefighters have been injured battling the flames Thursday. Earlier, the campus at California State University, Channel Islands, had been evacuated because of poor air quality. The Associated Press said the Ventura County Fire Department had ordered evacuation of some communities in the path of the flames — not far from the site of a deadly mass shooting at a bar in the city of Thousand Oaks. Separately, there is another fire located northwest of the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles.

Evacuations are prompted in Butte County, California, as the Camp Fire has grown to 8,000 acres.

Police in Ethiopia say they have discovered a mass grave with 200 bodies near the border between the Somali and Oromia regions of the country. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced over the past year by violence there. Local media reported that the grave was found during a probe into alleged atrocities committed by the former president of Ethiopia's Somali region. Abdi Mohammed is awaiting trial over allegations he fuelled ethnic clashes. A notorious regional security force known as the Liyu police is accused of carrying out killings in the area between the Somali and Oromia regions and it reported directly to the regional president. The police are trying to identify the 200 bodies found. Mr Mohammed was forced to resign in August and was arrested weeks later after violence broke out in the regional capital, Jijiga. He is alleged to have overseen widespread rights abuses including torture, rape and killings during his 13-year rule. Last month the state-linked broadcaster Fana reported that he attempted to escape police custody by climbing through a window ahead of a court appearance.[SEP]Ethiopia’s state affiliated broadcaster says police have uncovered a mass grave of 200 people in the troubled area between the country’s Oromia and Somali regions. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s state affiliated broadcaster says police have uncovered a mass grave of 200 people in the troubled area between the country’s Oromia and Somali regions. Fana Broadcasting reported Thursday evening that police were carrying out a court-ordered investigation for evidence of alleged abuses by forces loyal to the former president of the Somali region, Abdi Mohammed, who is now in detention. The Fana report said that police were granted 14 days to unearth and do forensic examinations on the estimated 200 bodies. The bodies appear to be related to a series of ethnic clashes carried out by an unofficial militia known as the Liyu that was loyal to the former Somali region leader. In August, Ethiopian officials said the Liyu carried out an attack that killed 41 people.[SEP]Mass grave of 200 people uncovered in Ethiopia, say police ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopia's state affiliated broadcaster says police have uncovered a mass grave of 200 people in the troubled area between the country's Oromia and Somali regions. Fana Broadcasting reported Thursday evening that police were carrying out a court-ordered investigation for evidence of alleged abuses by forces loyal to the former president of the Somali region, Abdi Mohammed, who is now in detention. The Fana report said that police were granted 14 days to unearth and do forensic examinations on the estimated 200 bodies that have been found. The bodies appear to be related to a series of ethnic clashes carried out by an unofficial militia known as the Liyu that were loyal to the former Somali region leader. In August, Ethiopian officials said the Liyu carried out an attack that killed 41 people and injured 20 others. Human Rights Watch accused the Liyu of carrying out a brutal and relentless pattern of abuse, torture, rape and humiliation in the region. Several hundred others were also reportedly killed when ethnic Somalis and Oromos clashed in border areas over claims to land and other resources in previous months. A number of ethnic-based conflicts have raged across Ethiopia posing the most serious challenge to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since he came to power in April.[SEP]Ethiopian police investigating the former Somali region president have uncovered a grave containing at least 200 bodies along the border between the strife-torn Oromiya and Somali regions. The mass grave was found during an investigation of a former administrator of the Somali region who is facing trial on charges of human rights abuses and stoking clashes, the Fana Broadcasting Corporation said late on Thursday, quoting police officials. It did not give further details. Abdi Mohammed Omer was forced to resign on Aug. 6 and was arrested weeks later after violence broke out in the provincial capital, Jijiga. Rights groups have routinely accused his administration of abuses such as torture, while some witnesses claimed he had ordered paramilitary raids on civilians in neighbouring Oromiya province after ethnic clashes there last September. The region has been plagued by violence for decades as the government fought the secessionist Ogaden National Liberation Front before both sides signed a peace deal last month.[SEP]Police in Ethiopia have uncovered a grave containing at least 200 bodies along the border between the strife-torn Oromiya and Somali regions, state-affiliated media said. The mass grave was found during an investigation of a former administrator of the Somali region who is facing trial on charges of human rights abuses and stoking clashes, the Fana Broadcasting Corporation said late on Thursday, quoting police officials. It did not give further details.[SEP]A mass grave containing the bodies of some 200 people in the eastern part of Ethiopia have been discovered by police in that country. The discovery was made during an investigation into Abdi Mohammed, the former President of the Border Region of Somali. Mohammed is suspected of human rights violations and of being connected to a special police force active in the region that is known to have committed violent acts, state-affiliated broadcaster Fana reported on Thursday. He is currently in detention. Police said the bodies will be exhumed during the next 14 days. It is not yet clear where the people were from or what happened to them. Ethiopian officials feared that hundreds of people were killed during clashes between several ethnic groups in the eastern border regions in early August.[SEP]Police in Ethiopia have discovered a mass grave containing the bodies of some 200 people in the eastern part of the country. The discovery was made during an investigation into Abdi Mohammed, the former President of the Border Region of Somali. Mr Mohammed is suspected of human rights violations and of being connected to a special police force active in the region that is known to have committed violent acts, state-affiliated broadcaster Fana reported on Thursday. He is currently in detention. The bodies will be exhumed during the next 14 days, police said. It is not yet clear where the people were from or what happened to them. Ethiopian officials fear that hundreds of people were killed during clashes between several ethnic groups in the eastern border regions in early August. Similarly, Former Ethiopian Opposition Leader, Birtukan Midkesa, returned home on Thursday, ending eight years of exile, as reconciliation initiated by Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, deepens. Midkesa was greeted at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by senior Ethiopian government officials and hundreds of well-wishers. Speaking on arrival, Midkesa said she returned after eight years in exile, to support the reform process in Ethiopia and to encourage more women participation in politics. “Women’s participation in political office and administration is a solution to deep seated patriarchy in Ethiopian society and during my stay in Ethiopia. “I plan to support women’s political participation to ensure gender equality,” Midkesa said. Midkesa was a prominent leader of the now defunct Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) opposition group, rising to international profile in the bloody aftermath of the contested May 2005 national elections. In spite of taking more than 100 seats in the 547-seat Ethiopian parliament, CUD leaders including Midkesa rejected the election outcome, alleging vote rigged by the ruling party Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). Bloody clashes between CUD supporters and Ethiopian security forces in the aftermath of the May 2005 national elections left about 200 people dead and Midkesa was jailed in November 2005, accused of trying to overthrow the government. Midkesa was pardoned and released by the Ethiopian government in July 2007, but she was jailed again in December 2008, accused of breaking her release conditions. She was again released in October 2010, and shortly after that she went into exile in the U.S., where she has in recent years kept a low profile, until Abiy came to office in April. Abiy, who took office on April 2, has been calling for all opposition groups, government critics and others in exile to be part of the country’s ongoing reform process. His administration has also been implementing measures aimed at creating a nationwide reconciliation, including the release of high-level political prisoners, invitation for Ethiopian rebel groups for talks, as well as the decision to normalise relations with neighboring Eritrea. Various popular Ethiopian rebel groups such as the Patriotic Ginbot 7, Oromo Liberation Front, and the Ogaden National Liberation Front have since declared ceasefire with the government, and their leaders returned from exile over the past couple of months.[SEP]Police have uncovered a mass grave containing an estimated 200 bodies in the eastern part of Ethiopia, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting reported Thursday. Fana said police were carrying out a court-ordered investigation into alleged abuses by forces loyal to Abdi Mohammed, the former president of an Ethiopian Somali region, who is currently in detention. Authorities have been granted 14 days to unearth and do forensic examinations on the bodies. It is not yet clear where the people are from or what happened to them. Mohammed has been accused of human rights violations and of being connected to the Liyu, an unofficial militia active in the region who are known to have committed violent acts. The unearthed bodies appear to be related to a series of ethnic clashes involving the militant group. Ethiopian officials said the Liyu carried out an assault in August that killed 41 people and injured 20 others. Human Rights Watch has accused the Liyu of carrying out a brutal and relentless pattern of abuse, torture, rape and humiliation in the region. Numerous ethnic clashes have taken place across the East African country, posing a serious challenge to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in April. Every day, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.[SEP]The bodies appear to be related to a series of ethnic clashes carried out by an unofficial militia known as the Liyu that was loyal to the former Somali region leader. In August, Ethiopian officials said the Liyu carried out an attack that killed 41 people.[SEP]The bodies appear to be related to a series of ethnic clashes carried out by an unofficial militia known as the Liyu that were loyal to the former Somali region leader. In August, Ethiopian officials said the Liyu carried out an attack that killed 41 people and injured 20 others. Human Rights Watch accused the Liyu of carrying out a brutal and relentless pattern of abuse, torture, rape and humiliation in the region.

Police in Ethiopia say they have discovered a mass grave with 200 bodies near the border between the Somali and Oromia regions of the country.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wishes to rebury Franco's remains A man has been arrested in north-eastern Spain on suspicion of plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The suspect, known as a crack shot, had an arsenal of weapons at his home in Terrassa, Catalonia's Mossos d'Esquadra police force announced. Local media said the man, 63, wanted to take revenge for Mr Sánchez's plans to exhume the remains of Francisco Franco. The fascist leader's mausoleum is revered by the Spanish far right. Sixteen unlicensed firearms, including a pistol, were found in the suspect's home. Named only as Manuel M, the suspect is said to have told friends on Whatsapp he was going to kill Mr Sánchez, who became prime minister in June. He is said to be a far-right extremist with a history of mental problems.[SEP]The suspect reportedly wanted revenge over a plan to exhume the remains of Spain’s former dictator. A man has been arrested over an alleged plot to assassinate Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The 63-year-old was arrested at his home near Barcelona after a threat was made on a far-right, nationalist WhatsApp group to shoot Sánchez. The suspect, identified by local media as Manuel Murillo Sanchez, was said by police to be angered over Sánchez’s government’s plan to disinter the remains of former dictator Francisco Franco from a monument to those who died in the Spanish civil war. The man was known to police for extreme-right views, mental health issues, and for having an arsenal of firearms and training in their use. Sixteen unlicensed firearms were discovered in the raid on his home, which took place on Sept. 19 but was made public today. Police became concerned, according to accounts in the Spanish daily newspaper Público, after the 63-year-old moved from making generic political complaints to very specific threats, including asking for other members of the WhatsApp group for logistical aid in targeting the prime minister. "I am willing to sacrifice myself for Spain," he reportedly told the group, according to Público. Sánchez, who took office in June, has been at the forefront of a bitter controversy in Spain over the remains of Franco, who ruled Spain as a dictator for nearly 40 years until his death in 1975. Franco’s role and his leadership of the right during the 1935–1937 civil war — which left millions dead, wounded, or homeless — remains a bitter point of contention between Spaniards. The proposal to remove Franco’s body from the Valley of the Fallen, northwest of Madrid, has sparked a controversy between the dictator’s family and the government over where to move it, and whether the new grave should be allowed to become another shrine to the far right. The plot comes just days after France announced a series of arrests around the country of what prosecutors described as a far-right extremist group planning to assassinate French President Emmanuel Macron. And in August, violent neo-Nazi groups shocked the German city of Chemnitz with a series of protests against Chancellor Angela Merkel’s policies of accepting almost 1 million refugees, mostly from the Middle East, in 2015. Private firearms ownership in Spain is limited, with just about 8,000 licenses to carry handguns for personal protection issued, as well as around 3 million firearms legally owned for sporting and target shooting. According to a police press conference, the suspect, who works as a private security guard, had at least one legally registered weapon and is thought to have considerable skill with firearms, including having illegally modified several of the weapons investigators found at the scene.[SEP]An expert marksman has been arrested on suspicion of planning a "lone wolf" attack to assassinate Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The 63-year-old suspect, named locally as Manuel Murillo Sanchez, was found with an arsenal of weapons, including sniper-style rifles and a submachine gun, at his home. The private security guard, who has extensive experience with long-range guns, is said to have "spoken of his intention to attack Pedro Sanchez in WhatsApp groups". A spokesman for Mossos d’Esquadra police, near Barcelona, said: "We are not confirming the name but we can confirm a 63-year-old man has been arrested in Terrassa. "He has experience as a sports-orientated marksman with long-range long-barrelled guns. "He had spoken of his intention to attack Pedro Sanchez in WhatsApp groups. "An arsenal of weapons, consisting of 16 long-barrelled weapons and 16 shotguns, was found at his home. "He has been sent to prison following a court appearance." Another police source told Spanish daily Publico, which broke news of the arrest: "He was the perfect lone wolf, a nobody with a gun licence whose expertise marksmanship didn’t arouse any suspicion, in the same way he didn’t arouse suspicion by carrying a pistol because he needed it for his work." The detainee is said to have decided to target the Spanish PM after his government approved a decree in August allowing dictator Francisco Franco to be exhumed from the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum near Madrid, and given to his family to be buried elsewhere. The suspect reportedly asked contacts in a small WhatsApp group he was part of for help obtaining information on the Spanish PM’s agenda so he knew where he would be at any given time. He is said to have told the group: "I am ready to sacrifice myself for Spain." He is being held at a prison in Martorell near Barcelona.[SEP]Spanish police have detained a 63-year-old man in the northeastern Catalonia region who "wanted to kill" Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, authorities said on Thursday. The man had an "arsenal of weapons" at his home in the town of Terrassa, Catalan police said on Twitter, including more than a dozen firearms, sniper rifles and a submachine gun. According to local media, the man had threatened to assassinate the prime minister on social media, vowing to take revenge for the government's controversial plan to exhume the late Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. The arrest took place in September but was first reported Thursday by Spain's Publico newspaper. The suspect, a former private security guard, remains in custody but has not been charged. "This person had a clear intention and will to take actions against the prime minister and he was only lacking logistical support," Catalan regional police spokesman Albert Oliva told journalists. Spain's government said in a statement that the prime minister's security had "never been compromised," and that the assassination plan was an "isolated incident." Since coming to power in June, Sanchez has made it a government priority to relocate Franco's remains from a huge mausoleum at the Valley of the Fallen memorial site where he was laid to rest after his death in 1975. The prime minister wants to move the embalmed corpse to a more discreet site where it will be harder for the dictator's followers to pay tribute. Every day, DW editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.

The Mossos d'Esquadra announces that on September 19, 2018, they arrested a man planning to assassinate the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez.

DUSHANBE (Reuters) - At least 25 inmates and two security officers have been killed after a riot broke out at a high-security prison in Tajikistan, three security sources said on Thursday. The violence started late on Wednesday when an inmate believed to be a member of militant group Islamic State attacked a guard and seized his assault rifle, said an interior ministry official who declined to give his name. Officers restored order hours later with the help of reinforcements, a security official speaking on condition of anonymity said. The prison in the northern Tajik city of Khujand is where prisoners convicted of religious extremism offences, including membership of Islamic State, are generally held. It also houses other prisoners. Both officials said at least 25 inmates were killed, as well as one warder and one policeman. The third source, also a security official, said three guards had died. Local authorities confirmed a riot had occurred but gave no details. Khujand lies around 300 km (185 miles) north of the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. In July, Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack which killed four Western tourists in Tajikistan, an impoverished Central Asian country.[SEP]DUSHANBE (Reuters) - At least 25 inmates and two security officers have been killed in a riot at a high-security prison in the northern Tajik city of Khujand, security sources said on Thursday. Local authorities confirmed there had been a riot on Wednesday at the prison known for housing people convicted on extremism charges, but provided no other information.[SEP]Tajik security forces have killed at least 13 inmates at a high-security prison in the northern city of Khujand where a riot broke out, security sources say. Local authorities confirmed there had been a riot at the prison, but provided no other information. Khujand lies around 300km north of the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. According to an interior ministry official not authorised to comment publicly, the riot started when one inmate regarded by the authorities as a member of the Islamic State militant group attacked a prison guard. The prison called in security forces to help quash the riot, which had now ended, said a security official. Tajikistan, an impoverished Central Asian country, routinely reports detentions and convictions of Islamist militants. Last July, Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack which killed four Western tourists in Tajikistan.[SEP]At least 25 inmates and two security officers have been killed in a riot at a high-security prison in the northern Tajik city of Khujand, security sources said on Thursday. Local authorities confirmed there had been a riot on Wednesday at the prison known for housing people convicted on extremism charges, but provided no other information. The ex-Soviet country’s government has yet to confirm the prison riot or the deaths. The prison in Khujand, located some 300 kilometres (186 miles) to the north of the capital Dushanbe, has seen prison breaks in the past. In 2016, a guard and a prisoner were killed after three inmates initiated a jailbreak. At the time the interior ministry said the prisoners had “planned to join the ranks of ISIS.”[SEP]Twenty-four prisoners and two guards were killed after dozens of inmates rioted at a maximum security prison in northern Tajikistan, security sources said on Thursday. Special forces were called in to help restore order at the prison in Tajikistan's second-largest city of Khujand after the riot broke out there on Wednesday, sources told AFP. The penal facility houses prisoners serving long sentences for serious crimes such as murder and extremism including membership of the Islamic State group (IS). One security source told AFP that the non-prisoners who died were a guard and a soldier. A second source said that a further six guards had been injured. "A riot involving dozens of prisoners occurred Wednesday night and continued into Thursday," one of the security officials told AFP, requesting anonymity. The second source said the riot had begun when prisoners seized "cutting objects" from a workshop in the prison. A funeral for the soldier and the guard who died in the clashes was planned for Thursday, one of the sources said. The ex-Soviet country's government has yet to confirm the prison riot or the deaths. On Thursday the border service of Tajikistan's neighbour Kyrgyzstan said it had beefed up security near the countries' shared frontier because of the riot. The border services of the two countries "have already discussed the situation in Khujand," spokeswoman Gulmira Borubayeva told AFP. The prison in Khujand, located some 300 kilometres (185 miles) to the north of the capital Dushanbe, has seen violence and jailbreaks in the past. In 2016, a guard and a prisoner were killed after three inmates initiated a jailbreak. At the time the interior ministry said the prisoners had "planned to join the ranks of ISIS." Tajikistan, a country of 8.5 million people bordering Afghanistan, has suffered severe conflict since it gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tens of thousands of people were killed in the country during a five-year civil war in the 1990s when rebel groups including Islamists rose up against the government. Authorities in the majority-Muslim country have said that more than 1,000 Tajiks, including a high-ranking police officer who defected in 2015, joined IS in Syria and Iraq in recent years. In July, an attack on foreign cycling tourists left four dead and two injured. The assault was widely attributed to IS, although the government has refused to acknowledge the link.[SEP]At least 27 people are dead after a riot broke out at a high-security prison in Tajikistan last night, it has been reported. Twenty-five prisoners and at least two security officers were killed amid the violence, three security sources said today. The incident began late yesterday when an inmate - believed to be a member of the Islamic State - allegedly attacked a guard. The prisoner seized the guard's assault rifle during the attack, according to an interior ministry official, who declined to give his name. A riot then broke out, during which dozens were reportedly killed. Officers restored order hours later with the help of reinforcements, a security official speaking on condition of anonymity said. The prison in the northern Tajik city of Khujand is where inmates convicted of religious extremism offences are generally held. The facility also houses other prisoners. Both officials said at least 25 inmates were killed during the incident, as well as one warder and one policeman. The third source, also a security official, said three guards had died. Local authorities confirmed a riot had occurred but gave no details. Khujand lies around 185 miles north of the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. In July, ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack which killed four Western tourists in Tajikistan, an impoverished Central Asian country.[SEP]An ISIS-linked inmate is suspected to be an instigator of a prison riot that left more than 25 people killed in a high security prison in northern Tajikistan, according to media reports. Violence broke out at the prison in the second-largest Tajik city of Khujand late on Wednesday. The prisoners joined a fellow inmate, allegedly an Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) militant, who attacked an officer and took away his weapon, Sputnik and Reuters reported citing security officials. Rioters reportedly managed to take over one of the buildings of the facility, before special forces intervened and regained control. The total of 27 people were killed, including 25 inmates, a prison employee and a special forces officer, according to Sputnik. Six guards were also injured. The incident has left the city’s security forces on high alert, and all the roads from and into the area are under special control. The fact that the riot might have been inspired by an ISIS militant adds to the concerns that the terrorist organization is active in Tajikistan, a Central Asian country bordering Afghanistan. In July, four Western tourists were killed in the country in an attack claimed by ISIS. Moscow has warned that after the defeat of terrorists in Syria, the region might be next target on their list. In 2017, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that ISIS build up on the Central Asian republics’ borders is a matter of grave concern. Russia’s FSB has warned of the terrorist threat, including from ISIS members, that can come to Russia from Central Asia as the terrorists might be trained in Afghanistan. Last year, the security services thwarted a series of terrorist attacks planned by a group coming from Central Asia. The attacks were to target the presidential vote and New Year’s festivities in Moscow region. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story![SEP]DUSHANBE, Tajikistan: Twenty-four prisoners and two guards were killed after dozens of inmates rioted at a maximum security prison in northern Tajikistan, security sources said on Thursday. Special forces were called in to help restore order at the prison in Tajikistan’s second-largest city of Khujand after the riot broke out there on Wednesday, sources told AFP. The penal facility houses prisoners serving long sentences for serious crimes such as murder and extremism including membership of the Islamic State group (IS). One security source told AFP that the non-prisoners who died were a guard and a soldier. A second source said that a further six guards had been injured. "A riot involving dozens of prisoners occurred on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday," one of the security officials told AFP, requesting anonymity. The second source said the riot had begun when prisoners seized "cutting objects" from a workshop in the prison. A funeral for the soldier and the guard who died in the clashes was planned for Thursday, one of the sources said.[SEP]KHUJAND, Tajikistan -- Sources close to local authorities have told RFE/RL that several inmates were killed when a riot broke out overnight in a prison in Tajikistan's northern city of Khujand. According to the sources on November 8, it is not clear what sparked the riot that was crushed by additional police force sent to the prison. "Several inmates were armed with knives, some of them were killed, some managed to break out," one of the sources said. Reuters quoted three unnamed sources as saying that at least 13 inmates were killed by security forces. Local residents told RFE/RL that gunshots were heard from the prison area. The Khujand directorate for penitentiary services denied that firearms were discharged in the prison but confirmed the extraordinary situation. The city government confirmed there had been a riot, but provided no other information. Local residents say that police cordoned off all roads and highways connecting the city with neighboring Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.[SEP]DUSHANBE: Twenty-four prisoners and two guards were killed after dozens of inmates rioted at a maximum security prison in northern Tajikistan, security sources said on Thursday. Special forces were called in to help restore order at the prison in Tajikistan’s second-largest city of Khujand after the riot broke out there on Wednesday, sources told AFP. The penal facility houses prisoners serving long sentences for serious crimes such as murder and extremism including membership of the Islamic State group (IS). One security source told AFP that the non-prisoners who died were a guard and a soldier.

A riot at a high-security prison in Khujand, Tajikistan, known for holding convicted terrorists, including ISIL members, leaves at least 27 people dead.

CLOSE Buy Photo Pipe for the Keystone XL Pipeline is being stored at a pipe yard in Northern Phillips County in anticipation of the beginning of construction in 2019. (Photo: TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS)Buy Photo U.S. District Judge Brian Morris issued an order Thursday blocking construction of the $8 billion Keystone XL Pipeline until further environmental analysis is conducted. The decision comes as TransCanada is preparing to build the oil pipeline beginning in northern Montana, with pipe being shipped to the state by train and trucked to locations along the line. TransCanada released a statement Friday saying it is reviewing the judge's decision. "We remain committed to building this important energy infrastructure project," said Terry Cunha, communications manager for TransCanada. More: Keystone order: Blow to Trump or overreach by judge? President Donald J. Trump criticized the order. President Donald Trump talks with reporters Friday before departing for France. He called a Montana's judge's decision blocking a permit for Keystone XL "a disgrace." (Photo: Evan Vucci, AP) "Well, it was a political decision made by a judge," he said Friday as he headed to Europe to observe the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. "I think it’s a disgrace. It’s 48,000 jobs. I approved it; it’s ready to start." Environmental groups that sued TransCanada and the U.S. Department of State in federal court in Great Falls called the decision to overturn the Trump administration-issued permit a landmark ruling. More: Army of attorneys spar over Keystone pipeline in Great Falls court In his decision, Morris said the government's analysis fell short on: » The effects of the current oil prices on the viability of the pipeline. » The cumulative effects of greenhouse gas emissions. » A survey of potential Native American resources. » And updated modeling of potential oil spills and recommended mitigation measures. "The Department must supplement new and relevant information regarding the risk of spills," Morris wrote. As for climate change, Morris noted that the department denied the permit in 2015 and relied heavily on the United State's role in climate leadership. That was under the Obama Administration. Then, under the Trump administration, the department approved the permit, dismissing concerns about climate change. The Trump Administration decision approving the project noted that “there have been numerous developments related to global action to address climate change, including announcements by many countries of their plans to do so” since the 2015 decision. Morris said that statement fell short of a factually based determination, let alone a reasoned explanation, for the course reversal. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris (Photo: File image) “An agency cannot simply disregard contrary or inconvenient factual determinations that it made in the past, any more than it can ignore inconvenient facts when it writes on a blank slate," Morris wrote. The reversal required a "reasoned explanation" but instead the State Department discarded prior factual findings related to climate change, the judge said. Keystone XL Pipeline would transport up to 830,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Alberta, Canada and the Bakken Shale Formation in Montana to existing pipeline facilities near Steele City, Neb., from which the oil would be delivered to Cushing, Okla., and the Gulf Coast. The U.S. portion of the line would run 875 miles through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. The rest of the 1,200-mile line is in Canada. About 250 miles of the pipeline would be buried across six counties in Montana beginning on the border with Canada in Phillips County. TransCanada already as begun delivering pipe to Montana in expectation of construction beginning in 2019. The Indigenous Environmental Network, North Coast Rivers Alliance, Northern Plains Resource Council and other groups sued TransCanada and the U.S. State Department in March to block the decision to issue a presidential permit allowing construction. "I would call it a landmark ruling because it overturns a presidential decision purporting to find that a transboundary project is in the public interest," Stephan Volker, a Berkeley-based attorney for the plaintiffs, told the Tribune. "And Judge Morris correctly ruled it was not in the public interest because Secretary Kerry had found in a detailed ruling several years ago it was not in the public interest." John Kerry was secretary of state when the Obama administration denied the presidential permit for the pipeline. A presidential permit is required when a project crosses an international boundary. The secretary of state makes a recommendation, then the president decides. "We have never had a ruling against a president overturning a substantive finding a project is in the public interest," Volker said. "That finding is required for transboundary projects. So it's unique to this kind of national project that affects multiple countries." Dena Hoff, a Glendive farmer and member-leader of the Northern Plains Resource Council, called the ruling a victory for rule of law and common sense stewardship of land and water. "All Americans should be proud that our system of checks and balances can still function even in the face of enormous strains," Hoff said. The Fort Peck tribes of Montana have opposed the current location of the pipeline crossing on the Missouri River in Valley County, Montana because they say if there was an oil spill it could taint their downstream water system. More: Montana tribes seek Keystone route change The pipeline would cross the Milk River 1.6 miles west of Nashua, and the Missouri River just west of the mouth of the Milk. That location is 57 miles upstream from the intake of the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System. Buy Photo The intake of the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System which serves the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and Dry Prairie Rural Water System in Valley, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Daniels counties is located off Highway 13 in Roosevelt County 57 miles downstream from where the Keystone XL Pipeline will cross the Missouri River at its confluence with the Milk River. (Photo: TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS) TransCanada says the pipeline will be safe. At the Missouri River, the pipeline depth would be 54 feet below the lowest surveyed river elevation, and heavier-walled pipe with anti-corrosion coating would be used. "Pipelines are the safest and most cost-effective form of overland crude oil transportation," according the environmental impact statement that was completed on the project. The Obama Administration, citing climate change, had denied the permit, saying it wasn't in the national interest. In approving the pipeline, the Trump Administration said the project would support U.S. priorities relating to energy security, economic development and infrastructure. The environmental groups argued it would push the earth beyond its carrying capacity for carbon dioxide, and asked how that could be in the public's interest. In the same case, Morris directed the government in August to supplement the 2014 final supplemental environmental impact statement to consider another alternative route through Nebraska. More: Great Falls judge orders new federal review of Keystone XL pipeline But the court had yet to decide on vacating the presidential permit granting permission to cross the international border between Canada and the United States at Montana. Morris’s 54-page order overturns the Trump Administration’s approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline and issues an injunction preventing construction of the project until additional analysis occurs. Staff Writer Phil Drake contributed to this story. Read or Share this story: https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2018/11/08/judge-blocks-construction-keystone-xl-pipeline-montana-fort-peck-climate-chagne/1938114002/[SEP]In A Setback For Trump, Judge Blocks Keystone XL Pipeline Construction Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images A U.S. district judge has issued an order blocking construction of the controversial transnational Keystone XL Pipeline until the State Department conducts further study of its impact on the environment. Judge Brian Morris' 54-page order, issued late Thursday, overturns the Trump administrations's approval last year of the proposed 1,179-mile pipeline and at least temporarily prevents it from being built. Although the decision does not permanently halt the pipeline's construction, it nevertheless comes as TransCanada, the Canadian company that owns Keystone, is preparing to start construction in Montana, shipping pipe to various locations throughout the state, the Great Falls Tribune reports. The order stems from a lawsuit filed by the Indigenous Environmental Network and North Coast Rivers Alliance, which alleges that the State Department and TransCanada violated National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, the environmental law described in the order as "the basic national charter for protection of the environment." Since its conception, the pipeline has sparked a backlash from environmentalists and indigenous peoples who say it violates historical treaty boundaries and would bring environmental problems. In August, Judge Morris ruled that the State Department must supplement a more thorough study of potential environmental effects of the pipeline. He had yet to rule on vacating the permit itself. In Thursday's ruling, Morris wrote that the State Department's analysis of potential environmental effects fell short of a "hard look" on the effects of current oil prices on the viability of Keystone, cumulative effects of greenhouse gas emissions, cultural resources and potential oil spills. "These omissions require a remand with instructions to the Department to satisfy its obligations under NEPA," he wrote. Morris also noted that in 2015, during the Obama administration, the State Department denied a permit to build the pipeline, citing environmental effects. At that time, the Department "relied heavily on the United States's role in climate leadership." Then came policy shifts in the Trump administration. Under President Trump, the State Department wrote "there have been numerous developments related to global action to address climate change, including announcements by many countries of their plans to do so" since the Obama administration's decision two years earlier. That statement falls short of a "factually based determination, let alone a reasoned explanation, for the course reversal," Morris wrote. "An agency cannot simply disregard contrary or inconvenient factual determinations that it made in the past, any more than it can ignore inconvenient facts when it writes on a blank slate," he continued. The pipeline was first proposed in 2o08. If built, it would transport around 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta, Canada, and the Bakken Shale Formation in Montana to facilities near Steele City, Neb. The proposed U.S. portion of the pipeline would run about 875 miles through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Another 1,200 miles would run through Canada. Four days after Trump was sworn into office, he invited TransCanada to resubmit its permit application. He signed an executive order supporting its construction in March of last year. NPR reached out to TransCanada early Friday for comment on the ruling but did not hear back by the time of publishing. "Today's ruling is a decisive moment in our fight against the corporate polluters who have rushed to destroy our planet," said Marcie Keever, legal director at Friends of the Earth in a news statement. "Today, the courts showed the Trump administration and their corporate polluter friends that they cannot bully rural landowners, farmers, environmentalists and Native communities." As NPR's Jeff Brady and Jason Slotkin have reported, "The oil industry and some labor unions have supported the pipeline, largely for the thousands of construction jobs it would provide. But those jobs are temporary. The State Department has estimated that once built, the pipeline will employ about 35 people."[SEP]Two other export pipelines - expansion of the TransMountain pipeline and Enbridge Inc.’s Line 3 pipeline replacement - also face uncertainty Opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline demonstrate on the Dodge Street pedestrian bridge during rush hour in Omaha, Neb., on Nov. 1, 2017. A federal judge in Montana has blocked construction of the $8-billion Keystone XL pipeline to allow more time to study the project’s potential environmental impact. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Nati Harnik TransCanada’s $10-billion Keystone XL pipeline project has suffered another setback after a U.S. federal judge blocked its construction to allow more time to study the potential environmental impact. The Great Falls Tribune reports U.S. District Judge Brian Morris’ order on Thursday came as the Calgary-based energy giant was preparing to build the first stages of the oil pipeline in northern Montana. Indigenous and environmental groups had sued TransCanada and the U.S. Department of State after Nebraska authorities approved an alternative route to the one TransCanada had proposed through the state. The groups argued the U.S. State Department violated several acts in issuing a presidential permit for the pipeline without a proper environmental assessment of the changed route. Morris said in his decision Thursday the government’s analysis didn’t fully study the cumulative effects of greenhouse gas emissions, the effects of current oil prices on the pipeline’s viability or include updated modelling of potential oil spills. The proposed 1,897-kilometre pipeline would carry crude from Hardisty, Alta., to Steel City, Neb. Two other export pipelines, the expansion of the TransMountain pipeline sold to the federal government and Enbridge Inc.’s Line 3 pipeline replacement, also face uncertainty. 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The 1,184-mile pipeline would transport up to 830,000 barrels of crude a day from the Canadian province of Alberta and Montana to facilities in Nebraska.[SEP]A federal judge in Montana on Thursday blocked construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to allow the State Department to provide a fuller explanation of how the 1,184-mile project would affect the environment. The judge, Brian M. Morris of the District of Montana, criticized the Trump administration for its failure to provide a “reasoned explanation” for its position about the pipeline’s impact on the climate. Construction could have begun as early as next year. “The Department instead simply discarded prior factual findings related to climate change to support its course reversal,” Judge Morris wrote in his decision. Environmental and Native American groups that have fought the pipeline called Judge Morris’s ruling a major victory and a setback for the Trump administration’s environmental and energy policies.[SEP]GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A federal judge in Montana has blocked construction of the $8-billion Keystone XL pipeline to allow more time to study the project’s potential environmental impact. The Great Falls Tribune reports U.S. District Judge Brian Morris’ order on Thursday came as Calgary-based TransCanada was preparing to build the first stages of the oil pipeline in northern Montana. Environmental groups had sued TransCanada and the U.S. Department of State in federal court in Great Falls. The 1,897-kilometre pipeline would transport up to 830,000 barrels of crude a day from Alberta and Montana to facilities in Nebraska. More to come.[SEP]TransCanada’s $10-billion Keystone XL pipeline project has suffered another setback after a U.S. federal judge blocked its construction to allow more time to study the potential environmental impact. The Great Falls Tribune reports U.S. District Judge Brian Morris’ order on Thursday came as the Calgary-based energy giant was preparing to build the first stages of the oil pipeline in northern Montana. Indigenous and environmental groups had sued TransCanada and the U.S. Department of State after Nebraska authorities approved an alternative route to the one TransCanada had proposed through the state. The groups argued the U.S. State Department violated several acts in issuing a presidential permit for the pipeline without a proper environmental assessment of the changed route. Morris said in his decision Thursday the government’s analysis didn’t fully study the cumulative effects of greenhouse gas emissions, the effects of current oil prices on the pipeline’s viability or include updated modelling of potential oil spills. The proposed 1,897-kilometre pipeline would carry crude from Hardisty, Alta., to Steel City, Neb. Two other export pipelines, the expansion of the TransMountain pipeline sold to the federal government and Enbridge Inc.’s Line 3 pipeline replacement, also face uncertainty.[SEP]U.S. District Judge Brian Morris issued an order Thursday blocking construction of the $8 billion Keystone XL Pipeline until further environmental analysis is conducted. The decision comes as TransCanada is preparing to build the oil pipeline beginning in northern Montana, with pipe being shipped to the state by train and trucked to locations along the line. Environmental groups that sued TransCanada and the U.S. Department of State in federal court in Great Falls called the decision to overturn the Trump administration-issued permit a landmark ruling. More: Army of attorneys spar over Keystone pipeline in Great Falls court In his decision, Morris said the government's analysis fell short on: » The effects of the current oil prices on the viability of the pipeline. » And updated modeling of potential oil spills and recommended mitigation measures. "The Department must supplement new and relevant information regarding the risk of spills," Morris wrote. As for climate change, Morris noted that the department denied the permit in 2015 and relied heavily on the United State's role in climate leadership. That was under the Obama Administration. Then, under the Trump administration, the department approved the permit, dismissing concerns about climate change. The Trump Administration decision approving the project noted that “there have been numerous developments related to global action to address climate change, including announcements by many countries of their plans to do so” since the 2015 decision. Morris said that statement fell short of a factually based determination, let alone a reasoned explanation, for the course reversal. “An agency cannot simply disregard contrary or inconvenient factual determinations that it made in the past, any more than it can ignore inconvenient facts when it writes on a blank slate," Morris wrote. The reversal required a "reasoned explanation" but instead the State Department discarded prior factual findings related to climate change, the judge said. Keystone XL Pipeline would transport up to 830,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Alberta, Canada and the Bakken Shale Formation in Montana to existing pipeline facilities near Steele City, Neb., from which the oil would be delivered to Cushing, Okla., and the Gulf Coast. The U.S. portion of the line would run 875 miles through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. The rest of the 1,200-mile line is in Canada. About 250 miles of the pipeline would be buried across six counties in Montana beginning on the border with Canada in Phillips County. TransCanada already as begun delivering pipe to Montana in expectation of construction beginning in 2019. The Indigenous Environmental Network, North Coast Rivers Alliance, Northern Plains Resource Council and other groups sued TransCanada and the U.S. State Department in March to block the decision to issue a presidential permit allowing construction. "I would call it a landmark ruling because it overturns a presidential decision purporting to find that a transboundary project is in the public interest," Stephan Volker, a Berkeley-based attorney for the plaintiffs, told the Tribune. "And Judge Morris correctly ruled it was not in the public interest because Secretary Kerry had found in a detailed ruling several years ago it was not in the public interest." John Kerry was secretary of state when the Obama administration denied the presidential permit for the pipeline. A presidential permit is required when a project crosses an international boundary. The secretary of state makes a recommendation, then the president decides. "We have never had a ruling against a president overturning a substantive finding a project is in the public interest," Volker said. "That finding is required for transboundary projects. So it's unique to this kind of national project that affects multiple countries." Dena Hoff, a Glendive farmer and member-leader of the Northern Plains Resource Council, called the ruling a victory for rule of law and common sense stewardship of land and water. "All Americans should be proud that our system of checks and balances can still function even in the face of enormous strains," Hoff said. The Fort Peck tribes of Montana have opposed the current location of the pipeline crossing on the Missouri River in Valley County, Montana because they say if there was an oil spill it could taint their downstream water system. The pipeline would cross the Milk River 1.6 miles west of Nashua, and the Missouri River just west of the mouth of the Milk. That location is 57 miles upstream from the intake of the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System. TransCanada says the pipeline will be safe. At the Missouri River, the pipeline depth would be 54 feet below the lowest surveyed river elevation, and heavier-walled pipe with anti-corrosion coating would be used. "Pipelines are the safest and most cost-effective form of overland crude oil transportation," according the environmental impact statement that was completed on the project. The Obama Administration, citing climate change, had denied the permit, saying it wasn't in the national interest. In approving the pipeline, the Trump Administration said the project would support U.S. priorities relating to energy security, economic development and infrastructure. The environmental groups argued it would push the earth beyond its carrying capacity for carbon dioxide, and asked how that could be in the public's interest. In the same case, Morris directed the government in August to supplement the 2014 final supplemental environmental impact statement to consider another alternative route through Nebraska. More: Great Falls judge orders new federal review of Keystone XL pipeline But the court had yet to decide on vacating the presidential permit granting permission to cross the international border between Canada and the United States at Montana. Morris’s 54-page order overturns the Trump Administration’s approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline and issues an injunction preventing construction of the project until additional analysis occurs.[SEP]The future of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline has been thrown into doubt after a federal judge in Montana blocked its construction, saying the Trump administration approved it after an incomplete analysis. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris on Thursday ruled that the U.S. State Department didn’t look closely enough at factors such as the project’s viability in the face of lower oil prices, new modelling of possible oil spills and ways to mitigate them, or at the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions, The Great Falls Tribune reported. Coverage of the Keystone XL pipeline on Globalnews.ca: “The major spills that occurred between 2014 and 2017 qualify as significant,” Morris said in his decision, as quoted by The Hill. “The department would have evaluated the spills in the 2014 [environmental review] had the information been available.” Morris went on to say that the State Department didn’t adequately justify approving the pipeline in 2017 after it was rejected under Barack Obama in 2015, The Hill reported. With Trump in power, the U.S. government essentially flouted concerns about climate change, he argued. “The department’s 2017 conclusory analysis that climate-related impacts from Keystone subsequently would prove inconsequential and its corresponding reliance on this conclusion as a centerpiece of its policy changed required the department to provide a ‘reasoned explanation,” Morris said. In a statement, environmental group, the Sierra Club, said the Trump administration “violated bedrock U.S. environmental laws when approving a federal permit” for the pipeline. “The Trump administration tried to force this dirty pipeline project on the American people, but they can’t ignore the threats it would pose to our clean water, our climate and our communities,” Sierra Club lawyer Doug Hayes said in the statement. The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would span 1,897 kilometres, carrying crude product from Hardisty, Alta. to Steel City, Neb. This decision doesn’t represent the first legal setback for the pipeline. In August, Morris ordered an environmental assessment for an alternate pipeline route that Nebraska had approved after TransCanada had proposed a different one through that state. At that time, he hadn’t revoked the presidential permit for the pipeline. READ MORE: Donald Trump gives the green light to ‘incredible’ Keystone XL pipeline U.S. President Donald Trump made the approval of Keystone XL a key plank in his election campaign, eventually approving it in March 2017. Investors, however, were skeptical at the time as they expected further hurdles to its realization. TransCanada hasn’t yet made a final investment decision on the project. The judge’s decision is embedded below: • With files from The Associated Press[SEP]A federal judge temporarily blocked construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, ruling late Thursday that the Trump administration had failed to justify its decision granting a permit for the 1,200-mile long project designed to connect Canada’s tar sands crude with refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast. It was a major defeat for President Donald Trump, who attacked the Obama administration for failing to move ahead in the face of protests based largely on environmental concerns. Trump signed an executive order two days into his presidency setting in motion a course reversal on the Keystone XL pipeline and the Dakota Access pipeline. The decision, issued by Judge Brian Morris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, does not permanently block a permit but requires the administration to conduct a more complete review of potential adverse impacts related to climate change, cultural resources and endangered species. It basically ordered a do-over. Morris hit the administration with a familiar charge, that it disregarded facts, facts established by experts during the Obama administration about "climate-related impacts" from Keystone XL. The Trump administration claimed, with no supporting information, that those impacts "would prove inconsequential." The State Department "simply discarded prior factual findings related to climate change to support its course reversal." It also used "outdated information" about the impact of potential oil spills on endangered species, he said, rather than "'the best scientific and commercial data available.'" "Today's ruling makes it clear once and for all that it's time for TransCanada to give up on their Keystone XL pipe dream," said Sierra Club Senior Attorney Doug Hayes in a statement. The lawsuit prompting Thursday's order was brought by a collection of opponents, including the indigenous Environmental Network and the Northern Plains Resource Council, a conservation coalition based in Montana. "The Trump administration tried to force this dirty pipeline project on the American people, but they can't ignore the threats it would pose to our clean water, our climate, and our communities," Hayes said. Hayes told The Washington Post that the company had already been moving equipment into place and started pre-construction in Montana and South Dakota with the intent of beginning construction in early 2019. "It's clear that this decision tonight will delay the pipeline significantly," said Hayes, who noted that a proper environmental impact statement of this scope usually takes about a year to complete. "TransCanada does not have an approved pipeline at this point." Morris, a former clerk to the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, was appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama. His decision was one of scores of court rebukes to the Trump administration for decisions on the environment, immigration and transgender service in the military, among other issues, made hastily and, in the opinions of dozens of judges, without the "reasoned consideration" required by various federal laws, particularly the Administrative Procedure Act. Also on Thursday, a federal appeals court ruled that President Trump cannot immediately end the program, DACA, that shields from deportation young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the country as children. The administration is appealing many of the rulings and may appeal Thursday's decision as well. No immediate comment came from the administration after the pipeline order. TransCanada, the Calgary-based group behind the project, did not respond to request for comment early Friday morning. The Keystone XL pipeline permit decision was largely in the hands of the State Department, by virtue of its authority to issue "presidential permits" for cross-border infrastructure projects. The massive project remains one of the most controversial infrastructure proposals in modern American history. It's intended to be an extension of TransCanada's existing Keystone Pipeline, which was completed in 2013. Keystone XL would transport up to 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta, Canada and Montana to Oklahoma and the Gulf Coast. In the U.S., the pipeline would stretch 875 miles through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska, with the rest continuing into Canada. It met sustained opposition from environmental advocacy groups, as well as from Obama, who worried about the contribution it would make toward climate change. As The Post's Steven Mufson reported, activists say the pipeline would be especially damaging to the climate because it would mean extracting thick, low-quality oil from Canada's oil sands, with lots of tree-cutting and energy consumption in the process which would increase greenhouse gas-emissions. Native American groups in Montana and elsewhere fought the Keystone project as well, saying its route failed to adhere to historical treaty boundaries and would impinge on their water systems and sacred lands. In 2015, on the eve of the international climate talks in Paris, the Obama administration appeared to bring an end to the seven-year-long saga when it announced it was halting construction of the pipeline, arguing that approval would compromise the country's effort to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S.. Obama said, was now a "global leader when it comes to taking serious action to fight climate change." "And frankly, approving this project would have undercut that global leadership," he said, adding that the "biggest risk" the U.S. faced was "not acting." The decision to deny the pipeline permit came after the completion of a long-awaited final environmental impact statement -- 11 volumes of analysis released in 2014. It was this 2014 assessment that the State Department, under the direction of Trump's January 2017 presidential memorandum, used to make their decision to approve the pipeline, The Post reported. According to the department, "there are no substantial changes or significant new information which would affect the continued reliability" of the report. Morris said, however, that there have indeed been changes since the 2014 assessment and that the Trump administration failed to consider them. He included pipeline leaks, the expansion of another pipeline called the Alberta Clipper and shifts in oil markets. Those could alter the overall impact of Keystone XL and should have been considered by the government. The State Department, in issuing the permit, failed to “analyze the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions” of the Keystone project and the expanded Alberta Clipper pipeline. It "ignored its duty to take a ‘hard look’ at these two connected actions. • The department “acted on incomplete information regarding” the potential damage to cultural resources in Indian territory along the route. “The Department appears to have jumped the gun.” • The department failed to make a fact-based explanation for its course reversal, “let alone a reasoned explanation....'An agency cannot simply disregard contrary or inconvenient factual determinations that it made in the past, any more than it can ignore inconvenient facts'” in the present," he wrote, quoting judicial precedents. • The department’s analysis that “climate-related impacts” from Keystone “would prove inconsequential” needed a “reasoned explanation.” It did not provide one. Jackie Prange, senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, called the ruling a "huge win" not just for the environmental activists and tribal groups who have been fighting the pipeline, but for "anyone who cares about the rule of law and holding this administration to the facts." “It’s emblematic of what we’re seeing with the Trump administration, which is a very fast and sloppy reversal of prior decisions . . . in a way that doesn’t adhere to the rule of law,” Prange told The Post. “That’s why we keep winning in the court.”

A federal judge in Montana orders a suspension of construction on the Keystone XL pipeline, citing an inadequate review of the potential environmental impact of the pipeline.

The Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives in the American mid-term elections but their anticipated 'blue wave' of support broke just short of the Senate, where Republicans maintained control. As the final ballots were counted early Wednesday, Democrats held 204 seats in the House to the Republican's 187, having flipped 26 targets along the way, putting them on track to take the 218 needed for a majority. But in the Senate it was a different story with Republicans holding the 51 seats needed for a majority early on Wednesday with more results expected to go their way. The Dems hold just 42 seats. Trump called the night a 'tremendous success' on Twitter and praised himself as 'magic', but the reality is that the Democrats will now use their House majority to frustrate his agenda for the remaining two years of his term. Gaining the House also means the Dems gain control of several committees which they could now use to launch investigations against Trump, including subpoenaing tax records he refused to release during the 2016 election. However, the night failed to live up to Democrat expectations with the party failing to gain the maximum number of seats in the House projected and losing key governor races including Florida. In Georgia Stacey Abrams is refusing to concede in an extremely close race that would make her America's first female black governor. Taylor Swift's intervention also flopped as Marsha Blackburn won by 26 points over Democrat candidate Phil Bredesen, who the singer backed. Your browser does not support the HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later. While the Democrats' grass-roots organisation allowed them to seize the House, Trump's showmanship and personality thwarted them in key battleground states of Indiana, Missouri, and Tennessee - where he held rallies in the closing days of the election. One of the most bitter defeats for the Democrats came in Texas, where rising star Beto O'Rourke was defeated by incumbent Ted Cruz - a onetime foe of Trump who has since warmed to him - though the contest was closer than anticipated. Another stinging Dem loss came in Florida, Donald Trump's adopted home state, where Ron DeSantis won a seat in the governor's mansion ahead of Andrew Gillum, despite backing from the likes of P Diddy. In Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn defeated Democrat rival Phil Bredesen by a crushing 26 point margin, despite Taylor Swift denouncing her on Instagram and urging supporters to vote for Bredesen instead. Democrats who stand to return next year as chairmen of the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees are already sharpening their pens and preparing to drag Trump through his own swamp. 'We probably will' seek Trump's tax returns, said Reps. Elijah Cummings and Jerrold Nadler. As Tuesday headed to Wednesday, presidential counselor Kelyanne Conway told reporters at the White House: 'I guess they could try.' 'I don't know that there will be much of an appetite ... for their members to be spending all of their time, or even most of their time, or a fraction of their time investigating, instigating, trying to impeach or subpoena people,' Conway said. Nadler said it was 'way too early' to talk about impeaching Trump, but wouldn't rule it out depending on the results of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's expansive Russia probe. 'He's going to learn that he's not above the law,' he said, according to CNN. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that 'the president's agenda isn't going to change regardless of whose party is there.' But Democrats will find themselves empowered to launch probes into voting-rights matters and questions about whether Trump has violated the Constitution's 'Emoluments Clause' that prohibits presidents from receiving income from foreign governments. Security clearances in the Trump White House could also come under close examination, along with prescription drug prices, family separations along the U.S.-Mexico border, gun control and insurance coverage for Americans with pre-existing medical conditions. The road to a House majority ran through two dozen suburban districts Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Democrats flipped seats in suburban districts outside of Washington, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago and Denver. The results were more mixed deeper into Trump country. In Kansas, Democrat Sharice Davids beat a GOP incumbent to become the first Native American and gay woman elected to the House. But in Kentucky, one of the top Democratic recruits, retired Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath, lost her bid to oust to three-term Rep. Andy Barr. Trump sought to take credit for retaining the GOP's Senate majority, even as the party's foothold in the more competitive House battlefield appeared to be slipping. 'Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!' Trump tweeted. History was working against the president in the Senate: 2002 was the only midterm election in the past three decades when the party holding the White House gained Senate seats. Nearly 40 percent of voters cast their ballots to express opposition to the president, according to AP VoteCast, the national survey of the electorate, while one-in-four said they voted to express support for Trump. Overall, 6 in 10 voters said the country was headed in the wrong direction, but roughly that same number described the national economy as excellent or good. Twenty-five percent described health care and immigration as the most important issues in the election. Nearly two-thirds said Trump was a reason for their vote. Trump encouraged voters to view the first nationwide election of his presidency as a referendum on his leadership, pointing proudly to the surging economy at recent rallies. He bet big on a xenophobic closing message, warning of an immigrant 'invasion' that promised to spread violent crime and drugs across the nation. Several television networks, including the president's favorite Fox News Channel, yanked a Trump campaign advertisement off the air on the eve of the election, determining that its portrayal of a murderous immigrant went too far. One of Trump's most vocal defenders on immigration, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, lost his bid for governor. Kobach had built a national profile as an advocate of tough immigration policies and strict voter photo ID laws. He served as vice chairman of Trump's now-defunct commission on voter fraud. The president's current job approval, set at 40 percent by Gallup, was the lowest at this point of any first-term president in the modern era. Both Barack Obama's and Bill Clinton's numbers were 5 points higher, and both suffered major midterm losses of 63 and 54 House seats respectively. Democrats, whose very relevance in the Trump era depended on winning at least one chamber of Congress, were laser-focused on health care as they predicted victories that would break up the GOP's monopoly in Washington and state governments. Yet Trump's party will maintain Senate control for the next two years, at least. In Texas, Sen Ted Cruz staved off a tough challenge from Democrat Beto O'Rourke, whose record-smashing fundraising and celebrity have set off buzz he could be a credible 2020 White House contender. In Indiana, Trump-backed businessman Mike Braun defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly. In Missouri, Josh Hawley knocked off Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. And in Tennessee, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn defeated former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a top Democratic recruit.[SEP]Donald Trump was involved in an angry exchange with Jim Acosta White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been accused of sharing a video doctored to make a journalist appear more aggressive. The clip shows the moment CNN reporter Jim Acosta refused to hand over a microphone to an intern during a heated exchange with US President Donald Trump. The White House has since banned Mr Acosta over what it called "unacceptable" conduct. We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass. We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video. pic.twitter.com/T8X1Ng912y — Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Ms Sanders took aim at the CNN correspondent after accusing him of "placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern". Ms Sanders went on to share a clip that appears identical to one published by cable network C-SPAN, writing: "We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass. We will not tolerate the inappropriate behaviour clearly documented in this video." Advertisement But Storyful, a social media intelligence agency that specialises in video, say its analysis shows the clip "contains extra frames that do not appear in the C-SPAN broadcast of the event". Its report claims the video has several frames repeated. It says: "These frames do not appear in the original C-SPAN footage, and appear to exaggerate the action of Acosta. "There is a clear moment (frames 13, 14, 15 in our first clip, where C-SPAN version is on the left) when the Sanders video halts and the C-SPAN footage does not. "The two clips, which were roughly in sync before that moment, are out of sync thereafter," Storyful said. Many in the media industry were furious with Ms Sanders for sharing the video, including one of Mr Acosta's colleagues. Matt Dornic, a vice-president at CNN, said: "Absolutely shameful, @PressSec. You released a doctored video - actual fake news. History will not be kind to you." The Storyful report also says: "The video shared by Sanders appeared under an hour after the same video, with the same close-up, was posted by Infowars.com contributor Paul Joseph Watson." Infowars.com is a controversial far-right site described by many as a publisher of conspiracy theories and fake news. The same three still frames are repeated in the zoomed-in clips of the incident in the Sanders video, its report adds. Mr Watson posted his defence on Twitter, saying: "Here's the video that proves I did not 'doctor' or 'speed up' the Acosta video, as some media outlets claim. I merely zoomed in. Here's the video that proves I did not "doctor" or "speed up" the Acosta video, as some media outlets claim. I merely zoomed in. Nice try to distract from Acosta's behavior, but this kind of dishonesty is why the media has a massive trust issue. Please correct your stories. pic.twitter.com/g0AzlEyVx0 — Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) November 8, 2018 "Nice try to distract from Acosta's behavior, but this kind of dishonesty is why the media has a massive trust issue.[SEP]Here are the notable firings and resignations of the Trump administration, starting with the most recent departure: The day after a bitter midterm election, President Trump announced his attorney general Jeff Sessions would no longer serve in his administration. Sessions' firing was no surprise as he'd long been a primary target of the president due to his recusal from heading the special counsel investigation on Russia meddling. The White House counsel, who had extraordinary access to President Donald Trump during some of his most controversial dealings and decisions, will leave his post this fall, the president announced in a tweet. After months of allegations of misconduct, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency handed in his resignation. The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who headed up the president's efforts to to ramp up immigration arrests and crack down on sanctuary cities, announced his plans to retire in June. The homeland security adviser resigned a day after John Bolton took over as national security adviser. The announcement of the Obama administration holdover's departure came via tweet, after weeks of speculation about his fate. The departure of the national security adviser appeared to be amicable, with each releasing written statements thanking each other. The deputy director of the FBI was set to retire in just a matter of days when Attorney General Jeff Sessions decided to fire him. After months of friction, the secretary of State was bumped from his position. According to a statement from the State Department, Tillerson had not spoken to the president and was not aware of the reason for his dismissal. President Trump's personal assistant was abruptly fired over what was described as security reasons. The head of the National Economic Council announced plans to resign from the administration, amid a fierce internal debate over proposed tariffs on foreign-made steel and aluminum. The White House communications director announced her resignation and that she would be leaving in the coming weeks or months. She took on her role in August and has been one of Trump's longest-serving aides. Porter's resignation as the White House staff secretary came after domestic abuse allegations against him were made public. Newman, who rose to notoriety when she was on The Apprentice with Trump, was left her job in the White House's Office of Public Liaison. She later denied that she had been fired or escorted from White House grounds, though the Secret Service did say it terminated her access. Trump's deputy national security adviser, who was a driving force behind the president's Middle East policy, announced her plans to depart the administration in 2018, the White House announced in December. The Health and Human Services secretary resigned after revelations that he had racked up around $400,000 in private flights while traveling on official business. When the controversial counterterrorism adviser stepped down, he said Trump's populist campaign agenda had been hijacked by establishment figures. The chief strategist, who had a turbulent time at the White House, left his post after pressure to remove him from his post following violent clashes in Charlottesville, Va. For his part, Bannon said he resigned two weeks prior. The controversial communications director stepped down after 11 days on the job, the same day John Kelly took over as chief of staff. In his six-month tenure, marked by staff infighting and political reversals, the chief of staff was often a target of Trump loyalists who said he had failed to help the president win congressional legislation. The senior assistant press secretary, brought on by Priebus, resigned after Scaramucci said he was going to fire him for allegedly leaking to the press. The press secretary's tumultuous tenure, marked by standoffs with the press, culminated in his resignation when Trump went against his advice to hire Scaramucci as his new communications director. The director of the Office of Government Ethics clashed repeatedly with the president before announcing his resignation. Trump's first communications director did not work on the Trump campaign and did not know Trump before his hire. He handed in his resignation after three months on the job. The White House initially said the FBI director's firing was based on the Justice Department's recommendation, over his handling of the Clinton email probe. Since then, Trump has said he had considered firing Comey even without that recommendation and has said the Russia investigation was on his mind when he made the decision. The chief usher was fired for unclear reasons; it is unusual for a chief usher to be dismissed and they typically hold their positions for several years and over a number of administrations. The national security adviser was mired in controversy after news reports surfaced that he had misled officials, including Vice President Pence, about his communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. He resigned shortly afterward. The acting attorney general, a holdover from the Obama administration, was dismissed after she refused to defend the first iteration of Trump's travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.[SEP]How Oath and our partners bring you better ad experiences To give you a better overall experience, we want to provide relevant ads that are more useful to you. For example, when you search for a film, we use your search information and location to show the most relevant cinemas near you. We also use this information to show you ads for similar films you may like in the future. Like Oath, our partners may also show you ads that they think match your interests. 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The White House counsel, who had extraordinary access to President Donald Trump during some of his most controversial dealings and decisions, will leave his post this fall, the president announced in a tweet. After months of allegations of misconduct, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency handed in his resignation. The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who headed up the president's efforts to to ramp up immigration arrests and crack down on sanctuary cities, announced his plans to retire in June. The homeland security adviser resigned a day after John Bolton took over as national security adviser. The announcement of the Obama administration holdover's departure came via tweet, after weeks of speculation about his fate. The departure of the national security adviser appeared to be amicable, with each releasing written statements thanking each other. The deputy director of the FBI was set to retire in just a matter of days when Attorney General Jeff Sessions decided to fire him. After months of friction, the secretary of State was bumped from his position. According to a statement from the State Department, Tillerson had not spoken to the president and was not aware of the reason for his dismissal. President Trump's personal assistant was abruptly fired over what was described as security reasons. The head of the National Economic Council announced plans to resign from the administration, amid a fierce internal debate over proposed tariffs on foreign-made steel and aluminum. The White House communications director announced her resignation and that she would be leaving in the coming weeks or months. She took on her role in August and has been one of Trump's longest-serving aides. Porter's resignation as the White House staff secretary came after domestic abuse allegations against him were made public. Newman, who rose to notoriety when she was on The Apprentice with Trump, was left her job in the White House's Office of Public Liaison. She later denied that she had been fired or escorted from White House grounds, though the Secret Service did say it terminated her access. Trump's deputy national security adviser, who was a driving force behind the president's Middle East policy, announced her plans to depart the administration in 2018, the White House announced in December. The Health and Human Services secretary resigned after revelations that he had racked up around $400,000 in private flights while traveling on official business. When the controversial counterterrorism adviser stepped down, he said Trump's populist campaign agenda had been hijacked by establishment figures. The chief strategist, who had a turbulent time at the White House, left his post after pressure to remove him from his post following violent clashes in Charlottesville, Va. For his part, Bannon said he resigned two weeks prior. The controversial communications director stepped down after 11 days on the job, the same day John Kelly took over as chief of staff. In his six-month tenure, marked by staff infighting and political reversals, the chief of staff was often a target of Trump loyalists who said he had failed to help the president win congressional legislation. The senior assistant press secretary, brought on by Priebus, resigned after Scaramucci said he was going to fire him for allegedly leaking to the press. The press secretary's tumultuous tenure, marked by standoffs with the press, culminated in his resignation when Trump went against his advice to hire Scaramucci as his new communications director. The director of the Office of Government Ethics clashed repeatedly with the president before announcing his resignation. Trump's first communications director did not work on the Trump campaign and did not know Trump before his hire. He handed in his resignation after three months on the job. The White House initially said the FBI director's firing was based on the Justice Department's recommendation, over his handling of the Clinton email probe. Since then, Trump has said he had considered firing Comey even without that recommendation and has said the Russia investigation was on his mind when he made the decision. The chief usher was fired for unclear reasons; it is unusual for a chief usher to be dismissed and they typically hold their positions for several years and over a number of administrations. The national security adviser was mired in controversy after news reports surfaced that he had misled officials, including Vice President Pence, about his communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. He resigned shortly afterward. The acting attorney general, a holdover from the Obama administration, was dismissed after she refused to defend the first iteration of Trump's travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.[SEP]White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has been accused of sharing a “doctored” video of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s interaction with a White House intern that resulted in the reporter’s press pass being revoked. Acosta’s press pass to access the White House was suspended “until further notice” Wednesday, hours after he engaged in a contentious back-and-forth with President Trump. A White House intern attempted to retrieve the microphone from Acosta, but the CNN reporter resisted and asked an additional question – and that’s where things get cloudy. Sanders said the suspension of his press credentials stemmed from his “placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern.” She called the behavior “absolutely unacceptable.” But many high-profile media members, including The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman and CNN executive Matt Dornic, have accused Sanders of using a doctored video speeding up Acosta’s arm motion, as evidence. “We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass. We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video,” Sanders tweeted to accompany the allegedly doctored video. “Yes, the White House press office is sharing a manipulated video that makes it appear that Acosta was menacing the intern when he was not and did not. The intern reached over Acosta to grab the microphone while he was trying to ask another q and Acosta tried to pull away,” Haberman wrote. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Several media members have accused Sanders of using an edited video circulated by Infowars editor Paul Joseph Watson. Infowars is known for spreading conspiracy theories and is banned from most social media platforms, but Watson has managed to keep his Twitter account. The video allegedly speeds up Acosta’s arm motion to make it appear that he essentially karate chopped the female intern – but Watson has taken to Twitter to defend himself. “The only editing done to this clip is that it is zoomed in,” Watson wrote. Fox News has not yet confirmed whether or not the video is actually doctored, or simply zooms in on the incident. NBC News tweeted its own video of the encounter. “The edited video looks authentic: Acosta appeared to swiftly chop down on the arm of an aide as he held onto a microphone while questioning President Trump. But in the original video, Acosta’s arm appears to move only as a response to a tussle for the microphone. His statement, ‘Pardon me, ma’am,’ is not included in the video Sanders shared,” Washington Post technology reporter Drew Harwell wrote. “I’ve just been denied entrance to the WH,” Acosta tweeted Wednesday night. “Secret Service just informed me I cannot enter the WH grounds for my 8pm hit.” Sanders confirmed Acosta’s claim and the White House Correspondents’ Association – of which Fox News is a member — quickly released its own statement condemning the decision to revoke Acosta’s credential. “We urge the White House to immediately reverse this week and misguided action,” the WHCA wrote. We encourage anyone with doubts that this reaction was disproportionate to the perceived offense to view the video of events.” It all started when CNN’s Acosta got into a heated debate with Trump after he asked the president about the migrant caravan. “Honestly, I think you should let me run the country and you run CNN,” the president said, resulting in the intern attempting to retrieve the microphone. CNN said Wednesday night that Acosta’s suspension “was done in retaliation for his challenging questions at today’s press conference” and claimed Sanders “lied” in her explanation of what unraveled. “This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better. Jim Acosta has our full support,” CNN said.[SEP]In a video tweeted by White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, CNN White House corespondent Jim Acosta appeared to push, or possibly hit, a White House intern when she tried to take the microphone from him during a tense exchange with President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Later that day, Acosta's press credentials were suspended. In a different tweet, Sanders explained why: "We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern..." After Sanders shared the video and explanation, some claimed her video was "doctored" and showed a different version of what really happened. You can watch the video Sanders shared here: Self-proclaimed editing experts took Sanders' video and compared it to C-SPAN's recording of the interaction. Those accusing Sanders of sharing a doctored video claimed that the edits increase the speed at which Acosta appears to touch the intern and make "Acosta's motion look like a chop." Was the video posted by press secretary Sanders different than the C-SPAN version? If so, was it doctored to appear that way? We can VERIFY without a doubt that the video posted by Sanders is different than the recording from C-SPAN and other outlets. There are freeze frames and accelerated motion that don't appear in other videos. But, that does not necessarily mean the video was doctored or edited to have those effects. VERIFY ran our own version of the tests mentioned in social posts above. We identified two-to-three frozen frames and what appeared to be accelerated motion in the clip right around the point when Acosta and the intern touched arms. When you line up the C-SPAN video and Sanders' version side-by-side, or even overlay them, there's no doubt the the clips are slightly different. But that is not definitive proof the clip was doctored. As a few individuals pointed out, the discrepancies could also be due to video compression or the dropping of a few frames when formats were changed. The video Sanders posted is identical to a video posted by Paul Joseph Watson, an InfoWars editor. He claimed he made the video by taking a .gif and converting it into a video format. You can see his Twitter defense by clicking here. We created our own test to show how converting .gif files to video and back can create degradation in the overall video and often leads to motions that appear quicker or slower. To see this in video format, watch the attached video above. The video from Sanders is different. That’s Verified. But claiming that it was done on purpose is unverifiable. You’d have to witness someone editing the video to be certain it happened. There are other explanations, including video degradation and frame drops, that could explain how this happened.[SEP]Video from the press conference shows an intern attempting to take the microphone from Acosta, who says, "Pardon me, ma'am," after briefly making contact with her arm. Acosta then continues to ask a question about the Russia investigation, which Trump doesn't answer. The White House on Wednesday said it is suspending access to CNN's chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta after he refused to give up the microphone while asking a question about the Russia investigation at a news conference. BREAKING: White House aide grabs and tries to physically remove a microphone from CNN Correspondent Jim Acosta during a contentious exchange with President Trump at a news conference. https://t.co/fFm7wclFw2 In a statement, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the decision to revoke Acosta's credentials was made because of his "placing hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern." Sanders also defended the Trump administration's support of a free press, adding, "President Trump has given the press more access than any president in history." On Twitter, Acosta said Sanders's description of what happened was a lie. Acosta leads CNN's coverage of the president, and over the last two years, he's become known for his persistent questions and testy interactions with Trump and his press staff. But his questions have at times prompted Trump to account for his administration's actions. Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly said Acosta and CNN are "fake news," and on Wednesday, he further singled the reporter out as an "enemy of the people." “CNN should be ashamed of itself, having you working for them,” Trump said. “You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN.” Acosta isn't the only CNN reporter to face the White House's ire. Reporter Kaitlan Collins was banned from an open press event this summer after asking what White House staff deemed to be “inappropriate” questions of Trump earlier in the day. She had shouted questions about the audio recording of Trump discussing paying former Playboy model Karen McDougal during a media scrum in the Oval Office the European Commission’s president. And last year, CNN was among several news organizations banned by then-press secretary Sean Spicer.[SEP]The White House promoted an edited video on Wednesday to justify revoking Jim Acosta's press badge following the CNN reporter's questioning of President Donald Trump earlier that day. The video was earlier shared by the editor of InfoWars, whose founder has pushed conspiracy theories that the the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting never occurred. The video was tweeted Wednesday night by White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, who claimed Acosta's "inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video." The video from Sanders' tweet purports to show a moment from a Wednesday exchange between Acosta and Trump, in which Acosta persisted in asking the president about the ongoing Russia investigation amid Trump's repeated refusals to answer. More: CNN's Jim Acosta has White House press badge revoked after Trump called him 'terrible' More: President Trump calls media 'hostile,' says of CNN reporter Jim Acosta: 'You are a rude, terrible person' In footage of the incident earlier published by NBC and others, a White House intern attempts to take the microphone out of Acosta's right hand, during which Acosta lowers his left hand to block the woman while apologizing, "Pardon me, ma'am." But in the video posted by Sanders, the moment of Acosta's arm movement is sped up, making his apparent block appear more aggressive —– a fact noted by many respondents to Sanders' tweet. Within hours, videos comparing earlier footage and the video from Sanders' tweet showed a discrepancy when those moments of the White House-released video failed to match up to original footage. "The clip being shared by the WH Press Secretary and Infowars has been slowed down then sped up to create the illusion of a karate chop," said Aymann Ismail, a video producer for Slate, in a series of tweets, adding that the "the intern's reach for the mic is slowed down, and the 'chop' motion is accelerated. Paul Joseph Watson, the InfoWars editor who shared the video before Sanders did, later argued that he did not "speed up" the video but "merely zoomed in." Media from InfoWars has previously been banned from Apple, Facebook, YouTube and Spotify after being classified as hate speech. Despite Watson's claim, an in-depth analysis of the footage from Tom Richell, a video producer at The Independent, reports the precise frames where the video was edited. "We know the video has been edited in some way," he said. "There's a very slight pause ... Who made that edit, though, and for what reason — that's what we don't know."[SEP]In a stunning break with protocol, the White House said Wednesday night that it's suspending the press pass of CNN's Jim Acosta "until further notice." The move came just hours after Acosta, CNN's chief White House correspondent, drew the ire of President Donald Trump and his allies by asking multiple questions at a post-midterms news conference. Trump insulted Acosta and called him a "terrible" person. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced in a statement that Acosta would be stripped of what's known as a "hard pass," which gives him access to the White House grounds. CNN said in a statement that Acosta has the network's full support. The revocation of his pass "was done in retaliation for his challenging questions at today's press conference," the statement said. "In an explanation, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders lied. She provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better. Jim Acosta has our full support." In the 7 p.m. hour on Wednesday, Acosta was stopped at the White House's Pennsylvania Avenue gate where reporters usually enter. He was heading back to the White House for a live shot on "Anderson Cooper 360." "I've just been denied entrance to the WH," Acosta tweeted. "Secret Service just informed me I cannot enter the WH grounds for my 8pm hit." "I was just told to do it," the officer said on the recording. "I am now giving my hard pass to the Secret Service," Acosta said. Reporters who regularly cover the White House are routinely granted "hard passes" to ease entry and exit to the grounds. It is unclear whether Acosta will be granted some other sort of entry pass for his work. But on Wednesday night, he was turned away at the gate. The removal of his pass is a sharp escalation of tensions between the Trump administration and CNN. It immediately stirred concerns within the White House press corps. Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, said on Twitter: "This is something I've never seen since I started covering the White House in 1996. Other presidents did not fear tough questioning." The White House Correspondents' Association, which advocates for the press corps, issued a statement soon after Acosta was denied entry, calling the revocation of his access "unacceptable." "Journalists may use a range of approaches to carry out their jobs and the WHCA does not police the tone or frequency of the questions its members ask of powerful senior government officials, including the President," the association said. "Such interactions, however uncomfortable they may appear to be, help define the strength of our national institutions. We urge the White House to immediately reverse this weak and misguided action." Elisabeth Bumiller, the Washington bureau chief for The New York Times, said that "the president should not pick and choose who covers him, and he should certainly not force out a representative of one of the country's leading news organizations, one that tens of millions of Americans depend on for their news." Acosta has been one of the most aggressive reporters on the Trump beat, winning him huge numbers of fans but also huge numbers of critics. During Wednesday's news conference, many people on social media thanked Acosta for trying to hold the president accountable for his words and deeds. But others condemned the correspondent. Some Trump boosters said Acosta's credentials should be revoked. And pro-Trump media outlets ran stories alleging that the reporter had mistreated the White House aide who tried to take a microphone away from him at the news conference. Sanders repeated this assertion in her statement. "President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration," she said. "We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable." CNN producer Allie Malloy responded to Sanders via Twitter: "This is a complete lie. The woman grabbed Jim's arm repeatedly. He never once touched her. In fact at one point @Acosta tells her politely 'pardon me, mam' as she's yanking on his arm." Acosta also tweeted that Sanders' description of the incident was a "lie." At the news conference, Trump snapped at the press corps, called reporters "rude" for asking questions, and made baseless claims about political polling. "Such a hostile media. It's so sad," he said, keeping up his years-long campaign against the people who cover him. Trump's most contentious exchange was with Acosta. Immediately afterward, CNN said in a statement: "This President's ongoing attacks on the press have gone too far. They are not only dangerous, they are disturbingly un-American." "While President Trump has made it clear he does not respect a free press, he has a sworn obligation to protect it," CNN added. "A free press is vital to democracy, and we stand behind Jim Acosta and his fellow journalists everywhere." Acosta was one of the first reporters Trump called on. "Thank you, Mr. President," he said. "I want to challenge you on one of the statements that you made in the tail end of the campaign." Trump leaned into the mic and said, "Here we go" — seemingly relishing the confrontation. Acosta brought up the migrants traveling from Central America toward the US southern border, and the ad many have deemed racist that refers to them released by the Trump campaign last week. "As you know, Mr. President, the caravan is not an invasion," Acosta said. "It's a group of migrants moving up from Central America towards the border with the US--" Trump, sarcastically, replied, "Thank you for telling me that, I appreciate it." Acosta: "Why did you characterize it as such?" "Because I consider it an invasion. You and I have a difference of opinion." "But do you think that you demonized immigrants?" "No, not at all. I want them to come into the country. But they have to come in legally." That's what the migrants are trying to do — they say they intend to seek asylum. Acosta called out the misleading ad and said: "They're hundreds of miles away, though. They're hundreds and hundreds of miles away. That's not an invasion." "You know what? I think you should," Trump started to say, pointing at Acosta. "Honestly, I think you should let me run the country. You run CNN. And if you did it well, your ratings would be much better." "Okay, that's enough," Trump said as Acosta tried to ask another question. A White House staffer hurried over to grab the mic and carry it to the next reporter Trump chose, NBC's Peter Alexander. "If I may ask one other question, are you worried--" Acosta tried to point out that other reporters had also asked multiple questions. "That's enough," Trump said. The White House staffer tried to grab the mic from Acosta, but he held onto it. "Pardon me, ma'am," he said, as she looked toward Trump, then ducked out of camera view. "Peter, let's go," Trump said, trying to move on to Alexander. "If I can ask, on the Russia investigation," Acosta said, "are you concerned that you may have indictments coming down--" "I am not concerned about anything with the Russian investigation because it is a hoax," Trump said, "That is enough, put down the mic." Trump backed away from the podium for a moment, signaling he was done, while Acosta asked the question again and then let go of the mic. While Alexander started to ask his question, Trump said, "I tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself, having you working for them." He pointed at Acosta: "You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn't be working for CNN." Then he turned to Alexander: "Go ahead." But he turned his focus back to Acosta: "You are a very rude person, the way that you treat Sarah Huckabee Sanders is horrible. The way that you treat other people are horrible. You shouldn't treat people that way." "Go ahead," Trump said to Alexander. The NBC journalist then spoke up in Acosta's defense: "I've traveled with him and watched him, he is a diligent reporter who busts his butt like the rest of us." "Well I'm not a big fan of yours either, to be honest," Trump said, prompting laughs in the room. He disparages NBC almost as often as CNN. "So let me ask you a question," Alexander said, not missing a beat. Acosta stood back up and spoke. His comments were not totally audible on live TV, but Acosta could be heard asking about the dangers of Trump's anti-media attacks, like the use of the term "enemy of the people." "When you report fake news, which CNN does, a lot, you are the enemy of the people," Trump said, turning back to Alexander. Trump's treatment of the press varied from one minute to the next. As at prior news conferences, he showed contempt for reporters one minute, complaining about questioners "jumping out of their seats screaming questions at me," then suggested he was enjoying the back and forth. "Should we keep this going for a little while?" he asked, one hour into the session, prompting some of the reporters to say an emphatic "Yes." When a reporter from a Japanese news outlet asked a question, Trump said, "Say hello to Shinzo," referring to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The news conference threw into stark relief the different styles of different White House correspondents. Some, like April Ryan, tried to ask questions without being explicitly called on. "Sit down please," Trump said to her. "Sit down. I didn't call you, I didn't call you, I didn't call you." Ryan was trying to ask about voter suppression concerns. In response, Trump falsely said that CNN's polls were a form of suppression. Trump frequently condemns so-called "suppression polls," alluding to a conspiracy theory that claims news outlets distort polling results to discourage people from voting. He brought up the idea again later in the news conference, despite a lack of evidence for the idea. Toward the end of the event, Yamiche Alcindor, a correspondent for PBS "NewsHour," asked Trump about the widely shared view that his rhetoric has emboldened white nationalists. "That's a racist question," Trump said repeatedly in response. Social media lit up with outrage about Trump's dismissiveness. Alcindor, who is black, moved on. She tweeted later: "I followed up the president calling my question "racist" with a policy question about his proposed middle class tax cut because that's what journalists do. We press on. We focus on the privilege of asking questions for a living. We do the work." Here is the full White House statement: "President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration. We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporter's colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history. Contrary to CNN's assertions, there is no greater demonstration of the President's support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not being supportive of a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters over the course of an hour and a half -- including several from the reporter in question. The fact that CNN is proud of the way their employee behaved is not only disgusting, it is an example of their outrageous disregard for everyone, including young women, who work in this Administration. As a result of today's incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice." -- Sarah Sanders

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders receives widespread condemnation after allegedly tweeting an altered video from a press conference the day before. The video, which was allegedly doctored by the far-right conspiracy website InfoWars, is claimed to falsely depict CNN's White House correspondent Jim Acosta physically assaulting an intern.

Black holes occur when a massive star dies and collapses with enough gravity that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. Black holes can absorb the surrounding mass and grow – eventually turning into supermassive black holes that can lie at the center of galaxies. Now a team of Indian astronomers believe they’ve found a black hole spinning at a rate that’s close to the maximum possible speed it can go. They first noticed it from X-rays that were picked up by India’s first ever dedicated astronomy satellite, called AstroSat. Black holes are characterised by spin and mass(Getty) The X-rays were coming from a binary star system called 4U 1630-47 that contains the black hole, which is about 10 times the mass of our sun. As gas, dust and other matter were absorbed by the spinning black hole, the research team figured out it was spinning fast enough to suck up all the space around it. Advertisement Advertisement ‘As black holes get created, mass and spin rate are two properties that characterise them,’ Sudip Bhattacharyya of TIFR, and principal investigator of Astrosat’s Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), told Hindustan Times. ‘Mass can be measured more easily as it has a long-range effect because of gravity as the black hole gets created,’ he added. According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, a rapidly spinning black hole makes space itself rotate. Caption: Black hole. Computer artwork representing a black hole against a starfield. (Getty) This effect, coupled with gas spiraling toward the black hole, can produce a rotating, tightly wound vertical tower of magnetic field that flings a large fraction of the inflowing gas away from the vicinity of the black hole in an energetic, high-speed jet. And the team believe this particular black hole is spinning almost as fast as it’s possible to do so. Including the black hole discovered by the AstroSat, there are only five black holes that have accurately measured high spin rates. Even if you’re not taking spin rates into account, this black hole is one of only 20 others that have been spotted in the Milky Way galaxy. Caption: This artwork shows a star being distorted by its close passage to a supermassive black hole at the centre of a galaxy. (Getty) ‘Measurements, especially of the spin rate are very difficult to make, and can be done only by high-quality X-ray observations in the correct state of the binary stellar system, in which the black hole is a gobbling matter from its companion star,’ said the lead author Mayukh Pahari. The research, which was a joint effort between the USA and India, has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.[SEP]India's first astronomy dedicated satellite, AstroSat, together with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, helped scientists find an 'extremely exotic' black hole spinning close to the maximum possible rate. The black hole exists in the binary star system 4U 1630-47 and obviously cannot be directly seen, because nothing, not even light, can escape from a region around it, thus justifying the name of the object. The gravity of such a collapsing core is so strong that its entire mass is crushed into a point, according to the research accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. Mass and spin classify a black hole Relatively smaller black holes are exotic end states of massive stellar cores, said astronomers led by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai. Surprisingly, astronomical black holes are the simplest known objects in the universe, because they can be fully characterised by only two properties, mass and spin rate. Therefore, measurements of these two properties are uniquely important to probe some extreme aspects of the universe and the fundamental physics related to them, researchers said. "The scientific measurement of the spin rate of the black hole, an extremely exotic but the simplest object of the universe, comes out to be close to the maximum possible value," Sudip Bhattacharyya, the Associate Professor at TIFR and the Principal Investigator of the AstroSat Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), told PTI. "This is generally very important to probe some extreme aspects of the universe and the fundamental physics (for example, the theory of gravitation) related to them," said Bhattacharyya. "Such measurements, especially of the spin rate, are very difficult to make, and can be done only by high-quality X-ray observations in the correct state of the binary stellar system, in which the black hole is gobbling matter from its companion star," said Mayukh Pahari, who started this work at TIFR, before joining the University of Southampton in the UK. Also read | India launches its first satellite dedicated only for astronomy: All about it Indian satellite AstroSat and its Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) AstroSat was launched in 2015 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is the first dedicated astronomy satellite of India, and the SXT aboard AstroSat is the first Indian X-ray telescope. "The SXT and the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) aboard the first dedicated Indian astronomy satellite AstroSat played a key role to measure the black hole spin rate, which was consistent with results from our contemporaneous Chandra satellite data," Mr Bhattacharyya added. "From this first joint AstroSat-Chandra study of a black hole, that may lead to further such co-operations, we have found that the black hole in 4U 1630-47 spins very rapidly, with a rate not much less than the maximum possible rate, which makes it even more exotic," added Professor AR Rao of TIFR. "In fact, apart from Japan, I believe, India is the first Asian country to build an X-ray Telescope (for example, China could not build such a telescope till now)," Bhattacharyya said. He noted that this "first cooperation of India and US using AstroSat and Chandra satellites regarding black hole studies should open up ways for future such collaborations." More about AstroSat India's first astronomy dedicated satellite AstroSat is capable of making an observation in the ultraviolet, optical, low and high energy X-Rays wavebands at the same time. It comprises of five scientific instruments: The UV Imaging Telescope The Scanning Sky Monitor The Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Imager The Soft X-ray Telescope, and Three identical Large Area Xenon Proportional Counters Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Raman Research Institute joined ISRO in the development of payload. Two of the payloads were made in collaboration with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and University of Leicester, UK. Also read | 'Vampire' star caught feeding on bigger star by Astrosat Interested in General Knowledge and Current Affairs? Click here to stay informed and know what is happening around the world with our G.K. and Current Affairs section. To get more updates on Current Affairs, send in your query by mail to education.intoday@gmail.com[SEP]Indian space agency Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) reported a black hole within the Milky Way is spinning so fast it is changing the face of space around it. The black hole, found in the binary star system called 4U 1630-47, was spotted thanks to the X-rays it was emitting by India's AstroSat and Nasa's Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Albert Einstein theorised in his famous theory of relativity that nothing can move faster than the speed of light – 670 million miles an hour (299,792,458 metres per second). However, the black hole, which was originally observed in 2016, is close to breaking this universal limit as it spirals at 90 percent of this speed. The rapid movement of the black hole is causing gas, dust and other celestial debris to be sucked in by the entity at a more rapid pace than usual. However, this also meant it was spewing more materials out in the form of X-rays which made it easier to observed. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Sudip Bhattacharyya of TIFR, and principal investigator of Astrosat's Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), said of the results which will be published in next month’s Astrophysical Journal: “As black holes get created, mass and spin rate are two properties that characterise them. “Mass can be measured more easily as it has a long-range effect because of gravity as the black hole gets created.” Only four black holes have been found to spin at such an extreme pace. The first was discovered in 2008 using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. Lead author Rodrigo Nemmen said at the time: "We think these monster black holes are spinning close to the limit set by Einstein's theory of relativity, which means that they can drag material around them at close to the speed of light.[SEP]Black holes, while fascinating, are hardly a new discovery - but a black hole spinning at one of the highest speeds ever, according to the Hindustan Times, is a completely different story - especially when there have only ever been four others like it. In 2016, India's first dedicated astronomy satellite, the AstroSat, spotted a black hole in the binary star system called 4U 1630-47, which is bursting out X-rays that astronomers found unusual. Those X-rays were caused by gas and dust falling into the black hole, which is about 10 times the mass of the Sun, and they revealed to researchers that the object is spinning very, very rapidly. In fact, according to NASA this particular black hole is spinning very close to the limit set by Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, according to Rodrigo Nemmen, the lead author on the research paper. That means it is spinning close to the speed of light. Currently, scientists only have two ways of measuring black holes - either by their mass or by their spin rate. A spin rate can be anywhere between 0 and 1: this black hole was spinning at the rate of 0.9. Einstein's theory further implies that if a black hole is spinning that fast, then it is capable of making space itself rotate. In fact, if the conditions around black holes are hypothesised to be correct, then the high spin rate coupled with the gaseous elements entering the black hole and high temperatures, could be the key to understanding how galaxies are formed. Including the black hole discovered by the AstroSat, there are only five black holes that have accurately measured high spin rates. Even if you're not taking spin rates into account, this black hole is one of only 20 others that have been spotted in the Milky Way galaxy. The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) AstroSat along with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Chandra X-Ray Observatory have confirmed the speed of the spinning black hole. The study was conducted by researchers from multiple institutions led by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. This article was originally published by Business Insider.[SEP]An international team of astronomers has confirmed the discovery of a black hole which spins very close to the limit set by Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, which means that it spins close to the speed of light, according to Business Insider. The black hole was first tracked in the binary stellar system 4U 1630−47 in 2016 by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)'s AstroSat, in coordination with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Chandra X-ray Observatory. READ MORE: Astronomers Capture Black Hole Devouring Cosmic Doughnut for First Time Researchers then used the X-ray data from AstroSat and Chandra to calculate that the black hole is spinning a rate of 0.9, which is close to the celestial object's maximum possible rate of 1. In this context, Business Insider quoted Rodrigo Nemmen, one of the lead authors of the research, as saying that Einstein's theory of relativity "further implies that if a black hole is spinning that fast, then it is capable of making space itself rotate." READ MORE: Astronomers Discover Monster Black Hole the Size of 20 Billion Suns Astronomers said that the discovery of the black hole, which is only one of five having an accurately measured high spin rate, may contribute greatly to uncovering the truth about the origin of the Universe.[SEP]One of the fastest black holes ever seen is spinning so fast it is moving space itself. X-rays from a star system within the Milky Way revealed the presence of the black hole. Analysis of these high-energy waves revealed the black hole has a mass ten times greater than that of our sun and is rotating close to the speed of light. There have only ever been four other black holes found to be spinning at such a speed. This intergalactic speed limit of 670 million miles an hour (299,792,458 metres per second) was first proposed by Albert Einstein via his famed theory of relativity. X-rays from the distant binary star system 4U 1630-47 revealed the black hole's existence when they were detected by India's AstroSat and Nasa's Chandra X-Ray Observatory. These observations, first taken in 2016, have revealed that the black hole is moving at 90 per cent of the maximum spin rate. Rapid movement caused gas, dust and other celestial debris to be absorbed by the black hole's enormous gravity. Analysis from the researchers discovered this was happening as a result of the black hole spinning fast enough to suck up matter in the nearby vicinity. 'As black holes get created, mass and spin rate are two properties that characterise them,' Sudip Bhattacharyya of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and principal investigator of Astrosat's Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), told Hindustan Times. 'Mass can be measured more easily as it has a long-range effect because of gravity as the black hole gets created,' he added. This black hole is also believed to be one of only 20 in the Milky Way. The speed of the black hole has been confirmed by both the US and India, who collaborate don the research project which is due to be published in The Astrophysical Journal.[SEP]A massive black hole is spinning so fast that it tests the limits of Einstein's theory of relativity and may rotate space around itself, according to a joint study by India's AstroSat and NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The black hole in question is roughly 10 times the mass of the Sun and one of only five with an accurately measured spin rate this fast, close to the speed of light. India's first dedicated astronomy satellite, Astrosat, launched back in 2015, observed the frenetic pace of the black hole, with findings later confirmed by NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Scientists measure black holes in terms of their mass or their spin rate, which ranks on a scale of 0 to 1. This black hole, in the binary star system 4U 1630-47, has been clocked at a phenomenal rate of 0.9 - in other words, very close to the limit set by Einstein’s theory of relativity. The incredible void might also provide the key to understanding how galaxies form. Gas, dust and other mass from the 4U 1630-47 system’s star gets torn away and forms a disk around the black hole, reaching temperatures of over 10 million degrees Celsius and blasting out x-rays monitored and measured by the Chandra Observatory. The overall system generates more than 10,000 times the power emitted by our sun. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story![SEP]Roughly one billion light-years from Earth, a giant elliptical galaxy has been found to be an enthusiastic recycler - albeit not of plastic bottles. The supermassive black hole at its core is blasting cold molecular gas, which is then falling into the black hole, and feeding the cycle anew. Such a phenomenon is known as a "fountain", a galactic means of recycling star-forming material; long theorised, it's never before been observed in its entirety. Astronomers found this amazing scene in a galaxy at the heart of a cluster known as Abell 2597. "This is possibly the first system in which we find clear evidence for both cold molecular gas inflow toward the black hole and outflow or uplift from the jets that the black hole launches," explained Grant Tremblay of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "The supermassive black hole at the centre of this giant galaxy acts like a mechanical pump in a fountain." A black hole, of course, doesn't actually spew out material. As an active black hole "feeds", material forms an accretion disc of swirling material that falls into it, like water swirling down a drain. But not all the material ends up swallowed by the black hole. Some of it is funnelled towards the poles, possibly via magnetic field lines, much like charged particles from solar wind travel along Earth's magnetic field lines to produce aurora. But the dynamics of a black hole are different; instead of aurora, they produce powerful jets of plasma, travelling at near light-speed into space, blasted out from their polar region. In the case of the supermassive black hole powering Abell 2597's brightest cluster galaxy (BCG), its jets blast cold molecular gas 9 kiloparsecs (30,000 light-years) into space. This cold gas then rains back down into the reservoir that feeds into the black hole's accretion disc - a vast filamentary nebula, with a mass equivalent to around 3 billion Suns, spanning 30 kiloparsecs (100,000 light-years) across in the galaxy's centre. Tremblay and his team first observed this rain back in 2016 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). They observed molecules of carbon monoxide, some with temperatures as low as 13-23 Kelvin (-260 to -250 degrees Celsius, or -438 to -418 degrees Fahrenheit), falling towards the black hole. Above: This composite image shows the cold infalling gas in yellow from ALMA data, and the hot outflowing gas in red from MUSE data. Since then, the team connected it to earlier observations made using the MUSE instrument on the ESO's Very Large Telescope. It saw the warmer gas being blasted into space by the black hole's jets. Follow-up observations using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory confirmed this connection - marking the first evidence that the outflow and inflow are part of the same process. "This very, very hot gas can quickly cool, condense, and precipitate in much the same way that warm, humid air in Earth's atmosphere can spawn rain clouds and precipitation," Tremblay explained in 2016. "The newly condensed clouds then rain in on the galaxy, fuelling star formation and feeding its supermassive black hole." The result may only be the first time these two parts of the process have been put together, but it could be quite a common part of galactic evolution, the researchers believe. It could shed some light on star formation, the way black holes feed, and the overall life cycle of galaxies. The research has been published in The Astrophysical Journal, and can be read on preprint resource arXiv.[SEP](CNN) -- There was enough happening on Earth to keep us occupied this week, but don't forget to look up once in a while. Here's everything galactic you missed during Halloween and early voting. Two historic NASA missions ran out of fuel this week: the 11-year Dawn mission to explore the two biggest objects in the asteroid belt and the nine-year Kepler Space Telescope mission that discovered thousands of exoplanets. Although both mission conclusions were expected, it's sad to see them come to an end. Luckily, the data they provided will lead to discoveries for years to come. And neither is on a collision course with Earth. Dawn will orbit the dwarf planet Ceres for decades, and Kepler is 94 million miles away. Farewell, brave voyagers, and thanks for all the science. But let's give the Parker Solar Probe a hearty cheer for breaking a record and coming closer to the sun than any other spacecraft. Despite our letter to the Mars Opportunity rover, it still hasn't awakened and responded to NASA's many messages since it became shrouded in a planet-encircling dust storm that began in May. NASA will continue to send more messages, and scientists hope that increasing winds will knock the dust off of Oppy's solar panels. Meanwhile, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is back in business and making observations again. A gyro, or device that measures the speed at which the spacecraft is turning, had failed. This meant Hubble couldn't turn and lock on to new targets. A backup gyro turned out to be no help when it malfunctioned as well. The backup was recovered, so expect more gorgeous images from the famed space telescope. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, which also had a gyro issue recently, is also back up and running. Speaking of Hubble, the space telescope captured an image called a bat shadow 1,300 light-years away in the stellar nursery known as the Serpens Nebula. So what is it? A sun-like star, HBC 672, is surrounded by a big dusty debris ring. But Hubble can't see that ring. Instead, it's capturing the shadow of the ring created by the star's bright light. NASA scientists compared the large shadow to what happens when something small crosses in front of a flashlight beam. "This is an analog of what the solar system looked like when it was only 1 or 2 million years old," explained Klaus Pontoppidan, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute. "For all we know, the solar system once created a shadow like this." If you were in space, the last thing you'd want to get too close to is a black hole, the terrifyingly destructive and insatiable garbage disposals of the universe. Once you're near one, you're really past the point of no return. Many astronomers assume that a supermassive black hole is at the center of the Milky Way, our galaxy. That's because they tend to lurk at the center of other galaxies, too. But for the first time, material has been seen circling the drain, so to speak. The European Southern Observatory's GRAVITY instrument observed bright radiation flares around the disc belonging to Sagittarius A, this massive object at the galactic center. "It's mind-boggling to actually witness material orbiting a massive black hole at 30% of the speed of light," said Oliver Pfuhl, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. It makes for a trippy image, too. Have you ever wondered why there are so many stars in our galaxy? It turns out that the Milky Way's halo was gifted -- well, kind of. Galaxies aren't exactly friendly neighbors in the universe. Instead, they tend to merge or cannibalize one another. The Milky Way is one of the largest galaxies, and astronomers are trying to figure out whether it grew after many small mergers or just a few large ones. Sometimes, the evidence of these mergers can be found using "galactic fossils" or just following an unusual stream of stars. New data from the Gaia satellite mission, published this week, revealed that 10 billion years ago, the Milky Way merged with another large galaxy, Gaia-Enceladus. The stars from that galaxy make up most of the Milky Way's halo and helped shape its thick disk. The stars donated by the merger stand out from the "native stars" of our galaxy because they're younger, the researchers said. And in about 4 billion years, the Milky Way will collide with the neighboring gigantic Andromeda galaxy. So there's that to look forward to. After two years of trekking through space for a date with an asteroid, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is sending images of the primitive asteroid Bennu. The spacecraft and asteroid will have their official rendezvous in December. And then we'll have some photos with color filters on them. Can't wait to see the Instagram of that date.[SEP]On Aug. 17, 2017, Fermi detected the first light ever seen from a source of gravitational waves—ripples in space-time produced, in this event, by the merger of two superdense neutron stars. Just five weeks later, a single high-energy particle discovered by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) IceCube Neutrino Observatory was traced to a distant galaxy powered by a supermassive black hole thanks to a gamma-ray flare observed by Fermi. "For millennia, light was our only source of information about the universe," said Julie McEnery, the Fermi project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "The recent discoveries connect light, our best-known cosmic courier, to gravitational waves and particles like neutrinos—new messengers delivering different kinds of information that we're just beginning to explore." The origins of these discoveries stretch back to cutting-edge research as long ago as 1887. That's when physicists Albert Michelson and Edward Morley conducted an experiment to detect a substance, called the aether, which was postulated as a medium that permitted light waves to travel through space. As their experiment showed and many since have confirmed, the aether doesn't exist. But the negative result proved to be one of the inspirations for Albert Einstein's 1905 special theory of relativity. He generalized this into a full-fledged theory of gravity in 1915, one that predicted the existence of gravitational waves. A century later, on Sept. 14, 2015, the NSF's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected these space-time vibrations for the first time as waves from the merger of two black holes reached Earth. In between came a steady stream of advances, including lasers, improved instrumentation and increasingly more powerful computers and software. "Just as inventing the detector technologies has taken decades, so too has the theoretical and computational framework for analyzing and interpreting multimessenger observations," said Tyson Littenberg, the principal investigator of the LIGO research group at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "We went through countless simulations to test new ideas and improve on existing algorithms so that we were prepared to make the most out of the first observations, and that basic research and development work continues." Until 2005, it wasn't even possible to simulate in detail what happens when a pair of orbiting black holes coalesce. The breakthrough came when separate teams at Goddard and the University of Texas at Brownsville independently developed new computational methods that overcame all previous hurdles. An accurate understanding of gravitational-wave signals was one important step in evolving techniques designed to rapidly detect and characterize them. "Another fundamental development was the highly optimized analysis pipelines and information technology infrastructure that can compare the theoretical model with the data, recognize the presence of a signal, calculate the location of the source on the sky and format the information in a way that the rest of the astronomical community could use," explained Tito Dal Canton, a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow and a member of a LIGO research group at Goddard led by Jordan Camp. Astronomers need to know about short-lived events as soon as possible so they can bring to bear a wide array of telescopes in space and on the ground. Back in 1993, scientists at Goddard and Marshall began developing an automated system for distributing the locations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)—distant, powerful explosions that typically last a minute or less—to astronomers around the world in real time. Located at Goddard and led by Principal Investigator Scott Barthelmy, the Gamma-ray Coordinates Network/Transient Astronomy Network now distributes alerts from many space missions as well as ground-based instruments like LIGO and IceCube. The historical thread for neutrinos began with French physicist Henri Becquerel and his 1895 discovery of radioactivity. In 1930, after studying a radioactive process called beta decay, Wolfang Pauli suggested it likely involved a new subatomic particle, later dubbed the neutrino. We now know neutrinos possess little mass, travel almost as fast as light, come in three varieties and are among the most abundant particles in the universe. But because they don't readily interact with other matter, neutrinos weren't discovered until 1956. In 1912, Victor Hess discovered that charged particles, now called cosmic rays, continually enter Earth's atmosphere from every direction, which means space is filled with them. When cosmic rays strike air molecules, the collision produces a shower of particles—including neutrinos—that rains down through the atmosphere. Searching for astronomical neutrino sources meant placing experiments underground to reduce interference from cosmic rays and building very large detectors to tease out the weak signals of publicity-shy neutrinos. Neutrinos produced by nuclear reactions inside the Sun's core were first detected in 1968 thanks to an experiment using 100,000 gallons of dry-cleaning fluid located deep in a South Dakota gold mine. Discovering the next astronomical neutrino source would take another 19 years. Supernova 1987A, a stellar explosion in a nearby galaxy, remains the brightest and closest supernova seen in over 400 years and is the first for which the original star could be identified on pre-explosion images. Theorists anticipated that neutrinos, which escape a collapsing star more readily than light, would be the first signal from a new supernova. And hours before 1987A's visible light arrived at Earth, experiments in Japan, the U.S. and Russia detected a brief burst of neutrinos, making the supernova the first source of neutrinos identified beyond the solar system. On Aug. 17, 2017, gravitational waves from a neutron star merger produced a signal detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). The sound in this video represents the same frequencies as the combined stretching and squeezing caused by waves passing through the LIGO detectors at Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. Just 1.7 seconds later, a brief burst of gamma-rays — indicated by a ping — was seen by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Caltech/MIT/LIGO Lab "If none of these experiments was operating at the time, the neutrino signal would have passed by unnoticed," said Francis Halzen, the principal investigator of IceCube, which is essentially a neutrino telescope build into a cubic kilometer of ice at the South Pole. "It isn't enough to develop the technology, refine theories or even construct a detector. We need to be making observations as often as we can for the best chance of catching brief, rare and scientifically interesting events. Both Fermi and IceCube are operating continuously, making uninterrupted observations of the sky." The third historical thread belongs to gamma rays, the highest-energy form of light, discovered in 1900 by the French physicist Paul Villard. When a gamma ray of sufficient energy interacts with matter, it provides a perfect demonstration of Einstein's most famous equation, E=mc2, by instantly transforming into particles—an electron and its antimatter counterpart, a positron. Conversely, crash an electron and a positron together and a gamma ray results. NASA's Explorer 11 satellite, launched in 1961, detected the first gamma rays in space. In 1963, the U.S. Air Force began launching a series of satellites as part of Project Vela. These increasingly sophisticated satellites were designed to verify compliance with an international treaty that banned nuclear weapons tests in space or in the atmosphere. But starting in July 1967, scientists became aware the Vela satellites were seeing brief gamma-ray events that were clearly unrelated to weapons tests. These explosions were GRBs, an entirely new phenomenon now known to mark the death of certain types of massive stars or the merger of orbiting neutron stars. NASA further explored the gamma-ray sky with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, which operated from 1991 to 2000 and recorded thousands of GRBs. Starting in 1997, critical observations by the Italian-Dutch BeppoSAX satellite proved that GRBs were located far beyond our galaxy. Compton was succeeded by NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in 2004 and Fermi in 2008, missions that continue exploring the high-energy sky and that follow up on LIGO and IceCube alerts. "In the fields of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind," noted Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist, in an 1854 lecture. Supported by decades of scientific discoveries and technological innovation, the burgeoning field of multimessenger astronomy is increasingly prepared for its next stroke of luck. More information: For more about NASA's Fermi mission, visit www.nasa.gov/fermi

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory confirms earlier observations by Indian Space Research Organisation's Astrosat space observatory of a rotating black hole in the binary star system 4U1630-47, which is spinning close to the speed of light, one of the fastest ever observed.

How many moons does Earth have? This is a question that could be found on a science test at any elementary school in the world. The right answer yesterday is now the wrong answer today. While Luna remains the only moon we can see when we look up at a clear night sky, it is not alone — and hasn’t been for some time. Andrew Fazekas of National Geographic provides the details. “Earth’s moon may not be alone. After more than half a century of speculation and controversy, Hungarian astronomers and physicists say they have finally confirmed the existence of two Earth-orbiting “moons” entirely made of dust.” Long before the official discovery, researchers inferred the existence of these moons. It wasn’t until 1961 that a Polish astronomer named Kazimierz Kordylewski was able to catch a questionable glimpse. The article continues. “The Kordylewski clouds are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the moon, are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy,” says study coauthor Judit Slíz-Balogh, an astronomer at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary. “It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbor.” Each cloud moon is about nine times the width of earth. While the moons are extremely large, the individual particles are estimated to be one millionth of a meter across. That makes the formation rather difficult to see, only made visible by special camera filters. The gravitational pull of two massive objects such as the Earth and the Sun is balanced by the centripetal force of said orbits. These points of balance are known as Lagrange points. Generations of astronomers have suspected moons could be hiding out in some of those points. Scientists say they have finally confirmed the existence of two Earth-orbiting “moons” entirely made of dust https://t.co/OFc0VHSegN — National Geographic (@NatGeo) November 6, 2018 In 1950, Kordylewski searched L4 and L5 for solid moons. That is when he first detected hints of orbiting dust clouds. The clouds are unstable, constantly swapping out their material. Like the human body, they remain constant while ever changing. The more curious minds among us collectively ponder deep space, other star systems, and life elsewhere in the galaxy. We watch space operas like Star Trek and imagine the lives and loves of people living out their lives beyond the simple boundaries of our single planet. Yet discoveries like the two hidden dust moons remind us of just how much we have yet to learn in our own stellar neighborhood. Pluto is a planet, and then it isn’t a planet. There is nagging speculation of planet that didn’t make it into the science books you used as a child, tentatively named Planet X, according to CNN. Now, Earth has three moons. While we’re still patiently waiting to beam up and warp out, there is still a lot to see and learn right where we are.[SEP]My Whole Life Has Been A Lie, Turns Out Earth Has Always Had Three Moons And Not One! My Whole Life Has Been A Lie, Turns Out Earth Has Always Had Three Moons And Not One! Since the dawn of man, we've held our Moon is a special. Maybe because of how beautiful it is, or the fact that it's the only one we have. However, after more than 50 years of arguments and hypotheses, we finally know that it's actually not our only moon. Janez Volmajer According to a new study from the Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, Earth actually has three moons orbiting. While one is the star of many a movie, song, and viral photo, there are two others passing silently through the night. And we've never really noticed them because they're essentially just dust clouds. The research team managed to capture what looks like mysterious clouds, hovering about 402336 km away from us. That's about the same distance our Moon keeps too. And even if you're hearing about this for the first time, scientists have known about them for decades. The dust clouds were first seen in 1961, but experts had previously theorised about their existence long before. They were named the Kordylewski clouds, after the Polish astronomer Don't Miss 2.1 K SHARES 1.1 K SHARES 2.3 K SHARES Kazimierz Kordylewski who first spotted them. "The Kordylewski clouds are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the moon, are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy," the study's coauthor Judit Slíz-Balogh told National Geographic. "It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbour." Gabor Horvath In the new study, the researchers found that each Kordylewski cloud measures about 15 by 10 degrees wide. That means they cover an estimated area about 105,000km by 72,000km, almost nine times wider than the Earth. But though the clouds themselves are massive, they're composed of particles so small they measure only about a micrometre across. When sunlight reflects off these particles, they glow slightly, but that glow has always been faint, which is why we had trouble finding them. We only managed to properly study them this time around thanks to the advancement of technology, using special polarising filters These dust moons, instead of scattering, are trapped in what we call Lagrange points. These are specific points in space where the gravitational pull of two orbiting objects is balanced out by the centripetal force of their orbits. Kordylewski was studying some of these Lagrange points looking for a solid object back in the 1950s. Instead, he found giant balls of dust. The dust in the Kordylewski clouds is both old and new at the same time. After all, the dust keeps getting cycled out thanks to shifts in the gravity of the Earth or Moon. however, it's also always gathering dust from other sources like the Perseid meteor shower each year. Far from just being an interesting discovery, this find could also have an impact on future space missions. Some of these, like the James Webb Space telescope launch, involve parking at these Lagrange points in order to remain stable while also saving fuel. Scientists now may not only have a chance to study the clouds up close, they may have to tweak the spacecrafts to also deal with the massive amount of dust.[SEP]A team of astronomers and physicists has confirmed the 5-decade-long theory that dust clouds orbit the Earth. These elusive dust clouds move with the Earth and Moon — like three edges of a triangle — at a stable 4,00,000 kilometres from the Earth. The study picks up from a 1961 study by Polish astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski, who reported that he saw patches at the L4 and L5 Lagrange points. He speculated that these patches were dust clouds. That speculation could only now be confirmed. Over many further studies, the dust clouds were traced to one of five ‘Lagrange points’ near the Earth-moon system. Lagrange points are located near two large celestial bodies (like the Earth and Moon, or Earth and Sun). At these points, the combined gravitational pull of the two large objects perfectly cancels out the centripetal force of an object at that location. These points aren't always stable but are of immense value for space research. A spacecraft at a Lagrange point will need a minimal amount of fuel to maintain position. As zany as it sounds, scientists have even considered relocating pollution from the Earth to those points. Two such points in space — L4 and L5 — form an equal-sided triangle with the Earth and Moon, where the ‘Kordylewski clouds’ confirmed by the new study are located. Lagrange points in space are neither fixed nor stable and are affected by external forces like fly-by comets or variations in the Sun’s gravitational pull. In the Earth-Moon system, earlier research has identified L4 and L5 as places where space dust may collect — at least temporarily. While these celestial dust bunnies were theorized in 1961 by Kordylewski, the task of confirming their existence as the Earth and Moon's constant companion proved tough till recently. “The Kordylewski clouds are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the Moon, are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy,” Judit Slíz-Balogh, one of the study’s authors from the Royal Astronomical Society, told the press. “It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbour.” The team behind the study is looking into exactly how stable these clouds are and whether the dust poses a threat to astronauts or spacecraft that pass through them.[SEP]As far as we know, we're still alone in the solar system, but now our moon has company. Hungarian astronomers have confirmed, catching the long-rumored satellites on film.Researchers have suspected the moons were there since 1961, when Polish astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski spotted the two bright spots, but their existence remained controversial.The KordylewskiSunlight reflecting off the particles makes them glow, but they are difficult to see from Earth due to the comparative brightness of other objects in space.Putting to rest years of speculation, researchers Judit Slíz-Balogh and Gábor Horváth of Eötvös Loránd University finally immortalized the clouds on film using special polarizing filters on their cameras. Their findings have been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.The clouds form when particles in space are trapped in "Lagrange points" - areas where the gravitational pull of two competing orbits balances out, holding the particles in relative stasis at a constant distance from the two bodies. Astronomers have identified five such points in the vicinity of Earth. The two clouds photographed by the researchers were located near the L5 point, and they believe there may be similar formations near L4.which then require minimal fuel to stay in orbit. As space agencies look toward Mars as the next frontier, Lagrange points could also serve as rest stops on an 'interplanetary superhighway' to the red planet. Confirmation of the Kordylewski clouds' existence becomes an important safety factor in setting up such missions.While the Lagrange points themselves are stable,. Such constant motion must be taken into account when navigating nearby space.[SEP]In a new paper published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, scientists explain that they’ve confirmed the presence of two clouds of dust that are orbiting Earth at around the same distance as our Moon. The discovery is confirmation of work that stretches back decades to the early 1960s when the clouds were first spotted. The presence of the dust clouds has been extremely difficult to prove because they’re so faint. They are collections of extremely tiny particles stretched over an enormous area that dwarfs even Earth itself, but they’re definitely there. These “moons,” as some are calling them, obviously aren’t actually moons as you’d normally think of them. They’re just huge, thin clouds of dust that are trapped in Earth’s orbit. They’re many times the size of Earth itself but you can’t see them with the naked eye because not enough light bounces off of the tiny particles and finds its way to our planet. The large puffs of space dust have been named “Kordylewski clouds,” which is a nod to astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski, the first person that claimed to have actually spotted them back in 1961. Even after that discovery, the existence of the clouds was debated, but they’ve now been detected with certainty, proving the scientist, who died in 1981, correct. “The Kordylewski clouds are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the moon, are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy,” Judit Slíz-Balogh, co-author of the new study, said in a statement. “It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbor.” The existence of the dust clouds doesn’t mean a whole lot to you and I, but it does shed some light on the dynamics of Earth orbit. The points where the dust is trapped are known as Larange points, and scientists believe that locations like these might be the most ideal spots for placing space stations or satellites for long-term use.[SEP]A team of astronomers at Hungary has confirmed that earth has not one but three moons. As per the Hungarian researchers, these moons are made up entirely of dust, and these mysterious clouds are orbiting the planet 250,000 miles away, roughly the same distance as the moon. Interestingly, a debate over the existence of these two celestial bodies was first triggered in 1961, when Polish astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski discovered two mysterious clouds now known as Kordylewski dust clouds. The Polish astronomer also added that these dust clouds may be orbiting the earth around the L4 and L5 Lagrange points. Now, further analysis of these celestial bodies has revealed that these dust clouds are actually pseudo satellites that orbit the earth. "The Kordylewski clouds are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the moon, are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy. It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbor," said Judit Slíz-Balogh, an astronomer at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary and the co-author of the study. As per experts, these satellite clouds have remained in the darkness for so many years just because they are super faint. However, sometimes, due to sun's reflection, these dust clouds appear lightly. During the research, scientists made use of advanced polarizing filters on their cameras and finally succeeded to spot the scattered light reflecting off the individual particles within the dust clouds. Even though the Hungarian researchers have confirmed the existence of two more moons orbiting around the earth, some space experts argue that these mysterious dust clouds could be nothing but a transient phenomenon. As per these skeptics, the gigantic dust clouds spotted by astronomers who took part in this study could be easily blown away due to the gravitational jostling from other planets or solar winds. This is not the first time that new studies on space are reshaping human understanding about the solar system. A few weeks ago, some astronomers have suggested that a rogue space body, most possibly Planet Nine could be hiding beyond Neptune in the solar system. The researchers also revealed that the space in which Planet Nine stays is too dark and this could be the reason why current observatories on earth find it hard to locate this space body.[SEP]As far as we know, we’re still alone in the solar system, but now our moon has company. Hungarian astronomers have confirmed two “moons” made entirely of dust are orbiting Earth, catching the long-rumored satellites on film. Researchers have suspected the moons were there since 1961, when Polish astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski spotted the two bright spots, but their existence remained controversial. The Kordylewski clouds are about nine times wider than earth, though their component particles are microscopic. Sunlight reflecting off the particles makes them glow, but they are difficult to see from Earth due to the comparative brightness of other objects in space. Putting to rest years of speculation, researchers Judit Slíz-Balogh and Gábor Horváth of Eötvös Loránd University finally immortalized the clouds on film using special polarizing filters on their cameras. Their findings have been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The clouds form when particles in space are trapped in "Lagrange points” – areas where the gravitational pull of two competing orbits balances out, holding the particles in relative stasis at a constant distance from the two bodies. Astronomers have identified five such points in the vicinity of Earth. The two clouds photographed by the researchers were located near the L5 point, and they believe there may be similar formations near L4. Because Lagrange points are relatively stable, they are ideal parking spots for satellites, which then require minimal fuel to stay in orbit. As space agencies look toward Mars as the next frontier, Lagrange points could also serve as rest stops on an ‘interplanetary superhighway’ to the red planet. Confirmation of the Kordylewski clouds’ existence becomes an important safety factor in setting up such missions. While the Lagrange points themselves are stable, the particles comprising the clouds are constantly being swapped out with other interplanetary matter, including from meteor showers. Such constant motion must be taken into account when navigating nearby space. Think your friends would be interested? 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Judit Slíz-Balogh, an astronomer at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, said: ‘The Kordylewski clouds are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the Moon are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy. ‘It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbour.’ The hidden moons could now be used to store pollution from Earth or serve as ‘transfer’ stations for manned missions into deep space, the scientists said. A paper on the research appears in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.[SEP]Talk about dust bunnies you can't get rid of. A new study may finally confirm the reality of dust clouds that have circled the Earth, after scientists have had heated debates over their existence for more than 50 years. The clouds were first spotted by Polish astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski in 1961, near the L5 Lagrange point, according to Space.com. Lagrange points are five points in deep space where the gravitational pull between the Earth and Moon balance each other out, explains Space.com. Two of these, L4 and the aforementioned L5, form "an equal-sided triangle" with the Earth and the Moon and move around the Earth as the Moon goes through its lunar orbit. "L4 and L5 are not completely stable, as they are disturbed by the gravitational pull of the Sun," researchers said in a statement. "Nonetheless they are thought to be locations where interplanetary dust might collect, at least temporarily. Kordylewski observed two nearby clusters of dust at L5 in 1961, with various reports since then, but their extreme faintness makes them difficult to detect and many scientists doubted their existence." One of the study's authors, Judit Slíz-Balogh, said the clouds were difficult to find, despite being close to our planet, cosmically speaking. “The Kordylewski clouds are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the Moon are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy," Slíz-Balogh said in the statement. "It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbor.” The triangular Lagrange points were discovered in 1772, according to the study's abstract. Because of how faint they are, they need certain weather conditions in order to prove they exist, Gábor Horváth, the study's co-author, told Space.com. But Horváth and Slíz-Balogh developed computer models to see whether they reflected light and see how they formed, which ultimately led to them confirming their existence. MYSTERiOUS INTERSTELLAR OBJECT COULD BE 'LIGHTSAIL' FROM ANOTHER CIVILIZATION Noting that few models have studied the Kordylewski dust cloud, the researchers said they filled the gap by investigating "a three-dimensional four-body problem consisting of the Sun, Earth, Moon and one test particle, 1 860 000 times separately. We mapped the size and shape of the conglomerate of particles that have not escaped from the system sooner than an integration time of 3650 d around L5." Researchers need to study the dust clouds to see if they present "any kind of threat to equipment and future astronauts." As time goes on, the researchers said they believe that the L4 and L5 points could be "potential sites for orbiting space probes, and as transfer stations for missions exploring the wider Solar System," as well as being places to store pollutants. Even in space, people are still trying to sweep the dust under the rug.[SEP]Washington, Nov 7: Hungarian astronomers and physicists have finally provided enough data to confirm that our moon has at least two other companions -- made entirely of dust. Earth has two so-called "dust moons", researchers say, after their study confirmed the presence of astronomical clouds orbiting our planet. They were found about 400,000 kilometres from Earth by Hungarian researchers, and are extremely faint, which previously gave rise to scepticism about their existence. The clouds were first reported by Polish astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski in 1961, who made the discovery while investigating two points in the Earth-Moon system where two gravitational forces interact in a way that stabilises the position of objects, known as a Lagrange point. The recent study revealing the existence of the two dust 'moons' used special polarizing filters on cameras to reveal the scattered light coming from the reflection of the individual dust particles in the clouds

A new study from Eötvös Loránd University confirms the existence of two Kordylewski clouds orbiting Earth. Kazimierz Kordylewski first observed the faint clouds of dust around the L4 and L5 Lagrangian points in the 1960s.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption China's 'first AI news anchor' China's state news agency has unveiled a virtual newsreader sporting a sharp suit and a somewhat robotic voice. Xinhua News claims the presenter "can read texts as naturally as a professional news anchor", though not everyone may agree. "Hello, you are watching English news programme," says the English-speaking presenter at the start of his first report. Sogou, a Chinese search engine, was involved in the system's development. "I will work tirelessly to keep you informed as texts will be typed into my system uninterrupted," says the presenter in an introductory video. "I look forward to bringing you the brand new news experiences." There is also a Chinese-speaking version with a different face. Xinhua says the presenters can "work" 24 hours a day on its website and social media channels, "reducing news production costs". The agency points out that they may be particularly useful for disseminating breaking news reports in a timely manner. An artificial intelligence (AI) system has been used to synthesise the presenters' voices, lip movements and expressions. They are based on those of real Xinhua presenters. This is different from using a 3D digital model of a human. It appears that photo-like facial features have been applied to a body template and animated. 'Uncanny valley' The presenter struggled to appear completely natural, said Michael Wooldridge at the University of Oxford. It was stuck somewhat in the "uncanny valley" - a term used to describe human-like robots and avatars which seem subtly unrealistic. "It's quite difficult to watch for more than a few minutes. It's very flat, very single-paced, it's not got rhythm, pace or emphasis," Prof Wooldridge told the BBC. He also pointed out that human news presenters have traditionally - in many cases - become highly trusted public figures. "If you're just looking at animation you've completely lost that connection to an anchor," he added. It was a "good first effort", however, said Noel Sharkey, emeritus professor of artificial intelligence and robotics at the University of Sheffield. "We will see it improve over time," he told the BBC. "The problem is that it could be very dull."[SEP]China’s Xinhua news agency on Thursday unveiled the world’s first AI anchor that can read news in English and Chinese. Xinhua in collaboration with search engine operator Sogou unveiled the new technology at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, China, South China Morning Post reported. The AI anchors take the form and shape of a human being and read out news stories. They have minimal facial expressions and lip movements which look quite realistic. Xinhua’s first English AI anchor introduces himself as what he is and what his capabilities are. This AI anchor’s face and voice has been designed based on the agency’s news anchor, Zhang Zhao. He can read news as it is typed out in the teleprompter. The AI news anchor also assures that he will “work tirelessly” and read out news without any interruptions. The AI news anchor also collects data and learns to develop itself. “’He’ learns from live broadcasting videos by himself and can read texts as naturally as a professional news anchor,” Xinhua reported. Xinhua further says that the AI anchor has already become a member of the agency’s reporting team. He can work for 24 hours continuously on the news website as well as its social media platform. The AI anchor is said to “reduce news production costs and improve news efficiency”. The AI anchor has also started presenting news reports. Since it’s an AI anchor, news is read out in a very monotonous manner with no expressions in between. The AI anchor himself acknowledges that the technology is still in development and that many improvements are required.[SEP]"This is my very first day at Xinhua News Agency," says a sharply dressed artificial intelligence news anchor. "I look forward to bringing you the brand new news experiences." China's Xinhua News Agency has billed the technology as the "world's first artificial intelligence (AI) news anchor," unveiled at the World Internet Conference in China's Zhejiang province. The anchor "learns from live broadcasting videos by himself and can read texts as naturally as a professional news anchor," Xinhua says. Some disagree about whether the technology appears natural. You can decide for yourself here, with the English-speaking one modeled after real Xinhua anchor Zhang Zhao: The AI anchor was produced with "facial landmark localization" and "face reconstruction," according to China Daily. As the BBC notes, it "appears that photo-like facial features have been applied to a body template and animated." It was designed jointly with the Chinese search engine company Sogou.com. Reuters reports that there's another version of the AI anchor, modeled on real anchor Qiu Hao. The wire service added that Sogou staff "said it wasn't clear when the technology would actually go into use." Xinhua points to what it sees as certain advantages of an AI anchor, saying it "can work 24 hours a day on its official website and various social media platforms, reducing news production costs and improving efficiency." South China Morning Post suggests it could save networks money in news anchor salaries, and even "one day challenge the human variety." But some experts are skeptical about the kind of news-watching experience an AI news anchor offers. "It's quite difficult to watch for more than a few minutes. It's very flat, very single-paced, it's not got rhythm, pace or emphasis," Michael Wooldridge from the University of Oxford told the BBC. And compared to a trusted human news anchor, he says that "if you're just looking at animation you've completely lost that connection to an anchor." The news is amusing some actual news presenters — BBC's Simon McCoy burst out laughing while reading that Xinhua claimed its AI anchor was just as natural as a human one. And of course, as The Washington Post notes, an AI anchor is "devoid of decision making and processing skills and cannot offer the emotional element given by a real journalist." Artificial intelligence technology is becoming more commonly used by news organizations. For example, the Post has used a bot system called Heliograf to automatically write text that humans can add to for breaking news events such as elections and the Olympics.[SEP]HANGZHOU - The world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) news anchor made “his” debut at the ongoing fifth World Internet Conference in east China’s Zhejiang Province. The news anchor , based on the latest AI technology, has a male image with a voice, facial expressions and actions of a real person. “He” learns from live broadcasting videos by himself and can read texts as naturally as a professional news anchor . The AI news anchor was jointly developed by Xinhua News Agency, the official state-run media outlet of China, and Chinese search engine company Sogou.com. According to Xinhua, “he” has become a member of its reporting team and can work 24 hours a day on its official website and various social media platforms, reducing news production costs and improving efficiency.[SEP]China’s state-run press agency Xinhua has introduced a new anchor to deliver news, but unlike the typical newsreaders that people are used to see on TV or on the internet, this one is based on artificial intelligence technology. The anchor is based on digital composites created from footage of human hosts and designed to read text fed into the artificial intelligence using synthesized voice. The South China Morning Post reported that Xinhua created two anchors, one to broadcast news in English and the other for Chinese. The news agency developed these in collaboration with the search engine company Sogou. According to The Verge, old videos of human anchors were used as a base layer for the AI anchors. By animating parts of the face and mouth and combining this with synthesized voice, Xinhua can program the digital anchors to read the news far quicker than if they use traditional CGI. The AI-based news anchors reportedly learn from live broadcasting by themselves. Xinhua did not provide further information about the technology used to create the anchors but the product is reminiscent of the so-called “deep fakes”. These videos are created by AI that scans hundreds of still frames from a video and then uses these frames to produce a new video. Xinhua said that there are endless prospects for these AI news anchors. The news agency said that the digital speakers can be used to generate news for the TV, web and mobile at a cheap cost. “AI anchors have officially become members of the Xinhua News Agency reporting team. They will work with other anchors to bring you authoritative, timely and accurate news information in both Chinese and English,” Xinhua said, according to SCMP. It appears that the technology still has plenty of room for improvement. For one, the range of the anchors’ facial expressions is limited and it is clear that the voice is artificial. Still, these digital anchors hold potential in changing the field of news reporting. Because they can work round the clock on Xinhua‘s official website and various social media platforms, these AI-based newscasters can reduce the costs of production and improve efficiency. News anchors, particularly those working at major news networks in the United States, are paid large sums of money. CNN‘s Anderson Cooper, for instance, who is the highest paid news anchor, reportedly receives $100 million per year. Xinhua unveiled the world’s first AI news anchor at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, China.[SEP]China's state-run press agency Xinhua has unveiled what it claims are the world's first AI-generated news anchors. Xinhua revealed the anchors at the World Internet Conference on Thursday. Modeled on two real presenters, the agency showcased two AI-generated anchors, one who speaks Chinese and another who speaks English. "AI anchors have officially become members of the Xinhua News Agency reporting team. They will work with other anchors to bring you authoritative, timely and accurate news information in both Chinese and English," Xinhua told the South China Morning Post. In a post, Xinhua said that the generated anchors can work, "24 hours a day on its official website and various social media platforms, reducing news production costs and improving efficiency." Xinhua developed the "anchor" with Sogou, China's second biggest search engine. No detail was given about exactly how they were made, but it was possibly achieved by training an AI system on footage of the real anchor. Although Xinhua claims that the avatar "learns from live broadcasting videos by himself," the avatars themselves do not appear to artificially intelligent, as they read pre-typed text. "I will work tirelessly to keep you informed as texts will be typed into my system uninterrupted," the English speaking anchor says in his first video, using a synthesized voice. You can watch the first appearance of the English-language "AI news anchor," who is modeled on real presenter Zhang Zhao, here: Convincing though it might seem at first glance the movement of the mouth is clearly edited, its facial expression seems limited, and the voice is also highly robotic. Oxford computer science professor Michael Wooldridge told the BBC that the anchor fell into the "uncanny valley," a term which refers to when avatars or objects look like humans but feel subtly unnatural, and are therefore uncomfortable to watch. You can watch the AI anchor's report on China's relationship with Panama here: "As an AI news anchor under development, I know that there is a lot for me to improve," the AI-generated anchor says as it signs of its report.[SEP]China's state-run press agency has welcomed two additions to its team of journalists - two news presenters powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Dressed in suit and tie, the AI newsreaders can 'learn from live broadcast videos and read texts as naturally as a professional news anchor', according to Xinhua. The digital doppelgangers were modelled after the agency's journalists, English-language anchor Zhang Zhao and his Chinese-language counterpart Qiu Hao, and were jointly developed by Xinhua and search engine company Sogou.com. The two AI anchors were first seen in action at the ongoing 2018 World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang. 'Hello everyone, I am an English Artificial Intelligence Anchor. This is my very first day in Xinhua News Agency,' says the presenter in an introductory video. 'My voice and appearance are modelled on Zhang Zhao, a real anchor with Xinhua,' he continued in a somewhat robotic voice. An AI system has been used to synthesise the presenters' voices, lip movements and expressions based on those of real presenters. 'I will work tirelessly to keep you informed as texts will be typed into my system uninterrupted,' he added. Xinhua said the anchors are available to work 24 hours a day on its official website and various social media platforms. This can reduce news production costs and improve efficiency during breaking news reports. Net users on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo questioned if these AI anchors would replace human reporters. 'The AI's voice is too stiff, and it has trouble making the right pauses during speech,' one highly-rated comment read. 'Seems like some normal presenters are getting fired,' another user said. 'What's the point of this? I prefer real human presenters,' another said. China has become one of the leading global hubs for AI development in recent years. Several fields such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing have adopted machine learning systems for commercial uses. Automating workplaces in China with AI could add 0.8 to 1.4 per cent to gross domestic product (GDP) growth annually, depending on the speed of adoption, according to a report by McKinsey Global Institute.[SEP]THE RISE OF THE MACHINES will be televised if China's artificial intelligence (AI) news presenter is anything to go by. The nations state news agency Xinhua News worked with Chinese tech firm Sogu to create a virtual news anchor based on the appearance of actual human news readers. The virtual presenters are created using 3D digital models of real humans an then apply AI tech to synthesise the voices of presenters and replicate their expressions and lip movements, without the need for more time-consuming traditional CGI processes. The results looks to be a tad mixed, with AI news presenters looking a little stilted and unnatural, though if we were to stumble in late at night after a skinful and turn on Chinese news, we'd probably be duped by the presenter, at least until we sobered up with some fried chicken and a can of coke. The idea behind an AI newsreader is that news can be delivered 24/7 without suffering spiralling production costs. Reading between the lines, that would suggest there's potential for the AI news readers to push their human counterparts out of their jobs. But that situation will likely need the tech to advance a few steps first. A more immediately worrying aspect is that virtual news readers could be yet another step down the route of delivering fake news and propaganda. China's news outlets are already subject to a lot of state control and censorship, so the ability to have virtual news readers to effectively do exactly what it's told is certainly an eyebrow-raising concept. Anyone who's played Deus Ex: Human Revolution will recall the Picus news agency that used an AI news anchor to propagate propaganda of the comms agency behind the news firm. It looks like near-future sci-fi is getting closer to reality, though we suspect wrist chisel and claymore personal augmentations aren't going to pop up anytime soon. Either way, the idea of AI news readers is definitely something to chew over, though we suspect it'll put the willies up the likes of Bill Gates and fellow AI fear-mongers. µ[SEP]China's state-controlled news broadcasters have long been considered somewhat robotic in their daily recitation of pro-government propaganda and a pair of new presenters will do little to dispel that view. Calling it a "world first", news agency this week debuted a pair of amid a state-directed embrace of advanced technologies such as (AI). Based on the appearances of two flesh-and-blood Chinese news presenters, the computerised avatars read out text that is fed into their system, their mouths moving in tandem with the reports. said the "AI Synthetic Anchors", one for Chinese and one for English news, were developed along with Sogou Inc, a Beijing-based creator of search engines and voice-recognition technology. China last year unveiled plans to become a world leader in AI and other high-tech fields, though it has since toned down the rhetoric amid a trade war with the United States, which has included accusations by President Donald Trump that China steals US technologies. The offer certain advantages over humans, Xinhua said, such as being able to work 24 hours a day and to quickly disseminate breaking news. "The AI Synthetic Anchor has officially become part of the Xinhua reporting team. He will work together with other anchors to bring you authoritative, timely and accurate news and information in Chinese and English," Xinhua said. The anchors have appeared on some Xinhua online and social media products, but it was not immediately clear how extensively they would be used by the agency. Rather than true AI, however, the Xinhua presenters merely react to text that is fed into their systems, the agency said. True AI involves machines that can think, make decisions and take action on their own. The avatars debuted this week during the World Internet Conference, an annual convention in the eastern Chinese city of Wuzhen organised by China's government.[SEP]Mumbai: If you were to watch news on the Chinese government-run Xinhua News Agency, you would, in all likelihood, encounter the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI)-powered news anchor. Developed jointly by the news agency and Chinese search engine company Sogou.com, “he” is officially a member of Xinhua’s reporting team. His voice has been modelled on that of a real anchor working for the agency, which also explains the facial expressions and actions that imitate a real person. As with any machine learning technique, the AI anchor learns continuously from live broadcasting videos and can read texts as naturally as a professional news anchor. He made his debut at the ongoing fifth World Internet Conference in east China’s Zhejiang Province, according to an 8 November post on xinhuanet.com. The AI anchor can work through the day on its official website and various social media platforms, reducing news production costs and improving efficiency, according to the same report. AI-powered virtual assistants, such as Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, Samsung’s Bixby and Microsoft’s Cortana, are as intelligent as Xinhua’s AI anchor, if not more, but they do not have a human face. Even IBM’s AI system, Project Debater, which engaged in the first-ever live, public debate with humans on 18 June at an event at the IBM Watson West site in San Francisco—delivering a four-minute opening statement, a four-minute rebuttal, and a two-minute summary— remains an intelligent machine without a face. Xinhua’s anchor falls under the category of androids or humanoids—robots that look human, making them both exciting and scary. Examples of humanoids include Honda-owned Asimo and SoftBank Robotic Holdings Group-owned Pepper. Androids or humanoids were made popular by sci-fi movies such as the epic Star Wars series, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Surrogates—which portrayed a futuristic world where people live within the safety of their homes while their humanoid surrogates fulfil their daily chores—and Bicentennial Man, in which a court eventually grants human status to a humanoid played by the late Robin Williams. In a small way, this is already a reality. Hanson Robotics’ female humanoid Sophia is now a citizen of Saudi Arabia, becoming the first ever robot to have a nationality. Activated on 14 February 2016, Sophia was also named the world’s first United Nations Innovation Champion by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and will work with the agency to promote sustainable development and safeguard human rights and equality. Sophia recently visited India during the Vizag Fintech Festival, hosted by the Andhra Pradesh government on 25 October. Humanoids excite us but also raise the question whether AI-powered humanoids will become sentient any time soon. The good news is that AI machines are nothing like the super-intelligent machines portrayed in movies. Sophia, for instance, is a “sophisticated chat-bot” (as described by the company’s website) that chooses from a large palette of template responses based on context and a limited level of understanding. However, Sophia also uses OpenCog, a sophisticated cognitive architecture created with artificial general intelligence (AGI) in mind. AGI is when an AI machine can emulate a human or even surpass it. “The smarter these AIs and robots get, the more controversial things are likely to get, but this is also where the greatest benefit for humans and other sentient beings is going to lie,” Hanson Robotics’ chief scientist Ben Goertzel said in a June 2018 blog. A November 2016 Stanford University-hosted report titled “Artificial Intelligence and Life in 2030” attempted to allay these fears when it said that “…unlike in the movies, there is no race of superhuman robots on the horizon or probably even possible.” However, to avert such scenarios, given the rapid progress of technology, the US-based Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) is insisting on “explainable AI” as the way ahead. New machine-learning systems, according to David Gunning, programme manager at the Darpa Information Innovation Office (I2O), “will have the ability to explain their rationale, characterize their strengths and weaknesses, and convey an understanding of how they will behave in the future”.

China's Xinhua News Agency unveils the world's first AI news anchor. Xinhua says the AI presenters can work "24 hours a day", thus reducing news production costs.

This is what we know so far about what police have described as a lone wolf terror attack on Bourke Street, which brought Melbourne's CBD to a standstill. A vehicle has exploded on Bourke Street. About 4.20pm, a car mounted the footpath of Bourke Street, near the corner of Swanston Street, and erupted in flames. The man got out of the vehicle and engaged with members of the public. Three men were stabbed and one died at the scene. Police arrived and the man punched one of them through a police car window.[SEP]3 Stabbed, 1 Dead In Australia In Incident Police Say Is Possible Terrorism Enlarge this image toggle caption Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Police in Australia shot and killed a knife-wielded assailant who stabbed three people, killing one, in a busy section of Melbourne on Friday. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack and authorities say they are investigating it as an act of terrorism. Witnesses told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that a four-speed utility truck sped down Bourke Street in the southern Australia city's central business district and crashed after missing a tram. A fire then started in the vehicle, according to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, who spoke during a news conference. Australian media identified the deceased suspect as a 31-year-old Somali male. Authorities say he exited the burning vehicle and began stabbing passersby. Witnesses called the stabbings "random," the ABC reports. Video of the incident, which some readers might find disturbing, can be seen here. Police quickly arrived on the scene, Ashton said. The suspect approached a police vehicle and assaulted an officer by punching him through its window. Two officers got out of the car and attempted to engage him. In video of the incident, the suspect approached the officers baring a large knife, making several attempts to stab them before an officer shot him in the chest. The suspect collapsed. Ashton said the three victims, all men, and the suspect were transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. One of the victims died from his injuries. According to police, the other two victims, aged 26 and 58, sustained non-life threatening injuries. The suspect died from his injuries half an hour after arriving at the hospital. The police found "barbecue style" gas bottles in the vehicle involved in Friday's incident. A bomb squad has since rendered the car safe. "The one who executed the ramming and stabbing operation in Melbourne (..) is one of the fighters of the Islamic State and he executed the operation in response to (a call) to target the citizens of the coalition," the ISIS news website Amaq said on Friday, according to news.com.au. In the past, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for some "lone wolf" attacks in which the assailant was later found to have no allegiance to the group. The suspect has been "known to police mainly in respect to relatives he has that are certainly persons of interest to us," Ashton said. "For operational matters we now have the counter-terrorism command and the homicide squad dealing with this matter, and there are ongoing investigations being conducted by the counter-terrorism command," he continued. Authorities say they do not perceive any ongoing threat. A driver who rammed into pedestrians at a mall close to Friday's incident killed at least four people in January of last year. In December, a different driver in Melbourne drove into more people, injuring at least 19. In a series of tweets, Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria state, called the incident "an act of terror struck the heart of our city, in a place where past wounds have still not healed." "To the victims and their loved ones, we offer our prayers, support and deepest sympathies. We won't be defined by this evil act. Victorians will continue to go about their business, together and with resolve," Andrews wrote.[SEP]A man was shot dead by police Friday after he allegedly set a car on fire and stabbed three people -- one fatally -- on a busy street in Melbourne, Australia, in what authorities say was an "act of terrorism." Interested in Australia? Add Australia as an interest to stay up to date on the latest Australia news, video, and analysis from ABC News. Add Interest The incident began Friday afternoon when police officers responded to reports of a vehicle fire in Melbourne's central business district. Officers found the car on fire on the side of a busy street and were confronted by a man "brandishing a knife and threatening them," Victoria Police Superintendent David Clayton said at a press conference. William West/AFP/Getty Images Officers shot the knife-wielding man as he ran toward them, police said, and none of the officers were hurt. The suspect later died in the hospital, according to police, and there is no ongoing threat. Three stabbing victims were found at the scene, and the two survivors were hospitalized, police said. Their conditions were unknown. Xinhua/Bai Xue via Newscom The vehicle that was on fire contained multiple gas canisters, police said. An investigation by the Australian Federal Police's Joint Counter Terrorism Team is underway, and is being led by Victoria Police. ]/> Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the "evil and cowardly attack," which he said is being treated as a "terrorism incident." "I condemn the act of terrorism in Melbourne today that has tragically taken the life of a fellow Australian who has died as a result of this evil and cowardly attack," Morrison said in a statement Friday. "Australians will never be intimidated by these appalling attacks and we will continue to go about our lives and enjoy the freedoms that the terrorists detest." ABC News' Alexandra Faul and Joseph Simonetti contributed to this report.[SEP]SYDNEY (AP) - The Latest on a knife attack in Melbourne (all times local): The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack in Australia that police say was linked to terrorism. Police say the driver of a pickup truck got out of his vehicle, which then caught fire, and attacked three bystanders with a knife before being fatally shot by police on Friday in Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city. Police said the attacker came from Somalia. The militant group said in a statement released through its Aamaq media arm that the man was "one of Islamic State fighters" and carried out the attack in response to IS calls for attacks in countries that are part of the international coalition fighting the militants in Syria and Iraq. IS, which has suffered heavy battlefield setbacks in Syria and Iraq in the past year, often claims attacks in an opportunistic vein. Australian police say a pickup truck that caught fire in the country's second-largest city contained several barbeque gas cylinders and was part of an apparent terrorist attack. Police said the driver got out of the vehicle, which then caught fire, and attacked three bystanders with a knife before being fatally shot by police. The attack during the Friday afternoon rush hour brought central Melbourne to a standstill. Victoria state police Commissioner Graham Ashton says the attacker was from Somalia and known to the authorities, mostly because of family members who were "persons of interest" to police. Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews says the attack was "an evil and terrifying thing that has happened in our city and state today." Australian police say they believe an attack by a knife-wielding man who stabbed two people, one fatally, in the country's second-largest city is linked to terrorism. The attack during the Friday afternoon rush hour brought central Melbourne to a standstill. Police said the man got out of a vehicle, which then caught fire, and attacked three bystanders with a knife before being shot by police. The suspect died later at a hospital. Victoria state police Commissioner Graham Ashton says the suspect, who was originally from Somalia, was known to police and the incident is being treated as terrorism. Police shot a knife-wielding man Friday after he fatally stabbed one person and injured two others in the center of Australia's second-largest city, police said. The incident, which brought central Melbourne to a standstill in the late afternoon rush, came after police responded to reports of a burning vehicle. Officers were confronted near the burning car by a man "brandishing a knife and threatening them" while passers-by called out that people had been stabbed, Victoria state police Superintendent David Clayton said. One of the stabbed people was dead at the scene and two others were taken to a hospital.[SEP]Police confirm three people have been stabbed by a man brandishing a knife in Melbourne's CBD.[SEP]THE Islamic State terror group says one of its fighters carried out a knife attack in Melbourne yesterday in which one man died and two were wounded. The group's Amaq news website provided no evidence for the claim. "The one who executed the ramming and stabbing operation in Melbourne (..) is one of the fighters of the Islamic State and he executed the operation in response to (a call) to target the citizens of the coalition," Amaq said overnight. The text was referring to a call in August by Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to "use bombs, knives or cars to carry out attacks" in countries taking part in the US-led coalition that put an end to the caliphate he declared in 2014 over parts of Iraq and Syria. The attacker in Melbourne was shot by police after he set fire to a ute laden with gas cylinders in the centre of Melbourne and stabbed three people, killing one. The attacker died later in hospital. Police are now treating the stabbing attack in Melbourne's Bourke St as a terrorism incident. The knifeman, a 31-year-old Somali-born from Melbourne's north-western suburbs, died in hospital last night after being shot in the chest by police. The Herald Sun, on its Twitter page, said the terrorist's wife "was missing and is believed to have been radicalised". They say Victoria Police are searching for her. In a press conference yesterday afternoon Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the man who is alleged to have stabbed three people, killing one, was known to Victoria Police and federal intelligence authorities. "We are now treating this as a terrorism incident," he said. Commissioner Ashton revealed the man came to Australia from Somalia in the 1990s and had relatives known to police from a "terrorism perspective". "He's got family associations that are well known to us," he said. There were some reports that the man yelled "Allahu Akbar" during the attack but Commissioner Ashton said this had not been confirmed. The attacker had a record of some minor offences including for cannabis use, theft and driving offences. The man caused chaos in the Melbourne CBD on Friday afternoon after allegedly stabbing three men. One man, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene. Some witnesses say he was stabbed in the face. A 26-year-old and a 58-year-old were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police officers also received minor injuries, one of them from being punched, and some cuts and scratches. Police have not yet revealed the identity of the attacker or the other man who died. But The Herald Sun has named the attacker as Mohamed Khalif, who also reportedly goes by the name Hassan Shire. Bourke St is in lockdown from Swanston St to Russell St and is expected to remain closed until as late as 8am this morning as police investigate. The Herald Sun is reporting one of the men injured in the attack was Rodney Patterson and his wife Maree posted on Facebook that he was "doing OK given the circumstances". "Unfortunately we got caught up in the attack in Bourke Street this afternoon and Rodney was hurt - good news is he is in a great hospital and doing OK given the circumstances - can't take calls at the moment but will speak to everyone when I can," she wrote. "Thanks to everyone for their wishes and caring." In light of the attack police are doing security assessments of events happening in Melbourne this weekend and extra police may be present but the Commissioner said there was no ongoing threat they were aware of. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews condemned the incident and thanked the police and brave bystanders who had risked their lives to stop the knifeman. "This is an evil, terrifying thing that's happened in our city and state today," Mr Andrew said. "We condemn it. We also take this opportunity to thank those very brave and dedicated members of Victoria Police who did all of us proud in their very quick response in very dangerous circumstances. They've done each and every one of us proud. "Equally, those strangers, people who were bystanders who knew nobody involved, who stepped in without a moment's hesitation, to render support and assistances." Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had been briefed about the incident and state and federal agencies were working together. "I condemn the act of terrorism in Melbourne today that has tragically taken the life of a fellow Australian who has died as a result of this evil and cowardly attack," he said in a statement. "Australians will never be intimated by these appalling attacks and we will continue to go about our lives and enjoy the freedoms that the terrorists detest." The incident began when the man drove a 4WD into the city about 4.10pm and it was set on fire. Commissioner Ashton confirmed there were some barbecue-style gas cylinders in the car that had to be rendered safe by the bomb response unit. It's unclear whether the car was set on fire before or after the man left the vehicle. According to the ABC, witnesses saw the man crash the car, get out and throw an object into the car that set it alight. Commissioner Ashton said after the car was set on fire, the man interacted with some members of the public before police arrived. The man then punched one of the officers through the window of the car. Two other officers got out of the police vehicle and attempted to engage him but the man used a knife to try and attack them. One officer eventually shot him once in the chest. Footage on social media shows a blue ute in flames and a man dressed in a black tunic and white pants menacing police with a knife. Two bystanders try to help officers stop the man, one of them by rolling a shopping trolley in his path. In an earlier press conference, Victoria Police Superintendent David Clayton told reporters that police were called to the scene after reports of a car on fire. When officers got out of the car, they were confronted by a male brandishing a knife and threatening them. "Passers-by were calling out that members of the public had been stabbed," he said. One witness named Markel told ABC Local Radio in Melbourne that bystanders were urging officers to shot the man. "A lot of bystanders (were) actually just screaming at the police officers, because the police officers were trying to take the knife off him and arrest him but bystanders were yelling out 'just shoot him, just shoot him'." Ambulance Victoria said it had assessed three people at the scene, who were then taken to hospital. One had a neck injury and was in a suspected critical condition, a second person had a head injury; and the condition and injuries of the third person was unknown. Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident or had footage of what happened to contact them. Melbourne resident Meegan May told news.com.au she was on a tram on Bourke St heading into the city when it stopped just before Elizabeth St, about a block before the mall. She heard someone start screaming "he's got a knife". She looked through the back window of the tram and noticed a car on fire. There was a man and two police officers trying to calm him down. "A moment later, I heard a loud bang; to me it sounded like a gunshot," she said. Markel Villasin, 22, was finishing his shift at KFC on Bourke St as the drama unfolded. "Me and the managers ran out and that's when we saw the car on fire and then we saw the guy on the floor and we wanted to help, there were two blokes helping him out already, he was face down pools of blood around his face," he told AAP. "I'm pretty sure he got stabbed in the face. "I really wanted to help but I was in shock, I didn't know what to do. "Because he was on his stomach, they turned him over to see if he's alright, he was still alive." Bystander Drew Hair told AAP he was walking on Swanston Street when he heard an explosion. The next thing he saw was a "big dude punching into the police car". Mr Hair said the assailant was dressed in Islamic clothing and of African appearance and about six foot four inches tall. "The cops were trying to hit him with batons and he wasn't going down," he said. Mr Hair said two civilians became involved as well as two police, trying to stop the man from his attack. An ambulance and about 10 police cars appeared within moments. A man told Sky News that there seemed to be multiple explosions. "There was one explosion and fire, then a second explosion and it was like a massive fireball," he said. Reports on 3AW Radio indicate that witnesses saw the man driving the vehicle "throw something into the back", which then ignited. An eyewitness speaking to 7 News said it appeared the car was on fire before it crashed and "exploded". "I was walking up Bourke St … and we heard this loud explosion. I thought it was a car backfiring but there was flames coming out of the car. It then veered to the left … and exploded in flames," the woman said. "People were running everywhere. I thought it was like what happened last year so I started running. Everyone started running. It was so scary." Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to go to Melbourne West police station to make a statement. The incident comes as a trial into the 2017 rampage in Bourke Street continues. In 2017, six people died in the terrifying car rampage that also left dozens injured. Four adults, a child and a baby died after James "Dimitrious" Gargasoulas allegedly ploughed his car through the busy pedestrian mall on January 20. Those killed were three-month-old Zachary Matthew-Bryant, Tahlia Hakin, 10, Yosuke Kanno, 25, Jessica Mudie, 23, and 33-year-olds Matthew Si and Bhavita Patel. In September that year a knife-wielding man also went on a rampage outside Flinders St station. He was tasered and arrested in dramatic scenes in Melbourne's CBD. In December, there was another incident when Saeed Noori allegedly drove a car into people crossing the intersection of Flinders and Elizabeth streets. At least 18 people, including a four-year-old boy and international tourists, were hit by the car that afternoon and one of them, 83-year-old grandfather Antonio Crocaris, died about eight days later. If you or anyone you know needs help phone Lifeline 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.[SEP]SYDNEY, Australia — The Latest on a knife attack in Melbourne (all times local): 9:35 p.m. Australian police say a pickup truck that caught fire in the country’s second-largest city contained several barbeque gas cylinders and was part of an apparent terrorist attack. Police said the driver got out of the vehicle, which then caught fire, and attacked three bystanders with a knife before being fatally shot by police. The attack during the Friday afternoon rush hour brought central Melbourne to a standstill. Victoria state police Commissioner Graham Ashton says the attacker was from Somalia and known to the authorities, mostly because of family members who were “persons of interest” to police. Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews says the attack was “an evil and terrifying thing that has happened in our city and state today.” —— 8:45 p.m. Australian police say they believe an attack by a knife-wielding man who stabbed two people, one fatally, in the country’s second-largest city is linked to terrorism. The attack during the Friday afternoon rush hour brought central Melbourne to a standstill. Police said the man got out of a vehicle, which then caught fire, and attacked three bystanders with a knife before being shot by police. The suspect died later at a hospital. Victoria state police Commissioner Graham Ashton says the suspect, who was originally from Somalia, was known to police and the incident is being treated as terrorism. —— 7:30 p.m. Police shot a knife-wielding man Friday after he fatally stabbed one person and injured two others in the centre of Australia’s second-largest city, police said. The incident, which brought central Melbourne to a standstill in the late afternoon rush, came after police responded to reports of a burning vehicle. Officers were confronted near the burning car by a man “brandishing a knife and threatening them” while passers-by called out that people had been stabbed, Victoria state police Superintendent David Clayton said. One of the stabbed people was dead at the scene and two others were taken to a hospital.[SEP]Police in Australia say the man behind yesterday's terror attack in Melbourne was inspired by the Islamic State group. Officers say Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, originally from Somalia, had his passport cancelled in 2015 following reports he planned to travel to Syria. He stabbed one person to death, before being shot dead by police. Australia's Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has paid tribute to those who intervened[SEP]SYDNEY (AP) — The Latest on a knife attack in Melbourne (all times local): Australian police say they believe an attack by a knife-wielding man who stabbed two people, one fatally, in the country's second-largest city is linked to terrorism. The attack during the Friday afternoon rush hour brought central Melbourne to a standstill. Police said the man got out of a vehicle, which then caught fire, and attacked three bystanders with a knife before being shot by police. The suspect died later at a hospital. Victoria state police Commissioner Graham Ashton says the suspect, who was originally from Somalia, was known to police and the incident is being treated as terrorism. Police shot a knife-wielding man Friday after he fatally stabbed one person and injured two others in the center of Australia's second-largest city, police said. The incident, which brought central Melbourne to a standstill in the late afternoon rush, came after police responded to reports of a burning vehicle. Officers were confronted near the burning car by a man "brandishing a knife and threatening them" while passers-by called out that people had been stabbed, Victoria state police Superintendent David Clayton said. One of the stabbed people was dead at the scene and two others were taken to a hospital.[SEP]A knife-wielding man has stabbed three people, one fatally, in Melbourne in an attack police linked to terrorism. The attack during the afternoon rush hour brought the centre of Australia’s second largest city to a standstill. Hundreds of people watched from behind barricades as police tried to apprehend the attacker. Officers said the man got out of a pick-up truck, which then caught fire, and attacked three bystanders with a knife. He also attempted to attack police who arrived on the scene, before being shot in the chest by an officer. He died in hospital. One of the victims also died, while the two others were admitted to hospital. Police said the attacker’s vehicle contained several barbecue gas cylinders in the back. A bomb squad rendered them safe. Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said the suspect, originally from Somalia, was known to police and the incident was being treated as terrorism. “From what we know of that individual we are treating this as a terrorism incident,” he told reporters, adding that the police counter-terrorism command was working on the case with homicide detectives. “He’s known to police mainly in respect to relatives that he has which certainly are persons of interest to us, and he’s someone that accordingly is know to both Victorian police and the federal intelligence authorities,” he said. The Islamic State group claimed the attack in a statement released through its Aamaq media arm. It said the man was “one of Islamic State fighters” and had responded to IS calls for attacks in countries that are part of the international coalition fighting the militants in Syria and Iraq. The attack occurred on the eve of a busy weekend in Melbourne, with a major horse race scheduled for Saturday and a national league football match the following day. Sunday is also Remembrance Day, when memorial ceremonies for the First World War are held. Mr Ashton said police were “doing security reassessments of these events in light of what’s occurred”, but there was “no ongoing threat we’re currently aware of in relation to people surrounding this individual”. “Australians will never be intimidated by these appalling attacks and we will continue to go about our lives and enjoy the freedoms that the terrorists detest,” he said. One witness said one of the victims, believed to be a man in his 60s who later died, was stabbed in the face, and that desperate efforts were made to save him. “Because he was on his stomach, they turned him over to see if he’s all right, he was still alive,” Markel Villasin told Australian Associated Press. “He was breathing and he was bleeding out.” Video from the scene showed a man swinging a knife at two police officers near a burning car before he was shot. In December 2014, a 17-hour siege in which a gunman took 18 people hostage in a Sydney cafe ended with two hostages dead and the gunman killed by police. Though the erratic gunman demanded that police deliver him an IS flag at the outset of the crisis, there was no evidence he had established contact with the militant group. However, at a later inquest, the coroner of New South Wales said the gunman’s actions fell “within the accepted definition of terrorism”.

One person is killed and two others are injured by a knife-wielding man in Melbourne, Australia. The suspect, a 31-year-old Australian resident originally from Somalia, randomly stabbed pedestrians after exiting his burning, crashed utility truck that held multiple gas canisters. He was shot and killed attempting to stab responding police. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claims responsibility.

A state of emergency has been declared as a fast-moving fire burns through Butte County, California.Evacuation orders have been issued for the fire, which has burned 20,000 acres.One of the hardest hit areas was the town of Paradise, which is about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco."Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it's that kind of devastation," said Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean late Thursday.[SEP]MALIBU, Calif. — A fierce wildfire in Northern California incinerated most of a town of about 30,000 people with flames that moved so fast there was nothing firefighters could do, authorities said Friday. Nine people died in what quickly grew into the state's most destructive fire in at least a century. Only a day after it began, the blaze near the town of Paradise had grown to nearly 140 square miles (362 square kilometers), had destroyed more than 6,700 structures — almost all of them homes — and was burning completely out of control. "There was really no firefight involved," Capt. Scott McLean of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said, explaining that crews gave up attacking the flames and instead helped people get out alive. "These firefighters were in the rescue mode all day yesterday." With fires also burning in Southern California , state officials put the total number of people forced from their homes at about 250,000. Evacuation orders included the entire city of Malibu, which is home to 13,000, among them some of Hollywood's biggest stars. President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration providing federal funds for Butte, Ventura and Los Angeles counties. When Paradise was evacuated, the order set off a desperate exodus in which many motorists got stuck in gridlocked traffic and abandoned their vehicles to flee on foot. People reported seeing much of the community go up in flames, including homes, supermarkets, businesses, restaurants, schools and a retirement center. "A whole town was wiped out in 24 hours," said Rocklin Police officer Jon Gee. "It's crazy." Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said 157,000 people had been forced from their homes in three major fires in the Golden State, including the Camp Fire that destroyed Paradise. In Southern California, some 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with the Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeting: "imminent threat." Ventura County Fire Department Captain Scott Dettorre warned that as the fire crossed the famous highway 101, a major transportation artery, “it will make its historic and typical run all the way down Pacific Coast Highway, threatening more homes, more property, more lives,” KTLA-TV reports. Fire officials initially ordered the evacuation of all 13,000 residents of the community, which stretches 21 miles along the ocean, but later scaled it back to the western two-thirds of the city. The Woolsey Fire had exploded to more than 5 square miles Friday morning and was continuing to grow. Homeowners fleeing the wind-driven blaze around Malibu jammed roadways as the fire crept closer to the affluent, surfside community, which is home to numerous movie and TV stars. The celebrity site The Blast said homes belonging to Mel Gibson, Caitlyn Jenner, Lady Gaga, Courteney Cox, Julia Roberts and Patrick Dempsey were located in the evacuation zone. As cars snarled Pacific Coast Highway, some residents lined up five deep at a gas station for a last chance to get fuel. All were being directed south toward the safety of Santa Monica. At the Point Dume Village shopping Center north of the famed Malibu pier, business was brisk at a coffee bar, the Cafe De La Plage. The customers all fit into the look of the locals — T-shirts, shorts and sandals — but many of them were evacuees who had fled their homes the night before in the belief Malibu would be a safe haven. “I am just very unhappy,“ said James Collins, 48, from the small community of Cornell. He said he had been evacuated at 4 a.m. but he was taking it in stride, noting the rest of the nation has had its share of natural disasters recently. “Other people have rain. We have fire,“ said Collins. A pair of Dutch bicyclists in a trek from Vancouver, British Columbia, to San Diego were trying to stay ahead of the flames. They had gotten on the road before the highway closures and peddled as smoke billowed in the hills nearby. “We are not afraid,” said one of them, Twan Goense, 24, of Delft, the Netherlands. As the fires closed in on Malibu, one resident on Twitter pleaded for help in evacuating 40 horses from a farm, The Malibu Times reports. Pepperdine University shut down its Malibu and Calabasas campuses and initiated shelter-in-place protocols as the fire roared southward, sweeping into the Santa Monica mountains. The Woolsey fire was one of three ravaging the state, with the northern California town of Paradise largely destroyed overnight. The swift-moving Camp Fire moved Friday morning into the eastern side of Chico, a city with a population of around 90,000. Fire officials said strong winds had hampered efforts to drop retardant by aircraft. As the blaze roared into Paradise, it turned escape routes into tunnels of fire as the entire community of 27,000 residents were ordered to evacuate. On Thursday, as flames engulfed Paradise, frantic residents racing to safety plunged into the thick smoke that darkened the daytime sky and made driving difficult. “We were surrounded by fire, we were driving through fire on each side of the road,” said police officer Mark Bass, who lives in Paradise and works in neighboring Chico. Bass evacuated his family and then returned to the fire to help rescue several disabled residents, including a man trying to carry his bedridden wife to safety. “It was just a wall of fire on each side of us, and we could hardly see the road in front of us.” Sherri Pritchard said she only had time to grab a few pictures before fleeing with her family and dogs, even leaving clothes behind. "It was crazy, because when we were sitting in traffic people were panicking," she said. "It was chaos. I couldn't believe what people were doing." Reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian-West, who lives in an area known as Hidden Hills in Los Angeles county, was among those forced to evacuate as the Woolsey Fire exploded to 8,000 acres, People magazine reported. She had been filming aerial shots in her private plane earlier for her Instagram Stories and realized her own home was threatened. Just landed back home and had 1 hour to pack up & evacuate our home. I pray everyone is safe,” she wrote. Friday morning, fire officials reported that the fire had jumped Highway 101 near the city of Calabasas. Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean said a couple of thousand structures were destroyed in the town about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco. “Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it’s that kind of devastation,” he said. The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for fire dangers in many areas of the state, saying low humidity and strong winds were expected to continue through the evening. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, where the fire was burning about 80 acres per minute at one point, according to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. That’s equal to about 60 football fields per minute. The Hill Fire comes down the hillside near Thousand Oaks at Hill Canyon Road and Santa Rosa Road Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Hill Fire near Thousand Oaks in Ventura Country needed just 12 minutes to jump Highway 101, one of the area’s primary roadways. It burned in the same path as the 2013 Springs Fire that torched 24,000 acres before running into the Pacific Ocean. The Hill Fire had consumed 10,000 acres, or 15 square miles, according to Cal Fire, though the Ventura County Fire Department reported no injuries or structure losses at a Thursday night press conference. “The first part of this fuel bed had not seen fire for many years. Drought-stricken fuels, Santa Ana wind conditions, low relative humidity, high temperatures: It’s a recipe for fire,” said Ventura County Fire Department Assistant Chief Chad Cook, the incident commander for the Hill Fire. The Woolsey Fire triggered a mandatory evacuation order for the entire beachside city of Malibu. The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted that the fire is headed to the ocean, punctuating the message with the declaration: "Imminent threat!" The fire swelled unabated to 8,000 acres over night in Ventura and Los Angeles counties with the Santa Ana winds fanning flames and forcing hundreds of people from their homes. Reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian-West, who lives in an area known as Hidden Hills in Los Angeles county, was among those forced to evacuate their homes, People magazine reported. She had been filming aerial shots in her private plane earlier for her Instagram Stories and realized her own home was threatened. “Just landed back home and had 1 hour to pack up & evacuate our home. I pray everyone is safe,” she wrote. Friday morning, fire officials reported that the fire had jumped Highway 101 near the city of Calabasas.[SEP]A pair of fast-growing wildfires are raging in California, forcing tens of thousands of residents from their homes and burning some 30,000 acres across the northern and southern parts of the state. The Camp Fire, about 90 miles north of Sacramento in Butte County, has scorched over 31 square miles in Butte County, Cal Fire said in its 7 p.m. PST update. Officials said 15,000 structures are being threatened as 2,289 fire personnel work against the flames. In Southern California, the Hill Fire had charred 15 square miles, Cal Fire said Thursday night. Spurred by strong Santa Ana winds, the Hill Fire flared amid red-flag warnings near Thousand Oaks, which was already reeling after a late-night shooting at a dance bar left 13 people dead, including the suspected gunman. No injuries or structure losses have been reported, the Ventura County Fire Department said during a Thursday night press conference. Officials said they expected the fire to burn to the Pacific Coast Highway and to the Pacific Ocean, potentially reaching 30,000 acres. High winds are also to blame for the Camp Fire, which Cal Fire described as "very dangerous" in an afternoon tweet while encouraging people to heed widespread evacuation orders. Neil Lareau, an assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno, said the Camp Fire is moving twice as fast as the Carr Fire, which devastated Shasta County this summer. Flames consume a building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. A California fire official says a fast-moving wildfire in Northern California has destroyed structures and injured civilians. “Certainly, there were periods during the Carr Fire where it moved at a faster rate of spread . . . but not for a prolonged period. We have seen a sustained rapid fire growth all day today,” Lareau told the Redding Record Searchlight of the USA TODAY Network. It wasn’t until two days after it started that the Carr Fire started blowing up. “The Carr Fire on the day of its rapid expansion into northwest Redding was somewhat wind-driven and moved about six miles in the same amount of time the Camp Fire moved in 11 hours,” Lareau said. The intense winds driving the Camp Fire are much of the same conditions that fueled the Wine Country fires that ripped through Napa and Sonoma counties in October 2017, Lareau said. The 40 to 50 mph gusts are not atypical for this time of year in California. “What’s atypical are the extreme dry fuels for this late in the season,” Lareau said. “We haven’t gotten a good soaking of rain across Northern California.” A few thousand structures were destroyed in the city of Paradise, about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco, Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean told the Associated Press on Thursday night. "Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it's that kind of devastation," McLean said. "The wind that was predicted came and just wiped it out." Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed that people had to abandon their vehicles as they try to flee the fast-moving fire, which was 0 percent contained. Shary Bernacett said she and her husband tried to get people to leave the mobile home park they manage in Paradise, with just minutes to evacuate as the wildfire approached. The two “knocked on doors, yelled and screamed” to alert as many of the residents of 53 mobile homes and recreational vehicles as possible to leave the area. “My husband tried his best to get everybody out. The whole hill’s on fire. God help us!”” Bernacett said. The couple grabbed their dog, jumped in their pickup and drove through flames before getting to safety on Highway 99, she said. Medical personnel evacuate patients as the Feather River Hospital burns while the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, where the fire was burning about 80 acres per minute at one point, according to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. That's equal to about 60 football fields per minute. The Hill Fire, which was expected to burn the same area that was destroyed by the Springs Fire in 2013, could threaten up to 5,000 structures, fire officials told the Ventura County Star of the USA TODAY Network. "The challenge for us is that we're at the beginning of a significant Santa Ana wind event that will last several days," a VCFD official said during Thursday night's press conference. The risk of fire danger was high throughout the state on Thursday, AccuWeather said. "The combination of ongoing drought, high winds and very low relative humidity will lead to dangerous conditions for fire weather in parts of California," the National Weather Service said.[SEP]Raging wildfires in California have driven 157,000 people from their homes and caused unspecified numbers of fatalities, fire officials said Friday. Near Los Angeles, a large portion of the beachside town of Malibu was ordered evacuated as a wind-driven blaze jumped the U.S. 101 Freeway and raced toward the sea. Northern California officials said Friday that investigators found five people dead in vehicles that were torched by the flames of one of the ferocious wildfires. The Butte County Sheriff's Office said the victims were found in the same area in the town of Paradise. Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said the Camp Fire in Northern California that destroyed the town of Paradise had also claimed lives, but said the number was unknown. The Camp Fire, which has wracked Butte County, 80 miles north of Sacramento, quadrupled overnight to nearly 110 square miles, according to fire officials. In Southern California, some 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with the Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeting: "imminent threat," adding that "Malibu lakes residents must leave area immediately." Ventura County Fire Department Captain Scott Dettorre warned that as the fire crosses the famous highway 101, “it will make its historic and typical run all the way down Pacific Coast Highway, threatening more homes, more property, more lives,” KTLA-TV reports. Fire officials initially ordered the evacuation of all 13,000 residents of the community, which stretches 21 miles along the ocean, but later scaled it back to the western two-thirds of the city. Homeowners fleeing the wind-driven blaze jammed roadways as the fire crept closer to a community that is home to such movie and TV stars as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Ellen DeGeneres and Angelina Jolie. At one point, one resident on Twitter pleaded for help in evacuating 40 horses from a farm, The Malibu Times reports. Pepperdine University shut down its Malibu and Calabasas campuses and initiated shelter-in-place protocols as the fire roared southward, sweeping into the Santa Monica mountains. The Woolsey fire was one of three ravaging the state, with the northern California town of Paradise largely destroyed overnight. The swift-moving Camp Fire moved Friday morning into the eastern side of Chico, a city with a population of around 90,000. Fire officials said strong winds had hampered efforts to drop retardant by aircraft. As the blaze roared into Paradise, it turned escape routes into tunnels of fire as the entire community of 27,000 residents were ordered to evacuate. On Thursday, as flames engulfed Paradise, frantic residents racing to safety plunged into the thick smoke that darkened the daytime sky and made driving difficult. “We were surrounded by fire, we were driving through fire on each side of the road,” said police officer Mark Bass, who lives in Paradise and works in neighboring Chico. Bass evacuated his family and then returned to the fire to help rescue several disabled residents, including a man trying to carry his bedridden wife to safety. “It was just a wall of fire on each side of us, and we could hardly see the road in front of us.” Sherri Pritchard said she only had time to grab a few pictures before fleeing with her family and dogs, even leaving clothes behind. "It was crazy, because when we were sitting in traffic people were panicking," she said. "It was chaos. I couldn't believe what people were doing." Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean said a couple of thousand structures were destroyed in the town about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco. “Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it’s that kind of devastation,” he said. The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for fire dangers in many areas of the state, saying low humidity and strong winds were expected to continue through the evening. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, where the fire was burning about 80 acres per minute at one point, according to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. That’s equal to about 60 football fields per minute. The Hill Fire comes down the hillside near Thousand Oaks at Hill Canyon Road and Santa Rosa Road Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Hill Fire near Thousand Oaks in Ventura Country needed just 12 minutes to jump Highway 101, one of the area’s primary roadways. It burned in the same path as the 2013 Springs Fire that torched 24,000 acres before running into the Pacific Ocean. The Hill Fire had consumed 10,000 acres, or 15 square miles, according to Cal Fire, though the Ventura County Fire Department reported no injuries or structure losses at a Thursday night press conference. “The first part of this fuel bed had not seen fire for many years. Drought-stricken fuels, Santa Ana wind conditions, low relative humidity, high temperatures: It’s a recipe for fire,” said Ventura County Fire Department Assistant Chief Chad Cook, the incident commander for the Hill Fire. The Woolsey Fire triggered a mandatory evacuation order for the entire beachside city of Malibu. The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted that the fire is headed to the ocean, punctuating the message with the declaration: "Imminent threat!" The fire swelled unabated to 8,000 acres over night in Ventura and Los Angeles counties with the Santa Ana winds fanning flames and forcing hundreds of people from their homes. The Ventura County fire department said Friday that 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in the two adjoining counties west of Los Angeles. Reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian-West, who lives in an area known as Hidden Hills in Los Angeles county, was among those forced to evacuate their homes, People magazine reported. She had been filming aerial shots in her private plane earlier for her Instagram Stories and realized her own home was threatened. “Just landed back home and had 1 hour to pack up & evacuate our home. I pray everyone is safe,” she wrote. Friday morning, fire officials reported that the fire had jumped Highway 101 near the city of Calabasas.[SEP]A series of fast-moving wildfires are racing up and down California early Friday, destroying thousands of structures in their paths and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate through flame-lined streets. Fanned by high winds and low humidity, the fires spread rapidly Thursday and overnight Friday. The threat continues Friday morning, with more than 20 million people under red flag warnings. Here’s what we know about the trio of fires: Tanah Clunies-Ross woke up in the dark to what sounded like lumps of coal raining down on her Northern California home. Within minutes, her family and thousands of people were racing to escape the raging flames of the Camp Fire. “The smell of the smoke and realizing the smoke was a lot closer than I thought and then seeing flames up to my knees. … I lost it,” she said. Her family was among the 40,000 residents forced to evacuate in Butte County, California, after the fire broke out early Thursday, “growing uncontrollably” at a rate of about 80 football fields per minute. So far, it has burned through 20,000 acres, injured firefighters and residents, and prompted hospitals and schools to quickly evacuate. The full extent of the destruction is still unknown, but authorities believe up to 1,000 structures have been destroyed — most of those in Paradise, a town of 26,000 people about 85 miles north of Sacramento, a Cal Fire spokesman said. Paradise resident Whitney Vaughn described the chaotic evacuations on roads lined with burning trees. “People were abandoning their cars and running with their babies and kids. This was right before someone rammed our vehicle with theirs, trying to get through,” Vaughn wrote on Facebook. “There were no firefighters in sight. I am hoping all of these people made it out.” Multiple injuries have been reported by both civilians and firefighters, Cal Fire spokesman John Gaddie said. The extent of their injuries is unknown. Late Thursday, more than 2,200 firefighters were battling the flames and the fire remains uncontained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the area and has requested federal funds to help those impacted by wildfires in the state. Newsom is serving as acting governor while Gov. Jerry Brown is traveling out of state. Authorities fear the fire, fueled by strong winds, could reach Chico — a city of 90,000 people where many Butte County families already have evacuated to shelters. In Southern California, the night sky burned orange as the Woolsey Fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties grew thousands of acres overnight, exploding from 2,000 acres to 7,500 in a matter of hours. Mandatory evacuations were in effect early Friday, and 30,000 homes were under threat from the blaze. Some structures have already been destroyed, Cal Fire reported. Hidden Hills resident Adrienne Janic gave her home over to firefighters late Thursday to use as a command center. Her deck provided a strong vantage point to monitor the spread of the fire. By 1 a.m. (4 a.m. ET), more firefighters arrived as the flames closed in on Janic’s street. “While a lot of my yard and neighbors’ yards burned, the firefighters saved our homes,” Janic tweeted just after 2 a.m. (5 a.m. ET) Friday. “We are still not out of the woods yet.” Just down the road from the Thousand Oaks bar where 12 people were killed in a mass shooting, residents were also grappling with the Hill Fire, which quickly spread to cover 10,000 acres, Ventura County Fire Department officials said. Just 12 minutes after it started Thursday afternoon, the flames spread across the 101 Freeway, leaving several drivers temporarily stranded. The highway is expected to remain closed Friday morning, Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. Residents took to social media to share their views of the flames nearly consuming the hillside in Newbury Park, which borders Thousands Oaks to the west. While no homes or businesses have been lost due to the fast-moving fire, a number of RVs and outbuildings have been burned and a firefighter suffered a minor injury, authorities said. Fire officials anticipate the fire will reach the Pacific Ocean.[SEP]MALIBU, Calif. — Firefighters hoped that a brief lull in howling winds would give them a chance on Saturday to block, or at least slow, one of two massive California wildfires that have left 11 people dead and driven a quarter-million people from their homes. Cal Fire officials said the Woolsey fire, that destroyed at least 150 homes and forced residents to evacuate the entire seaside town of Malibu, was still listed as "zero contained." The Camp Fire, which wiped out the town of Paradise in Butte County, 80 miles north of Sacramento, was only five percent contained. The brief respite in the high winds Saturday could give firefighters a chance to control the edges of the blazes and to swap crews, replacing firefighters who had worked for two days without rest, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said. But with the winds expected to return to 35 mph gusts on Sunday, it’s likely more homes would be lost, Osby warned. Two additional fatalities reported in Malibu may have been related to the fire that swept the area Friday night, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Chief John Benedict. n Paris, President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration providing federal funds for Butte, Ventura and Los Angeles counties but later threatened on Twitter to withhold federal payments to California, claiming its forest management is “so poor.” "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests," he wrote. "Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!” Hardest hit was Paradise, a town of 27,000 in the Sierra Nevada foothills, where nine people died, some torched inside their cars as they were attempting to flee the sudden approach of the flames. The town is a popular retirement community, raising concerns of elderly and immobile residents who have been reported missing. On Friday, dozens of burned-out cars and SUVs lined the main road out of Paradise known simply as Skyway, stripped down to their bare metal by flames that melted aluminum engine blocks, vaporized plastic door handles and exploded their windows. In the afternoon, a small army of firefighters and emergency workers picked their way through the debris, small fires burning in trees and in the ruins of houses. Power lines littered the streets, and heavy smoke blocked out the sun. For Cinda Larimer, it was the fourth time in 20 years that she has evacuated her home in Paradise. Three times she has came back to an untouched structure. Not this time. All she now has left is a minivan stuffed with four cats, a turtle and her dog named Buddy. “We’ve lost it all,” Larimer, 53, said as ash from the burning town drifted onto her shoulders about five miles outside of Paradise. “My mother, she evacuated and only took two outfits. Why? For the same reason: We all thought we’d be going home today.” The Camp Fire, which has exploded to 140 square miles and has destroyed more than 6,700 structures — most of them homes — is California’s most destructive wildfire since record-keeping began. In Southern California, west of Los Angeles, the Woolsey fire has ballooned to almost 55 acres after jumping Highway 101, the main coastal artery, and racing to the sea. In less than two days, the Woolsey Fire and the smaller Hill Fire, also in Ventura County, have destroyed more than 150 homes and prompted evacuation orders for more than 250,000 people, fire officials said. Officials ordered the evacuation of the entire city, which stretches 21 miles along the coastline and includes the homes of such celebrities as Lady Gaga, Mel Gibson and Cher. The attempt to flee the flames has been hampered by clogged roads. In addition, power has been cut off in many parts of Malibu, causing gas pumps not to work. Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Abouty 20 miles north, in the smoke-choked community of Calabasas, local residents and sooty firefighters gathered at the Starbucks inside the Albertsons supermarket in what appeared to be the only open business inside the evacuation area. There was no outside electricity, only power from a backjup generator. Residents, many wearing masks for protection against the smoke, shared videos that they taken on their smart phones showing flames engulfing their backyards. Paul Bancroft said he was not about to about his house, which took him three years to build, in a nearby area known as Old Agoura. The Hill Fire comes down the hillside near Thousand Oaks at Hill Canyon Road and Santa Rosa Road Thursday afternoon. The fire burned “right up to the fence (and) started burning in my bushes.” he said. He managed to douse it with a garden hose. “I’ve built my home and I didn’t want to leave,” Bancroft said[SEP]A state of emergency has been declared as a fast-moving fire burns through Butte County, California.Evacuation orders have been issued for the fire, which has burned 20,000 acres.One of the hardest hit areas was the town of Paradise, which is about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco."Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it's that kind of devastation," said Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean late Thursday.[SEP]MALIBU, Calif. — Firefighters hoped that a brief lull in howling winds would give them a chance on Saturday to block, or at least slow, one of two massive California wildfires that have left 11 people dead and driven a quarter-million people from their homes. Cal Fire officials said the Woolsey fire, that destroyed at least 150 homes and forced residents to evacuate the entire seaside town of Malibu, was still listed as "zero contained." The Camp Fire, which wiped out the town of Paradise in Butte County, 80 miles north of Sacramento, was only five percent contained. The brief respite in the high winds Saturday could give firefighters a chance to control the edges of the blazes and to swap crews, replacing firefighters who had worked for two days without rest, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said. But with the winds expected to return to 35 mph gusts on Sunday, it’s likely more homes would be lost, Osby warned. Two additional fatalities reported in Malibu may have been related to the fire that swept the area Friday night, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Chief John Benedict. n Paris, President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration providing federal funds for Butte, Ventura and Los Angeles counties but later threatened on Twitter to withhold federal payments to California, claiming its forest management is “so poor.” "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests," he wrote. "Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!” Hardest hit was Paradise, a town of 27,000 in the Sierra Nevada foothills, where nine people died, some torched inside their cars as they were attempting to flee the sudden approach of the flames. The town is a popular retirement community, raising concerns of elderly and immobile residents who have been reported missing. On Friday, dozens of burned-out cars and SUVs lined the main road out of Paradise known simply as Skyway, stripped down to their bare metal by flames that melted aluminum engine blocks, vaporized plastic door handles and exploded their windows. In the afternoon, a small army of firefighters and emergency workers picked their way through the debris, small fires burning in trees and in the ruins of houses. Power lines littered the streets, and heavy smoke blocked out the sun. For Cinda Larimer, it was the fourth time in 20 years that she has evacuated her home in Paradise. Three times she has came back to an untouched structure. Not this time. All she now has left is a minivan stuffed with four cats, a turtle and her dog named Buddy. “We’ve lost it all,” Larimer, 53, said as ash from the burning town drifted onto her shoulders about five miles outside of Paradise. “My mother, she evacuated and only took two outfits. Why? For the same reason: We all thought we’d be going home today.” The Camp Fire, which has exploded to 140 square miles and has destroyed more than 6,700 structures — most of them homes — is California’s most destructive wildfire since record-keeping began. In Southern California, west of Los Angeles, the Woolsey fire has ballooned to almost 55 acres after jumping Highway 101, the main coastal artery, and racing to the sea. In less than two days, the Woolsey Fire and the smaller Hill Fire, also in Ventura County, have destroyed more than 150 homes and prompted evacuation orders for more than 250,000 people, fire officials said. Officials ordered the evacuation of the entire city, which stretches 21 miles along the coastline and includes the homes of such celebrities as Lady Gaga, Mel Gibson and Cher. The attempt to flee the flames has been hampered by clogged roads. In addition, power has been cut off in many parts of Malibu, causing gas pumps not to work. Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Abouty 20 miles north, in the smoke-choked community of Calabasas, local residents and sooty firefighters gathered at the Starbucks inside the Albertsons supermarket in what appeared to be the only open business inside the evacuation area. There was no outside electricity, only power from a backjup generator. Residents, many wearing masks for protection against the smoke, shared videos that they taken on their smart phones showing flames engulfing their backyards. Paul Bancroft said he was not about to about his house, which took him three years to build, in a nearby area known as Old Agoura. The Hill Fire comes down the hillside near Thousand Oaks at Hill Canyon Road and Santa Rosa Road Thursday afternoon. The fire burned “right up to the fence (and) started burning in my bushes.” he said. He managed to douse it with a garden hose. “I’ve built my home and I didn’t want to leave,” Bancroft said[SEP]Two California Wildfires Destroy Thousands Of Buildings And Force Mass Evacuations The Camp fire is raging in Northern California and the Woolsey fire is ablaze in Southern California.[SEP]Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Fleeing through flames: 'I'm so scared right now... so terrified' At least 11 people have died in the most destructive wildfires ripping through north and south California. More than 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to avoid three major blazes in the state. Firefighters were powerless in stopping a wildfire destroying the northern town of Paradise, where nine people died and 35 are missing. Another fire swept into the affluent southern beach resort of Malibu on Friday and has now doubled in size. Two more people were reported to have died in that fire, known as the Woolsey, which now covers an area of 70,000 acres (28,000 hectares). Among the towns under evacuation orders is Thousand Oaks, where a gunman killed 12 people in a rampage on Wednesday. "The magnitude of the destruction of the fire is unbelievable and heartbreaking," said Mark Ghilarducci, of the California governor's office. President Trump has responded by blaming what he called gross mismanagement of the forests and warned of funding cuts. Meteorologists have warned that dangerous conditions may continue well into next week, but firefighters are hoping to take advantage of a temporary lull in the wind fanning the flames. Where is the Woolsey Fire? The blaze started on Thursday near Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64km) north-west of central Los Angeles. Another blaze, the Hill Fire, started at about the same time, also near Thousand Oaks. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption 'How much more can this town endure?' - deadly wildfire hits Thousand Oaks, where 12 people were killed in a mass shooting On Friday, the flames jumped Highway 101 and headed into coastal areas. All residents have been ordered to evacuate. Los Angeles County sheriff's Chief John Benedict said on Saturday that two people had been found dead but provided no details on the deaths. Malibu and nearby Calabasas are home to many celebrities. The actor Martin Sheen was briefly reported missing but later found on the beach. On Twitter, reality TV star Kim Kardashian said the home she shared with rapper Kanye West had been hit by the flames. "Trying to get my mind off this fire... We are all safe and that's all that matters." Image copyright Reuters Image caption Aerial footage shows fires racing up hillsides in Malibu towards abandoned homes The singer Cher, who is performing in Las Vegas, tweeted that she was worried about her Malibu home. Skip Twitter post by @cher I’m worried about my house🔥, but there is nothing I can do. Friends houses have burned🙏🏻 I can’t bear the thought of there being no Malibu I’ve had a house in Malibu since 1972😭 — Cher (@cher) November 9, 2018 Report The singer Lady Gaga said she had evacuated her home in Malibu, posting a video on Instagram that showed dark smoke billowing overhead. Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro tweeted that he had evacuated, leaving behind his "Bleak House" museum collection of fantasy and horror memorabilia. Skip Twitter post by @RealGDT Evacuated last night. Bleak House and the collection may be endangered but the gift of life remains. Thousand Oaks and Agoura are still in danger. Malibu is being evacuated. — Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 9, 2018 Report The fire has also reportedly destroyed one of the sets for the TV series Westworld and is threatening Malibu's Pepperdine University, a private residential college with more than 7,000 students. Firefighters have not managed to build containment barriers around the fire but hope to make some progress throughout Saturday. Where is the Camp Fire? The 20,000-acre (8,100-hectare) fire north of Sacramento started in the Plumas National Forest on Thursday and quickly engulfed the town of Paradise. Residents fled for their lives as more than 6,700 homes and businesses were destroyed, making the fire the most destructive in the state's history. The flames moved so fast that some had to abandon their cars and escape the town on foot. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told a news conference on Friday that the remains of five victims were found in or near burnt-out cars. Three others were found outside homes and one inside a home. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The Camp Fire has been fuelled by strong winds and dry forest He said another 35 people were missing and three firefighters had been injured. "This event was the worst-case scenario," he said. "It was the event we have feared for a long time." Rescuers used a bulldozer to push abandoned cars out of the way in order to reach a hospital and evacuate patients as the fire engulfed the building, Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter said. "There's nothing left standing," said Scott Maclean, the state's forestry and fire protection spokesman. The fire has now been partially contained. Driving through walls of flame By the BBC's James Cook, Paradise in California Paradise is hell. A smouldering, sepia world in ruins. The air is acrid. Burning chemicals leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Walking among the ashes of people's lives is eerie and awful. There is a profound sadness here. We pass a child's charred swing, a swimming pool filled with filth, and worst of all, a pet dog which did not survive. Such was the intensity of the blaze that much of the debris is hard to recognise. Wafers of ash are drifting down like enormous snowflakes, smothering sound. But it is not quite silent here. A sooty squirrel scrambles up a blackened tree in a panic. There are booms and creaks from burning trees and telegraph poles. And soon, going from ruin to ruin, there will be the sound of those with the hardest job of all, checking to see if anyone was left behind. Fire officials have also issued evacuation notices for parts of Chico, a town of 93,000 people north of Sacramento. The three blazes are among 16 currently active fires in California. Officials have put most of Northern California under a Red Flag Warning, which means "extreme fire behaviour" can occur within 24 hours. The region has grappled with serious wildfires in recent years, including the worst in the state's history - the Mendocino fire in 2018.

At least 11 people have been killed and more than 150,000 evacuated as two big wildfires rage in California, the Camp Fire in Butte County and the Hill Fire in Ventura.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Video shows the moment flood waters pour into Petra Flash floods in Jordan have killed 11 people and forced the evacuation of nearly 4,000 tourists from the ancient city of Petra. Rescue teams and helicopters are searching for five people whose car was swept away in Madaba, south-west of the capital, Amman. Downpours also triggered a state of emergency in the port city of Aqaba. It comes two weeks after 21 people, mostly children, drowned in a flash flood in the Dead Sea area. A civil defence spokeswoman told AFP news agency on Friday that a child was among those killed by floods in the Dabaa region, south of Amman. A main road connecting the capital with the south of the country was also cut off, she added. Image copyright Via Jordan Ministry of Communications Image caption Rescue teams and helicopters are searching for the missing In Petra, floodwaters in some areas rose up to 4m (13ft), state TV reported. Footage showed people on the city's main road trying to stay clear of the water. Evacuated tourists were taken to safe areas, government spokeswoman Jumana Ghunaimat said. She said more heavy rain was expected on Saturday and residents in affected areas were being urged to evacuate their homes. Jordan has suffered weeks of heavy rain. There was a public outcry last month after 18 children on a school trip were swept away, leading to the resignation of the country's education and tourism ministers.[SEP]PETRA, Jordan (AP) - Official media say the death toll from flash floods unleashed by heavy rains in Jordan has risen to 11, and that searches for missing people continue. Saturday's reports came a day after floods struck in several areas of Jordan, including Petra, an ancient trading hub carved into rose-colored rock. Hundreds of Petra visitors ran for higher ground Friday as water surged through a narrow canyon leading to the Treasury, Petra's main attraction. Government spokeswoman Jumana Ghuneimat and Civil Defense officials say the death toll rose early Saturday, after another body was found in the Madaba region south of the capital of Amman. They said searches for the missing are continuing. Friday's floods came two weeks after flash floods near the Dead Sea killed 21 people, most of them children. FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2017, file photo, tourists brave a rare rainstorm in plastic ponchos to peer at the Treasury, Jordan's most famous archaeological monument leftover from the Nabatean civilization in the kingdom's Petra archaeological park. Flash floods caused by heavy rain across Jordan killed people Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 and forced hundreds of tourists to seek higher ground in the kingdom's ancient city of Petra, the government spokeswoman said. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil, File)[SEP]AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan’s state news agency says four people have been killed and hundreds of tourists visiting the kingdom’s ancient city of Petra have been moved to higher ground after heavy rains caused flash floods in several locations. The Petra agency quoted government spokeswoman Jumana Ghunaimat as saying two dozen people were injured and dozens more evacuated as homes were flooded. Elsewhere, rising water levels forced the closure of a desert highway. She says several people are missing and that searches are continuing. Petra says two women and two girls were killed in two separate incidents. Friday’s floods came two weeks after 21 people, including middle school students, were killed in flash floods near the Dead Sea. Jordan’s tourism and education ministers resigned after the incident.[SEP]AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's state news agency says four people have been killed and hundreds of tourists visiting the kingdom's ancient city of Petra have been moved to higher ground after heavy rains caused flash floods in several locations.[SEP]PETRA, Jordan (AP) — Official media say the death toll from flash floods unleashed by heavy rains in Jordan has risen to 11, and that searches for missing people continue. Saturday's reports came a day after floods struck in several areas of Jordan, including Petra, an ancient trading hub carved into rose-colored rock. Hundreds of Petra visitors ran for higher ground Friday as water surged through a narrow canyon leading to the Treasury, Petra's main attraction. Government spokeswoman Jumana Ghuneimat and Civil Defense officials say the death toll rose early Saturday, after another body was found in the Madaba region south of the capital of Amman. They said searches for the missing are continuing. Friday's floods came two weeks after flash floods near the Dead Sea killed 21 people, most of them children.[SEP]Flash floods killed 11 people in Jordan and forced nearly 4,000 tourists to flee the famed ancient desert city of Petra, emergency services said on Saturday. Search teams were scouring valleys near the historic hill town of Madaba for two young girls still missing after Friday's floods, civil defence spokesman Iyad Amru told state television in an update. Five people have already been confirmed dead in the area southwest of the capital Amman after torrential rains swept the south of the kingdom. To the east, three people were killed near Dabaa on the Desert Highway, one of Jordan's three main north-south arteries, while one was killed near Maan in the south. Government spokeswoman Jumana Ghneimat said the highway was cut in both directions. The Jordanian army deployed helicopters and all-terrain vehicles to help with the search and rescue operation. A rescuer was also among the dead, the civil defence spokesman said. State television said the waters had reached as high as four metres (13 feet) in parts of the red-rock ravine city of Petra and the adjacent Wadi Musa desert. It broadcast footage of tourists sheltering on high ground on both sides of the access road to Jordan's biggest attraction. The government spokeswoman said 3,762 tourists were evacuated. Designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1985, Petra draws hundreds of thousands of tourists a year to its rock-hewn treasury, temples and mausoleums. Its buildings have been used as sets for several Hollywood blockbusters including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The latest deaths come after October 25 flash floods in the Dead Sea region of the kingdom killed 21 people, most of them children on a school trip. Jordan's education and tourism ministers both resigned last week over failings in the government's response to those floods. The education ministry ordered schools closed nationwide on Saturday amid warnings of more heavy rains.[SEP]Flash floods killed seven people in Jordan on Friday, the government and civil defence said, adding that five more people were missing. The bad weather also saw over 3,700 tourists evacuated by the authorities from the world famous historic site of Petra. The deaths come more than two weeks after October 25 floods in the Dead Sea region of Jordan cost 21 lives, most of them children on a school trip. The latest downpours hit the south of the desert kingdom claiming seven lives, government spokeswoman Jumana Ghneimat said. A civil defence source told AFP that five other people were missing. "Heavy rainfall in the Dabaa region (south of Amman) prompted the closure of the desert highway (leading to the south of the country) in both directions after the area was flooded," said Ghneimat. She said two women and a child were among those killed in the floods. The civil defence source said another child died in the Madaba area, also south of Amman, when the car the child was in was caught up in waters. "Rescuers are searching for five people who are missing in that area," the source said. Jordanian army troops deployed helicopters and armoured vehicles to help search for the missing and assist residents threatened by the floods, state television reported. Authorities evacuated 3,762 tourists from the ancient city of Petra, an archeological site and key tourist destination in southern Jordan, due to the bad weather, Ghneimat said. State television said that flood water in the red-rock city of Petra and in some areas of the nearby Wadi Mussa desert had risen to between three and four metres high and flooded the main roads. It broadcast footage showing people standing on both sides of the main road in Petra and along the desert highway trying to stay clear of the floods. Jordan's ministry of education also ordered schools closed across the country on Sunday. Ghneimat urged residents of the stricken areas and low-lying regions to evacuate their homes, saying that heavy rains were expected to continue to lash Jordan Friday night and Saturday. Jordan's education and tourism ministers resigned last week after the deadly school-bus accident in the flood-hit Dead Sea region.[SEP]The death toll from flash floods caused by heavy rain in central Jordan has risen to 11, official media said on Saturday. The media said searches for missing people were continuing after the floods struck in several areas of the country, including the popular tourist destination of Petra. Some 3,500 tourists had to be evacuated from Petra on Friday, with water surging through parts of the famed ancient trading center. No casualties in the city were reported. Government spokeswoman Jumana Ghuneimat on Friday called on residents living in low-lying regions to evacuate their homes, according to the kingdom's official Petra news agency. She warned that heavy rains were likely to continue. Earlier, Ghuneimat said those who died came from the town of Madaba, which lies southwest of the capital, Amman. The deluge came two weeks after flash floods triggered by torrential rain swept away a bus carrying children and their teachers from a private school in Amman, killing 21 people, mostly pupils. The victims had been on a trip to hot springs near the Dead Sea. Two government ministers resigned in connection with the disaster. Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.[SEP]AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Flash floods caused by heavy rain across Jordan killed nine people Friday and forced hundreds of tourists to seek higher ground in the kingdom's ancient city of Petra, the government spokeswoman said. About two dozen people were hurt and dozens more evacuated from their homes in several locations in the kingdom, as flood waters rose rapidly. Amateur video posted online showed a powerful torrent rushing through the steep, narrow canyon through which visitors reach the Treasury, the main attraction in Petra, an ancient trading hub carved from rose-colored rock. The video showed several hundred visitors crowded on a patch of higher ground near the Treasury as local guides helped one woman through surging water toward safety. "We made it," she shouted as she rejoined her group. Government spokeswoman Jumana Ghuneimat said two dozen people were injured and dozens more evacuated as homes were flooded in several locations. Elsewhere, rising water levels forced the closure of a desert highway. Friday's floods came just two weeks after 21 people, many of them middle school students, were killed in a flash flood near the Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea. The education and tourism ministers resigned after the incident. Torrential rains and flooding began Friday afternoon. In Wadi Musa, the town next to Petra in southern Jordan, water surged from nearby mountains into a dry riverbed running through the community. Ahmed Shamaseen, 29, owner of the Petra Harmony guest house, told The Associated Press he heard a thunderous sound, ran outside and saw water carrying tree stumps, rocks and debris rushing through the riverbed toward ancient Petra. He said several shops near the Petra visitors' center were badly damaged by flooding. Shamaseen said a couple from the Netherlands and their one-year-old child were touring Petra when the flooding began. He says the couple told him after their return to the guesthouse that they had to climb to higher ground to evade the water. Ghuneimat said more than 3,600 tourists visited Petra on Friday, and that efforts were continuing to evacuate them. She said nine people were killed Friday in other areas of Jordan. In one incident in a village in the Madaba region, south of the capital of Amman, flooding swept away a vehicle carrying members of one family, Civil Defense officials said. An 11-year-old girl was killed, another girl was seriously injured and divers were searching for three other members of the family. One of the divers involved in rescue efforts was killed. In the Dabaa area, also south of Amman, two women and a girl were killed in the floods which also forced the closure of a desert highway. A large number of cars were stuck, Ghuneimat said. Associated Press writer Fares Akram in Gaza City and Omar Akour in Amman contributed to this report.[SEP], according to Al Arabiya news channel correspondent.The Jordanian civil defense rescued a young girl and recovered the body of her sister after heavy flash floods swept their father's vehicle in the Malih area of the governorate of Madaba, while 11 others were injured in different areas of the country.A spokesman for the Civil Defense Iyad al-Amro, told Al Arabiya that members of the Civil Defense were searching for three other missing members of the surviving child's family.Jumana Ghunaimat, Minister of State for Media Affairs and government spokesperson, said that the security departments are coordinating the rescue operations in more than one area which had heavy rainfall, noting that 3,762 tourists were evacuated in the city of Petra in southern Jordan.The southern part of Jordan witnessed flash floods due to torrential rain, especially in the areas of Maan, Wadi Musa, Petra tourist city, and the provinces of Madaba and al-Balqa.The Minister of the Interior, the Minister of State for Public Information, the Government's spokesperson and other senior officials gathered at the National Center for Security and Crisis Management to monitor the situation.

Flash floods caused by heavy rain in Petra, Jordan, kill 11 people while 24 others are injured.

Le 5 novembre, dans la matinée, deux immeubles se sont effondrés rue d’Aubagne, à Marseille. Un drame qui a fait huit morts - cinq hommes et trois femmes. Le bilan n'a pas encore été présenté comme "définitif" par les autorités. Les recherches se poursuivaient vendredi soir dans les décombres des immeubles. Le procureur de la République de Marseille, Xavier Tarabeux, a annoncé l’identification de plusieurs des victimes, sans pour autant en dévoiler l’identité. Le quotidien La Provence a néanmoins dévoilé plusieurs éléments concernant les habitants de la rue d’Aubagne, disparus ou potentiellement décédés dans l’effondrement des deux immeubles.[SEP]PARIS (AP) - Marseille firefighters say the death toll has risen to six in the collapse of two dilapidated apartment buildings in the southern French city with the discoveries of two men's bodies Wednesday. The fire service has been toiling day and night with cadaver dogs to sift through the pile of rubble and beams. The two buildings, one condemned as substandard and seemingly empty, the other containing apartments, collapsed on Monday. Fire crews deliberately brought down an adjacent third building that was also in danger of collapse. The fire service says the site remains dangerous. The collapse has provoked soul-searching and criticism about the parlous state of some housing in Marseille, France's second-largest city. Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)[SEP]MARSEILLE, France (AP) - Fire services say the body of a woman has been found in the ruins of decrepit apartment buildings in the southern French city of Marseille, bringing to eight the death toll from the collapse that sparked an outcry over substandard housing. The body was found Friday afternoon, four days after the collapse, Marseille firefighters said. Two buildings, one condemned as substandard and seemingly empty, the other containing apartments, crumbled without warning. Fire workers have been working to dig the bodies out of the ruins. Firefighters work at the scene where buildings collapsed in Marseille, southern France, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Two buildings collapsed in the southern city of Marseille on Monday, leaving a giant pile of rubble and beams. Fire services said two people were lightly hurt. The collapse spewed debris into the street and clouds of dust into the air, and left a big gap where the two buildings used to be. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)[SEP]Marseille Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin said on Thursday that seven bodies had been recovered from two collapsed buildings near the Mediterranean city's Old Port area. Authorities believe one person may still be trapped under the rubble. The chances of finding survivors "are thin, very thin, but real," said Charles-Henri Garie, who leads the water brigades of the Marseille fire department. Gaudin is under pressure to resign after the buildings collapsed on Monday. "Some people are taking advantage of this in opposition to society's interests," Gaudin said. Earlier this week, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said at least 6,000 properties had been identified as "at risk" in Marseille. He said they comprised 44,000 lodgings mostly in lower-class neighborhoods. Castaner described the situation as "unacceptable." But Gaudin was defiant, saying he would not heed calls to jump ship in the wave of the tragic incident. He said since 2005, €35 million ($40 million) had been allocated to renovating or demolishing social housing blocks. "Do you think a ship captain quits during a storm?" Gaundin asked. Read more: Can Emmanuel Macron's banlieues plan reach the poor? But politicians and residents continued to decry the situation, saying officials needed to be held responsible. "Everybody knew about the problems with the two collapsed buildings," Patrick Lacoste, a spokesman for a local housing action group, told France 24. "People died for nothing, even though we knew." Jean-Luc Melenchon, a local left wing lawmaker and former presidential candidate, said it was "the homes of the poor that are falling down, and that's not a coincidence." Each evening, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.[SEP]Death toll up to 8 in Marseille building collapse MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Fire services say the body of a woman has been found in the ruins of decrepit apartment buildings in the southern French city of Marseille, bringing to eight the death toll from the collapse that sparked an outcry over substandard housing. The body was found Friday afternoon, four days after the collapse, Marseille firefighters said. Two buildings, one condemned as substandard and seemingly empty, the other containing apartments, crumbled without warning. Fire workers have been working to dig the bodies out of the ruins.

Two additional bodies are found in the rubble of the two buildings that collapsed four days ago in Marseille, France, bringing the final death toll to eight.

Theresa May Pays Tribute To The War Dead British Prime Minister Theresa May and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel attended a service at the St. Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, Belgium, to lay wreaths at the graves of John Parr and George Ellison, the first and last British soldiers killed in World War One.[SEP]British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to commemorate their countries' shared sacrifice in the First World War on Friday and discuss the future of their post-Brexit relationship. The commemoration, just ahead of the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI, will be held at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, in northern France, near the Belgian border. The memorial commemorates 72,337 missing British and South African servicemen who died between 1915 and 1918 in a series of battles along the Somme river and who have no known grave. May was to start the day with a visit to St Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, in Belgium, where she and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel were to lay a wreath at the graves of the first and last soldiers killed on the Western Front. "A century ago British forces fought side by side with our allies in Europe on the Western Front. Today in France and Belgium we reflect on our shared history, but also look ahead to our shared future, built on peace, prosperity and friendship," May said in a statement. Following a reception with British and Belgian serving armed forces in Mons, May will travel to France where she will meet Macron in Albert, a town in the heart of the Somme region which suffered significant bombardment during the First World War. The leaders will hold a working lunch, where Brexit is expected to be top of the agenda, before laying a wreath at the Thiepval Memorial. The wreath, made for the occasion, will combine poppies and le bleuet, the two national emblems of remembrance for Britain and France. France has taken a hard line in Brexit negotiations, with President Emmanuel Macron insistent that Britain should not be allowed to negotiate advantages for itself as it withdraws from the European Union. Negotiators have been racing the clock to try to agree the outlines of an agreement to settle Britain's exit that could be approved at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels this month. But hopes of meeting that deadline are fading. Britain's foreign minister played down the prospect of an imminent deal on Thursday and called for greater efforts to be made in the negotiations to "understand the other's perspective." On Saturday, May is to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. On Remembrance Sunday, she will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in London and attend the national service to mark the Centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey.[SEP]BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Two Belgian police motorcyclists were hurt on Friday when a motorist disrupted a convoy carrying British Prime Minister Theresa May and her Belgian counterpart, an official said. There was no question of it being an attack, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel’s spokesman told Reuters, after the incident following a wreath-laying ceremony at a British cemetery to mark Sunday’s centenary of the end of World War One. “It was an inattentive driver,” the spokesman said. The motorist began to overtake the speeding convoy on the motorway near Mons but then tried to pull into the convoy’s lane before reaching the front, causing the two escorts guarding the middle of the caravan of vehicles to lose control. As they toppled, their bikes nearly struck the car carrying Michel. May, in a car traveling in the front of the motorcade, would not have seen the incident, the spokesman said. No one other than police officers was hurt. While May traveled on toward her next memorial engagement, in France, Michel stopped the remainder of the convoy and waited while medical crews arrived to treat the injured motorcyclists.[SEP]British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to commemorate their countries' shared sacrifice in the First World War on Friday and discuss the future of their post-Brexit relationship. The commemoration, just ahead of the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI, will be held at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, in northern France, near the Belgian border. The memorial commemorates 72,337 missing British and South African servicemen who died between 1915 and 1918 in a series of battles along the Somme river and who have no known grave. May was to start the day with a visit to St Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, in Belgium, where she and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel were to lay a wreath at the graves of the first and last soldiers killed on the Western Front. "A century ago British forces fought side by side with our allies in Europe on the Western Front. Today in France and Belgium we reflect on our shared history, but also look ahead to our shared future, built on peace, prosperity and friendship," May said in a statement. Following a reception with British and Belgian serving armed forces in Mons, May will travel to France where she will meet Macron in Albert, a town in the heart of the Somme region which suffered significant bombardment during the First World War. The leaders will hold a working lunch, where Brexit is expected to be top of the agenda, before laying a wreath at the Thiepval Memorial. The wreath, made for the occasion, will combine poppies and le bleuet, the two national emblems of remembrance for Britain and France. France has taken a hard line in Brexit negotiations, with President Emmanuel Macron insistent that Britain should not be allowed to negotiate advantages for itself as it withdraws from the European Union. Negotiators have been racing the clock to try to agree the outlines of an agreement to settle Britain's exit that could be approved at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels this month. But hopes of meeting that deadline are fading. Britain's foreign minister played down the prospect of an imminent deal on Thursday and called for greater efforts to be made in the negotiations to "understand the other's perspective." On Saturday, May is to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. On Remembrance Sunday, she will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in London and attend the national service to mark the Centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey.[SEP]Theresa May's convoy of vehicles has been involved in a crash in Belgium. The crash happened on the E42 motorway in Belgium, dhnet reports. The incident took place while Mrs May was reportedly en route to an Armistice Day memorial. Two police motorcycles were knocked over by a car in the collision and the officers were taken to hospital. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel was also at the scene. Neither Prime Minister was injured in the accident. Agreement on a Brexit deal with Brussels will create a "new dynamic" in Parliament which would help secure support for Theresa May's plans, a key ally of the Prime Minister has claimed. The fragile alliance keeping the Prime Minister in power has been strained as the Democratic Unionist Party railed against measures it fears will create a border down the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. But David Lidington, Mrs May's de facto deputy prime minister, said he hoped that once a deal was on the table MPs would rally behind it. Hopes of an imminent breakthrough in the Brexit negotiations have so far failed to be met. But both Mr Lidington and Ireland's Leo Varadkar suggested a deal could be reached between the UK and EU in the coming weeks. The Taoiseach said: "A successful outcome is not guaranteed but I think it is possible in the next couple of weeks." Tensions between Mrs May and her DUP allies have been exposed amid concerns about measures aimed at avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland. DUP leader Arlene Foster said the Prime Minister appeared "wedded to the idea of a border down the Irish Sea" despite Downing Street's repeated assurances to the contrary. The response of the DUP has caused frustration in Downing Street, with sources insisting that Mrs May was not hiding behind "weasel words" and had stressed that she would not accept a deal which saw Northern Ireland hived off. A leaked letter from the Prime Minister in reply to an earlier message from Mrs Foster and her deputy, Nigel Dodds, set out Mrs May's approach. She wants a "backstop" measure which would create a temporary "joint customs territory" with the EU for the whole of the UK. But Brussels appears set to insist on a Northern Ireland-only "backstop to the backstop" in case negotiations on a wider UK approach break down or any time limit on it expires. In the letter, obtained by the Times, Mrs May said: "I am clear that I could not accept there being any circumstances or conditions in which that 'backstop to the backstop', which would break up the UK customs territory, could come in to force." But she acknowledged that the "unique circumstances" of Northern Ireland "could require specific alignment solutions in some scenarios" on regulations. The scope of any alignment with Brussels' rules would be limited to what is "strictly necessary" to avoid a hard border. The DUP has interpreted the wording of her letter to mean that specific Northern Ireland measures will be contained in the Brexit divorce deal despite Mrs May's assurances. Mrs Foster said: "It appears the Prime Minister is wedded to the idea of a border down the Irish Sea with Northern Ireland in the EU single market regulatory regime." DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme "we want to trust the Prime Minister" but "you have to judge any promise by what is actually delivered in an agreement". The party's Westminster leader, Mr Dodds, warned on Sky News: "I think the Prime Minister will hopefully realise what can be got through parliament and what can't." Any version of the backstop would apply unless and until a wider UK-EU deal on the future relationship solved the issue of how to avoid a hard border with Ireland. The Prime Minister relies on the support of the DUP's 10 MPs for her Commons majority, votes which will be crucial as she attempts to get a deal through Parliament. At the British-Irish Council summit in the Isle of Man, Mr Lidington said: "The Prime Minister has always been very clear we won't accept something that involves carving out Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK." He said a UK-EU deal would involve "compromises, give and take on all sides" but when faced with "product on the table" in the form of an agreement backed by all 28 governments there could be a shift in attitude at Westminster. "People will need to ask themselves what is it that is going to be in the best interests of those who sent them to Westminster to represent them, to ensure that we maintain living standards and investment and prosperity and employment in our country. "I hope and I believe that we can secure that majority in Parliament for the agreement." Mr Varadkar, who was also at the Isle of Man summit, said "it is more likely than not that we will be able to conclude an agreement" in the coming weeks but "lots of things can go wrong" - including having to get a deal through Westminster and the European Parliament. "Even when all of that is done, then we begin the talks on the future relationship," he added. "There is no clean break here, Brexit is going to go on for a very long time."[SEP]Two police motorbikes in Theresa May's convoy were knocked over Theresa May's trip to Belgium to mark the centenary of Armistice Day was interrupted when two police motorbikes in the convoy she was travelling in were knocked over. The prime minister was leaving a wreath-laying ceremony with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel when a traffic collision happened near NATO's headquarters in Mons. A Belgian government source told Sky News the leaders were travelling in separate armoured Mercedes. Image: Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel got out of his car to check the officers' injuries Another car entered the convoy around them without instructions, causing the motorbikes to manoeuvre and crash into each other. Mr Michel, who is a motorcyclist himself, got out of his car and knelt on the road to check the police officers' condition. Advertisement The two motorcyclists were taken to hospital but no-one else was injured. Image: Mrs May's message: 'They were staunch to the end' Earlier, Mrs May had been in Saint-Symphorien to visit the graves of the first and last British soldiers to be killed in World War One. John Parr of the Middlesex Regiment died on 21 August 1914, while Private George Ellison of the Royal Irish Lancers was killed on the Western Front on 11 November 1918 - 90 minutes before the armistice came into effect. First and last British WWI casualties honoured In the note left by the resting place of Private Parr, Mrs May quoted a line of wartime poetry The Soldier, written by Rupert Brooke. She wrote: "There is in that rich earth a richer dust concealed." At the grave of Private Ellison, also in blue pen on a headed Downing Street card attached to the garland of poppies, Mrs May wrote: "They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted ... We will remember them." Image: The prime minister also laid a wreath to George Ellison The line was from a poem written by Laurence Binyon and published in September 1914, which is often quoted in Remembrance Sunday services. Mrs May later travelled to Albert, the town at the heart of the French Somme region, where she was seen smiling and waving with President Emmanuel Macron. The leaders held a private meeting and working lunch, before they are due to depart for a wreath-laying ceremony at the nearby Thiepval Memorial. The site bears the names of more than 72,000 members of the armed forces who died in battle and holds an annual commemoration for the Missing of the Somme.[SEP]A car has smashed into a convoy carrying the prime ministers of the UK and Belgium, injuring two police officers The convoy was leaving a British military graveyard where Theresa May and Belgian prime minister Charles Michel had been laying wreaths to soldiers who fell in World War One, Reuters reported. A spokesperson for prime minister Michel described the event as an “unfortunate accident” according to local media reports. The car reportedly knocked down two police officers on motorbikes who had been escorting the convoy. The pair have been taken to hospital, and no one else was injured, local media said.[SEP] • A car crashed into a convoy carrying UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel in Belgium on Friday, local media reported. • Neither May nor Michel were injured. • Two police officers on motorbikes were reportedly mildly hurt. • Local media said it was an accident. A car crashed into UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s convoy in Belgium on Friday, local media reported. May, who was travelling with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel to a World War I memorial in Mons, in the country’s southwest. It’s not clear if May and Michel’s car was directly hit. Neither were hurt, according to Belgian outlets SudInfo and De Standaard. Two police, who were travelling on motorbikes, were hit and taken to hospital with mild injuries, SudInfo reported. Belgian newspapers Le Soir and De Standaard both reported the crash to be an accident. The identity of the driver who crashed into the convoy is not yet known. Michel ordered the convoy to stop immediately after the crash to check on the police officers, before continuing on the journey, Belgian newspapers La Dernière Heure and De Standaard reported.[SEP]BENOIT DOPPAGNE via Getty Images Theresa May and Charles Michel (far left) attend a ceremony to commemorate Armistice Day in Belgium. A vehicle in a convoy carrying Prime Minister Theresa May to an event marking Armistice Day in Belgium has been involved in a crash. Charles Michel, the Belgian Prime Minister, was also part of the convoy at the time of the incident on Friday morning, the De Standaard newspaper reported. It is believed two outriders were injured in a collision during the journey to the St Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, south east of Brussels. Reports said the incident occurred on the E42 motorway and that the two outriders were police officers. May and Michel were not harmed in the incident. HuffPost UK understands that May’s vehicle was ahead of the incident when it occurred. Both leaders were later pictured paying tribute to fallen soldiers killed in World War I by laying wreaths, including on the grave of John Parr, the first British soldier to die in the conflict.[SEP]A motorcade carrying British Prime Minister Theresa May and her Belgian counterpart Charles Michel to a World War I memorial ceremony in Belgium was involved in a motorway accident on Friday, but neither leader was hurt. Police and officials said two Belgian police motorcycle escort riders were injured when a car hit the leaders’ convoy. Michel’s spokesman, Barend Leyts, described it as “an unfortunate accident,” while Downing Street said May’s vehicle had already gone past when the incident occurred. Local media said the accident happened near Mons in southwest Belgium, after May and Michel had visited the Saint-Symphorien cemetery to pay homage to soldiers who died in the war, as part of this weekend’s 100th anniversary of the Armistice. Read this next: Michelle Obama: ‘I’d never forgive’ Trump for promoting birther conspiracy

A convoy accident involving British Prime Minister Theresa May and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel interrupts an Armistice Day trip after two police motorbikes were knocked over.

GUILTY. Former first lady Imelda Marcos is found guilty of 7 counts of graft for creating private organizations in Switzerland while she was a government official from 1968 to 1986. File photo by Rob Reyes/Rappler MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan convicted Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Imelda Marcos of 7 counts of graft related to private organizations created in Switzerland while she was a government official from 1968 to 1986. "Wherefore, premises considered, this Court finds the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt...," said the 5th Division Clerk of Court while reading the verdict on Friday, November 9. Neither Marcos nor any of her lawyers were present during the promulgation of decision. The 89-year-old Marcos was sentenced to prison for 6 years and 1 month to 11 years for each case. She is also perpetually disqualified from holding public office. By the end of the hearing, 5th Division Chairman Associate Justice Rafael Lagos also ordered the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Marcos. But the Ombudsman lead prosecutor, as well as the 5th Division, clarified that because graft is a bailable case, she can have provisional liberty while she is appealing the conviction. Upon payment of bonds, the warrants of arrest will be lifted. Lead prosecutor Rey Quilala said the ballpark figure of the public money involved in the private organizations amounts to US$200 million. "It involves 7 Swiss foundations, tapos kinu-close 'yung ibang foundation, ita-transfer sa ibang foundation, and then close it again, transfer sa ibang foundation, na-trace po yung flow ng pera," said Quilala. (It involves 7 Swiss foundations, then they close the foundations, then they transfer it to another foundation, and then close it again, transfer to another foundation, so we traced the flow of the money.) Marcos was acquitted for the remaining 3 counts involving local corporations based in the Philippines. The charges were filed way back 1991. The 3 counts where she was acquitted involved foundations based in the Philippines. "Sa local corporation kasi may isang corporation na gina-guarantee ng Pilipinas 'yung loan ng $25 million and then hindi na pinabayaran. Pilipinas ang nag-guarantee. 'Yung local corporations po 'yun," Quilala said. (There was one local coporation which guaranteed a loan of $25 million, and they were not asked to pay. The Philippines guaranteed it. Those are for the local corporations.) "Victory pa rin po ito (This is still a victory)," said Quilala. The justices who decided the case are Associate Justices Rafael Lagos, Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac. The guilty verdict gives a clear picture of the “entrepreneurial” scheme of the former first family. This is Marcos' 2nd Sandiganbayan conviction. In 1993, the Court's First Division convicted her of two counts of graft over anomalous contracts involving a lease between the Light Rail Transit Authority and the Philippine General Hospital Foundation, Inc. But in 1998, the Supreme Court acquitted her. According to the latest list of the Sandiganbayan's docket section, there is no remaining criminal case against Marcos. She was charged for 28 criminal cases – the last 10 of which were the ones decided on Friday, where she was convicted of 7 counts, and acquitted of 3. There remain, however, civil cases mainly involving forfeiture. Quilala was not able to immediately confirm if the money involved in the Swiss foundations is also being recovered by the government in those civil cases. – Rappler.com[SEP]A Philippine court has found former first lady Imelda Marcos guilty of corruption. Photo: Reuters[SEP]Former First Lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos has been found guilty of seven counts of graft by the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division. According to a decision by the anti-graft court on Friday, Marcos is sentenced to imprisonment of from six years to one month, up to 11 years for each count. She is also perpetually disqualified from holding any public office. The Sandigan also ordered the release of an arrest warrant of arrest against Marcos who did not attend the promulgation of the cases against her. She was given 30 days by the anti-graft court to explain her absence.[SEP]Imelda Marcos was found guilty of corruption on Friday and ordered arrested in a rare conviction for the former Philippine first lady accused with her late dictator husband of embezzling billions of dollars from state coffers. However, 89-year-old Marcos can appeal the ruling and post bail, which would allow her to remain free while the case grinds through the country's notoriously slow justice system. The verdict from the anti-graft Sandiganbayan court orders her to serve a minimum of six years behind bars over charges the Marcoses funnelled roughly US$200 million (S$275.5 million) through Swiss foundations decades ago. Ferdinand Marcos, who along with cronies was accused of pilfering $10 billion from the Philippines, fled with his family to the US after a people's uprising ended his 20-year rule in 1986. Marcos died in 1989 while still in exile. But his heirs later returned to Manila and have since staged a political comeback. Imelda Marcos is currently a congresswoman. As a government official in the Marcos administration, Imelda was barred by law from having any financial interest from the Swiss foundations, said the ruling. "The couple opened all those accounts in Switzerland, and they used pseudonyms to hide their ownership. The president chose William Saunders and Imelda Marcos used Jane Ryan," special prosecutor Ryan Quilala told reporters. Her lawyers could not be reached, while a press aide told AFP there was no immediate comment. Court officials said Marcos would be able to avoid incarceration by posting an as yet undetermined bail and has the right to appeal her conviction to the nation's highest legal authority, the Supreme Court. The body has previously undone a case against Imelda, overturning a 24 year jail sentence in 1993 on graft charges. She ran for congress and won while her appeal was underway. The family's notoriety stems back to Ferdinand Marcos declaring martial law in 1972. That allowed him to shutter the legislature, muzzle the free press and jail or kill those who dared to oppose his dictatorship. In the decades since Marcos's ouster the effort to recover the pilfered money has been halting and uneven. However, the Philippine Supreme Court in 2003 ordered US$680 million in funds stashed by the Marcoses in Swiss banks handed to the government. The funds had earlier been turned over by the Swiss judiciary after concluding that the funds were stolen from the Manila government. The younger generation of Marcoses have led high-profile careers, despite the dark past associated with their name. Imelda and Ferdinand's daughter Imee Marcos, is the governor of the family's northern stronghold of Ilocos Norte province and helped bankroll the 2016 election campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte, according to him. Imelda's son, also named Ferdinand, almost won the separate election for vice president that year. He has put the count under protest and hopes to run for president after Duterte's term ends in mid-2022.[SEP]MANILA — The Sandiganbayan on Friday convicted former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos of seven counts of graft due to her “financial interests and participation in the management of private foundations in Switzerland” when she served as a Cabinet official during her late husband’s term. The anti-graft court also sentenced Marcos “to suffer the penalty of imprisonment of from six years and one month as minimum, up to 11 years as maximum for each count of the graft case filed against her.” She is also perpetually disqualified from holding any public post. The Sandiganbayan, likewise, ordered her to explain why she was unable to attend the promulgation of the sentence as neither she nor her lawyers were present. Assistant Special Prosecutor Ryan Quilala said the former First Lady would not be automatically imprisoned as she can still file an appeal before the Supreme Court. The promulgation of the sentence took so long because majority of the witnesses are already dead, Quilala added. The Sandiganbayan 5th Division said Marcos is “guilty beyond reasonable doubt in seven counts of violation of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the ‘Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”. The Sandiganbayan added that the prosecution has proven that she has “financial interest” in some private enterprises, in violation of RA 3019. In the case information filed in 1991, Marcos was charged with 10 counts of graft for her alleged interests and participation in the management of some private foundations in Switzerland from 1978 to 1984. The questionable foundations were the Vibur Foundation, Maler Establishment, Trinidad Foundation, Rayby Foundation, Palmy Foundation, Aguamina Foundation, and Avertina Foundation. It was learned that Marcos, a former minister of Human Settlements, Metro Manila governor, and member of the Interim Batasan Pambansa, was prohibited by law to take part in such businesses. The Office of the Ombudsman also accused the wife of the late president Ferdinand E. Marcos of depositing hidden wealth amounting to almost USD30 million in a Banque Paribas bank. PNA-northboundasia.com[SEP]MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine court found former first lady Imelda Marcos guilty of graft and ordered her arrest Friday in a rare conviction among many corruption cases that she plans to appeal to avoid jail and losing her seat in Congress. The special anti-graft Sandiganbayan court sentenced Marcos, 89, to serve 6 to 11 years in prison for each of the seven counts of violating an anti-corruption law when she illegally funneled about $200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s as Metropolitan Manila governor. Neither Marcos nor anyone representing her attended Friday's court hearing. Marcos said in a statement that the decision was being studied by one of her lawyers who notified the Marcos family that he intends to appeal the decision. Anti-Marcos activists and human rights victims welcomed the conviction as long overdue. The court disqualified Marcos from holding public office, but she can remain a member of the powerful House of Representatives while appealing the decision. Her congressional term will end next year but she has registered to run to replace her daughter as governor of northern Ilocos Norte province. "I was jumping up and down in joy in disbelief," said former Commission on Human Rights chairwoman Loretta Ann Rosales, who was among many activists locked up after Imelda's husband, former President Ferdinand Marcos, declared martial law in the Philippines in 1972. Rosales said the decision was a huge setback to efforts by the Marcos family to revise history by denying many of the atrocities under the dictatorship, and urged Filipinos to fight all threats against democracy and civil liberties. Former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who was also jailed during the Marcos dictatorship, said it was up to voters in next year's May 13 local elections, where Marcos is a candidate, if they want "somebody who has a bad name representing them, that's your call." Imelda Marcos' husband was ousted by an army-backed "people power" revolt in 1986. He died in self-exile in Hawaii in 1989 but his widow and children returned to the Philippines. Most have been elected to public offices in an impressive political comeback. Government prosecutor Ryan Quilala told reporters that Marcos and her husband opened and managed Swiss foundations in violation of the Philippine Constitution, using aliases in a bid to hide stolen funds. The Marcoses have been accused of plundering the government's coffers amid crushing poverty. They have denied any wrongdoing and have successfully fought many other corruption cases. Imelda Marcos was acquitted Friday in three other cases, which were filed in 1991 and took nearly three decades of trial by several judges and prosecutors. She was once convicted of a graft case in 1993, but the Supreme Court later cleared her of any wrongdoing. President Rodrigo Duterte, an ally of the Marcoses, said last year the Marcos family had indicated a willingness to return a still-unspecified amount of money and "a few gold bars" to help ease budget deficits. He indicated the family still denied that the assets had been stolen as alleged by political opponents. Ferdinand Marcos had placed the Philippines under martial rule a year before his term was to expire. He padlocked Congress, ordered the arrest of political rivals and left-wing activists and ruled by decree. His family is said to have amassed an estimated $5 billion to $10 billion while he was in power. A Hawaii court found Marcos liable for human rights violations and awarded $2 billion from his estate to compensate more than 9,000 Filipinos who filed a lawsuit against him for torture, incarceration, extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Duterte has acknowledged that Imee Marcos, the couple's daughter and a provincial governor, backed his presidential candidacy.[SEP]MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines’ anti-corruption court on Friday ordered the arrest of former first lady Imelda Marcos after finding her guilty on seven counts of graft during the two-decade rule of her husband and former dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. But Marcos, 89, famous for a huge collection of shoes, jewelry and artwork, can avoid arrest and remain free if she appeals the decision and if denied, she can challenge it at the Supreme Court. Marcos said in a statement her lawyer is “studying the decision and he has advised us that he intends to file a motion for reconsideration”. The widow of the late dictator is facing dozens of protracted graft cases that have hounded her since her family was toppled in an army-backed popular uprising in 1986. The court ordered Marcos, a congresswoman, to serve six to 11 years in jail for each of the seven counts of graft. She was charged for making seven bank transfers totaling $200 million to Swiss foundations during her term as Manila governor. The court’s decision came nearly three decades after the case was filed. Under the rules of the Sandiganbayan, the former first lady has 15 days from promulgation of the ruling to file an appeal, and the anti-graft court has 30 days within which to decide on it. Marcos may also go straight to Supreme Court to seek relief. She can also file an application for bail. Marcos, a sitting three-term congresswoman, has registered as a candidate next May to succeed her daughter, Imee Marcos, 62, as governor of Ilocos Norte, the stronghold of the still powerful Marcos family. Imee is running for the Philippine senate in 2019. “I hope this ruling would serve as a crucial electoral guide to our voters this coming election”, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement. Ferdinand Marcos ruled the Philippines for two decades, placing the country under martial law in 1972, during which time thousands of opponents were jailed, killed or disappeared. He was accused of amassing more than $10 billion while in office and died in exile in 1989. President Rodrigo Duterte enjoys good ties with the Marcos family and has often praised the late strongman. Duterte allowed Marcos’ embalmed body to be buried at a special heroes’ cemetery in 2016, and the president is often accompanied at official events by Imee Marcos. Duterte’s spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said in a statement the ruling against Imelda Marcos was proof that the executive “is not in the business of exerting undue interference or influence” on courts, and therefore respects the decision.”[SEP]MANILA - The Philippines’ anti-corruption court on Friday ordered the arrest of former first lady Imelda Marcos after finding her guilty on seven counts of graft during the two-decade rule of her husband and former dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos, 89, famous for a huge collection of shoes, jewellery and artwork, is facing dozens of protracted graft cases that have hounded her since her family was toppled in an army-backed popular uprising in 1986. The court ordered Marcos, a congresswoman, to serve six to 11 years in jail for each of the seven counts of graft. She was charged for making seven bank transfers totalling $200 million to Swiss foundations during her term as Manila governor. Marcos and her representatives did not attend the legal hearing on Friday. She could not be reached for comment and text messages and phone calls to her lawyer were not answered. The arrest warrant may not be executed immediately because Marcos can appeal the ruling by the Sandiganbayan court, a prosecutor said. “She can elevate it to the Supreme Court if she sees grave abuse of discretion in the Sandiganbayan’s decision. So this is not yet final and executory,” assistant special prosecutor Ryan Quilala told reporters. Marcos, who has served three terms as a member of congress, has registered to contest an election to succeed her daughter, Imee Marcos, 62, as governor of Ilocos Norte, the stronghold of the still powerful Marcos family. Ferdinand Marcos ruled the Philippines for two decades, placing the country under martial law in 1972, during which time thousands of opponents were jailed, killed or disappeared. He was accused of amassing more than $10 billion while in office and died in exile in 1989. President Rodrigo Duterte enjoys good ties with the Marcos family and has often praised the late strongman. Duterte allowed Marcos’ embalmed body to be buried at a special heroes’ cemetery in 2016, and the president is often accompanied at official events by Imee Marcos. Duterte’s spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, said in a statement the ruling against Imelda Marcos was proof that the executive “is not in the business of exerting undue interference or influence” on courts, and therefore respects the decision.[SEP]MANILA — The camp of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos is eyeing to file a motion for reconsideration on Sandiganbayan’s decision, finding her guilty of seven counts of graft. In a statement on Friday, Marcos said she has received a copy of the anti-graft court’s decision, noting that her legal counsel is already studying the case. “Unfortunately, my Attorney of Record, Atty. Robert Sison, has been indisposed and is presently confined at the Asian hospital,” Marcos said. “Justice Lolong Lazaro, who has previously appeared as counsel in this case, will act as my counsel in the interim. He is presently studying the decision and has advised us that he intends to file a Motion for Reconsideration,” she added. The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division found Marcos guilty beyond reasonable doubt of seven counts of graft due to her “financial interests and participation in the management of private foundations in Switzerland” when she served as a Cabinet official during her late husband’s term. The anti-graft court also sentenced Marcos “to suffer the penalty of imprisonment of from six years and one month as minimum, up to 11 years as maximum for each count of the graft case filed against her.” She is also perpetually disqualified from holding any public post. The Sandiganbayan also ordered her to explain why she was unable to attend the promulgation of the sentence as neither she nor her lawyers were present. (PNA-northboundasia.com[SEP]The Philippine anti-corruption court has ordered the arrest of Imelda Marcos after finding her guilty on seven counts of graft during the two-decade rule of her husband, the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The former first lady, 89, who is also famous for her huge collection of shoes, jewellery and artwork, has faced dozens of protracted graft cases since her family was toppled in an army-backed popular uprising in 1986. The court ordered Marcos, a congresswoman, to serve six to 11 years in jail for each of the seven counts of graft. She was charged for making seven bank transfers totalling $200m (£154m) to Swiss foundations during her term as Manila governor. Marcos and her representatives did not attend the legal hearing on Friday. She could not be reached for comment. The arrest warrant might not be executed immediately because Marcos could appeal against the ruling, a prosecutor said. “She can elevate it to the supreme court if she sees grave abuse of discretion in the Sandiganbayan [court]’s decision. So this is not yet final and executory,” the assistant special prosecutor, Ryan Quilala,said, adding that Marco could also file for an application for bail. Under the rules of the Sandiganbayan, Marcos has 15 days from promulgation of the ruling to file an appeal, and the anti-graft court has 30 days within which to decide on it. She may also go straight to the supreme court to seek relief. Marcos, who is serving her third consecutive term as a member of congress, has registered to contest an election to succeed her daughter, Imee Marcos, as governor of Ilocos Norte, the stronghold of the still-powerful Marcos family. Imee is running for the Philippine senate in 2019. The opposition senator Risa Hontiveros said: “I hope this ruling would serve as a crucial electoral guide to our voters this coming election.” Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under martial law in 1972, during which time thousands of opponents were jailed, killed or disappeared. He was accused of amassing more than $10bn while in office and died in exile in 1989. The current president, Rodrigo Duterte, has good ties with the Marcos family and has often praised Ferdinand Marcos. He allowed Marcos’s embalmed body to be buried at a special heroes’ cemetery in 2016, and the president is often accompanied at official events by Imee Marcos. Duterte’s spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said the ruling against Imelda Marcos was proof that the executive “is not in the business of exerting undue interference or influence on courts, and therefore respects the decision”.

Former Philippine First Lady and Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos has been convicted on seven counts of graft for transferring funds to private foundations in Switzerland and is sentenced to at least six years and one month imprisonment for each count.

WASHINGTON - Florida’s races for governor and US Senate appeared headed Thursday for law-mandated recounts, while the Democratic candidate for governor in neighboring Georgia threatened legal action to ensure all votes are counted in her tight race. The two southern states are in the spotlight after Tuesday’s closely watched midterm elections, in which Democrats reclaimed the House of Representatives from President Donald Trump’s Republicans and flipped a number of governorships. Two Democratic candidates, Andrew Gillum in Florida and Stacey Abrams in Georgia, were aiming to become the states’ first African-American governors, but the races were tilting in favor of their Republican rivals. Unofficial results show Gillum trailing Ron DeSantis, a Trump-endorsed Republican, by just 38,515 votes out of 8.1 million cast, or 0.47 percentage points. Since Tuesday’s election, “it has become clear there are many more uncounted ballots than was originally reported,” Gillum spokeswoman Johanna Cervone said in a statement, amid reports that unknown numbers of ballots had yet to be counted in Democrat-leaning Broward County. Gillum is “ready for any outcome, including a state-mandated recount,” she added. The race between Democratic Senator Bill Nelson and Republican challenger Rick Scott, Florida’s term-limited governor, was even closer: Scott leads by 17,344 votes, or 0.22 percent. State law triggers a recount if the difference in a race is within 0.5 percent. If the margin is within 0.25 percent, as it stood Thursday in the Senate race, a hand recount -- slower and more thorough than by machine -- is ordered. Unusual voting discrepancies were also being reported in Broward County. The South Florida Sun Sentinel said it analyzed voting patterns and found that of Broward ballots already counted, 24,700 residents voted for a governor candidate but did not pick a candidate for Senate. The unusual pattern appeared in no other Florida county, the newspaper reported. The likely recount is reminiscent of the dramatic recounts that occurred in parts of Florida after the 2000 election. Those recounts were halted by the US Supreme Court, and George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by 537 votes in Florida to win the presidency. Meanwhile, Abrams trailed Georgia secretary of state Brian Kemp by 1.3 percent in their governor’s race, but her campaign complained that Kemp proclaimed victory prematurely. “All the votes haven’t been counted,” Abrams lawyer John Chandler told reporters, adding that there are outstanding absentee and provisional ballots. “We will litigate until we have determined that every person’s vote has been counted,” Chandler said. Amid mounting concern over Kemp’s oversight role in elections, Kemp resigned Thursday as secretary of state, but repeated his assertion that he defeated Abrams. “The votes are not there for her,” he said.[SEP]JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As the margins in the races for U.S. Senate, Florida governor and the state's commissioner of agriculture continue to narrow, accusations are flying and elections offices across Florida are preparing to begin recounts. Outgoing Republican Gov. Rick Scott alleged without citing any evidence that elections officials in South Florida are trying to "steal" the election for Democrats. On Thursday night, the outgoing Republican governor who has claimed victory in his U.S. Senate race again incumbent Democratic Bill Nelson, filed a lawsuit against the supervisors of elections in two South Florida counties, asking the court to order the supervisors to turn over several records detailing the counting and collection of ballots. Scott also asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the way the ballots were being handled and counted in those two counties. "I will not stand idly by as unethical liberals try to steal this election from the great people of Florida," Scott said. “Every Floridian should be concerned there may be rampant fraud happening in Palm Beach and Broward counties. And the supervisors, Brenda Snipes (Broward) and Susan Bucher (Palm Beach County), cannot seem to say how many ballots still exist." On Friday, Nelson's re-election campaign filed a lawsuit against Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner over vote-by-mail ballots and the process used to validate them, arguing that it leaves the decision to the "untrained opinions" of poll workers to determine "whether signatures match." An attorney for Nelson on Friday compared Scott's request to use of a state law-enforcement agency to investigate the actions of elections officials to a "Third World dictatorship." Nelson's attorney Marc Elias, who has been involved in recounts across the country and has become a target of Republicans claiming Democrats are trying to "steal" the election, made the comment as ballots continued to be counted in Scott's bid to unseat Nelson. Scott's thin lead over Nelson narrowed from about 56,000 Tuesday night to just over 15,000 on Friday morning, falling to 0.18 percent of nearly 8.1 million votes cast. Florida law requires a recount if the margin is within one-half of 1 percent. "I would expect when we go into a machine recount and then a hand recount, right now the results are unknown who has won, and if I had to place a bet, I would say it is more likely than not Sen. Nelson will prevail in a recount," Elias said. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump tweeted: "Law Enforcement is looking into another big corruption scandal having to do with Election Fraud in #Broward and Palm Beach. Florida voted for Rick Scott!" Trump also said it was possible the federal government could get involved in the Florida vote count. "All of the sudden they are finding votes out of nowhere," he said. "What's going on in Florida is a disgrace." A midday Friday emergency hearing on Scott's motion in a West Palm Beach courtroom, Judge Krista Marx ordered that any damaged ballot that Bucher or her Broward County staff throws out will need to go in front of the canvassing board. Marx also ordered Bucher to provide a list by 4 p.m. Friday of everyone who voted by provisional ballot. The margin in the race for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum has also narrowed to just over 36,000 votes, within the one-half percent difference that would trigger a recount. The race has tightened considerably since Gillum conceded to DeSantis on Tuesday night. Gillum's campaign said it has hired attorney Barry Richard, who represented President George W. Bush in the 2000 recount, and is monitoring the situation. Gillum's campaign said his initial concession Tuesday night was based on "best information available about the number of outstanding ballots" at the time. "Since that time, it has become clear there are many more uncounted ballots than was originally reported," the campaign said. "We are committed to ensuring every single vote in Florida is counted." DeSantis declined to discuss prospects for a recount, telling reporters he's "very proud to be elected." The campaign would only say, "We're working really hard on the transition." Republican secretary of agriculture candidate Matt Caldwell finished election night with a razor-thin lead over Democrat Nikki Fried. As votes have trickled in over the last three days, Fried took the lead, by fewer than 3,000 votes, according to numbers posted by the Florida Division of Elections. Once Florida counties submit their unofficial election results to the Department of State -- due at noon Saturday -- Secretary of State Ken Detzner, a Scott appointee, will review the results and decide whether to order recounts. In elections offices across the state, provisional ballots and some overseas ballots that are given an extended deadline to arrive are still being counted. Duval County Supervisor of Election Mike Hogan said that should wrap up Friday, then they'll prepare for whatever is next. "If the call comes that we can start on the weekend, then we will try to start on the weekend," Hogan said. "We are doing everything we can to get everything in position. We know it’s going to happen." St. Johns County's elections office already has plans for it's canvassing board meet at 9 a.m. Monday through Wednesday to oversee a recount. Florida's is a perennial swing state, and many of its elections have been decided by the thinnest of margins since 2000, when Florida decided the presidency by 537 votes in a contest that took more than five weeks to sort out. Still, the state has never seen so many dead heats in one year. Sarah Revell, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of State, didn't know of any other recount in a governor or Senate race in state history. Like 2000, the counting process has turned contentious. Florida was mocked for its handling of the infamous 2000 recount. At the time, the state lacked uniform rules for how to proceed. That has changed, with the Legislature passing a clear procedure on how a recount should be conducted. Copyright 2018 by WJXT News4Jax. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[SEP]As Florida Races Narrow, Trump And Scott Spread Claims Of Fraud Without Evidence Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images Updated at 4:20 p.m. ET Days after midterm voting, as ballots are still being counted, Republican lawmakers who are holding on to tight leads in midterm states are alleging foul play and voter fraud. The claims were amplified by President Trump, without evidence, on Friday morning. "You mean they are just now finding votes in Florida and Georgia — but the Election was on Tuesday?" he wrote in a tweet. "Let's blame the Russians and demand an immediate apology from President Putin!" Current Florida Gov. Rick Scott, locked in a tight Senate race, said in a news conference Thursday night that "the people of Florida deserve fairness and transparency and the supervisors are failing to give it to us." "Every Floridian should be concerned there may be rampant voter fraud in Palm Beach and Broward counties," he said. "I will not sit idly by while unethical liberals try to steal this election from the great people of Florida." Scott's race against Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson seems to be headed toward triggering a mandatory recount. Florida law says any race within a 0.5 percent margin must go to a recount, and as of 9 a.m. Friday, Nelson trailed Scott by 0.18 percent. Meanwhile, A Florida circuit court judge has ordered Broward County Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes to provide records on the total number of ballots cast, the number counted and uncounted, and data on vote by mail for the county by 7 p.m. ET tonight, siding with Scott. At an emergency hearing on Friday, Snipes' attorneys suggested this could slow counting. GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz said to reporters outside the courtroom "We're here to get her records to show that there is fraud or there isn't fraud." Scott has asked state law enforcement to investigate the elections offices of Palm Beach and Broward Counties for wrongdoing, without evidence of what should be investigated. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has said they are not investigating, that no allegations of fraud have been brought forward and there has been no written request from Scott yet. Nelson released a videotaped statement Friday afternoon accusing Scott of abusing his office to undermine democracy and "stop a complete and accurate counting of all the votes in Florida." Previous claims of widespread voter fraud, including Trump's claim that millions of people voted illegally in 2016, are considered false by voting experts. One investigation, published in 2014, found 31 possible cases of in-person voter fraud out of more than 1 billion ballots cast over a 14-year period. Scott claimed victory Tuesday night and has filed lawsuits against two county election officials, in Palm Beach and Broward counties, alleging their offices have withheld voting records. Trump echoed Scott's claims Thursday night, tweeting that "Law Enforcement" would look into election fraud in Florida. Nelson's election attorney, Marc Elias, tweeted Friday that "as the counties continue their work, I expect that margin will narrow further. And then the State will conduct an orderly recount." Trump has a history of calling out fraud, without providing evidence to back up his claims. No widespread claim of voter fraud by the president has ever been proved true. He even created a commission to investigate alleged fraud after the 2016 election, but it dissolved without releasing any findings. "They're finding votes out of nowhere, and Rick Scott who won by — it was close, but he won by a comfortable margin, he easily won but every hour it seems to be going down," Trump said outside the White House Friday. "I think that people have to look at it very, very cautiously." In the case of Florida still counting ballots more than 48 hours after polls closed, David Becker, the executive director for the Center for Election Innovation and Research, told NPR it is extremely common for a voting jurisdiction to be taking as long as Broward County is. "Election officials are literally just counting the ballots. This isn't corruption or fraud," Becker said. "It is literally the best of democracy. Let election officials do their job and count the ballots." Georgia: Republican Kemp claims Abrams trying to "create new votes" In Georgia, gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is hoping to force a runoff with her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp, who resigned his post as the state's secretary of state on Thursday. Kemp has already claimed victory, and his campaign released a statement saying Abrams was trying to "steal" the election in a courtroom. "Abrams campaign is trying to create new votes, because they know it's their only remaining hope," said Ryan Mahoney, the Kemp campaign's communications director, in the statement. But Abrams' campaign maintains it just wants all provisional and absentee ballots to be counted before she decides to concede. The Associated Press has not called the race, and votes have continued to be counted this week. Kemp holds about a 63,000-vote lead, with 50.3 percent of almost 4 million votes. He needs to finish above 50 percent to avoid a runoff election. Lauren Groh-Wargo, Abrams' campaign manager, wrote on Twitter that if Kemp "cared about Georgians and being a legitimate [governor], he would wait until results are certified." Abrams' campaign has questioned a number of aspects of the state's election administration, which Kemp oversaw until Thursday, including the fact that hundreds of votes came in from absentee ballots in Cobb County, according to the AP, after Kemp's office said all absentee ballots had already been counted. "He is making a joke of our elections system and stepping on basic rights," Groh-Wargo said. "This is despicable." She noted that many jurisdictions across the country are still tabulating results as well. Overnight Thursday for instance, the lead swapped in the Senate race in Arizona, with Democratic nominee Kyrsten Sinema pulling slightly ahead of Republican Martha McSally. In California, more than 4 million votes have yet to be counted. Florida's governor's race also looks headed to a mandatory recount, as the votes that have trickled in this week have also pushed the race between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum under the 0.5 percent threshold. Gillum already conceded the race on Tuesday night, but he tweeted Thursday night after Scott announced his lawsuits against the two elections supervisors. "Counting votes isn't partisan — it's democracy," he said.[SEP]Florida authorities on Saturday ordered a statewide recount in the contentious races for US Senate and governor, amid tit-for-tat accusations of fraud from the candidates -- plunging the state once again into election uncertainty. Eighteen years after the Sunshine State found itself at the heart of a battle for the US presidency, it was once again in the spotlight after Tuesday's vote, which left the contests for statewide offices undecided. Florida's 67 counties had been given until midday (1700 GMT) on Saturday to submit unofficial totals. State law triggers a machine recount if the difference in a race is within 0.5 percent. Florida's secretary of state Ken Detzner issued the official order for the recounts after the deadline. After the cut-off, the Senate race between outgoing Republican governor Rick Scott and incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson was super close: Scott's lead stood at just 12,562 votes out of nearly 8.2 million cast, a margin of just 0.15 percent. In the governor's race, the latest unofficial results on the Florida division of elections website show Republican Ron DeSantis, who was backed by Donald Trump, leading Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum by just 33,684 votes out of more than 8.2 million cast, or a margin of 0.41 percent. "Machine recount indicated," the website said in both cases. In a statement, Detzner said the results of the machine recount would be due on November 15 at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT). Trump was not amused by the development, tweeting from France: "Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!" With Florida's developments raising partisan tensions to fresh highs, Trump on Friday alleged a major corruption scandal was brewing. "What's going on in Florida is a disgrace," Trump told reporters. "Bad things are going on in Broward Country, really bad things," Trump added, referring to a Democrat-heavy county where officials were slowly counting votes including absentee and provisional ballots. Scott filed lawsuits against Broward and Palm Beach counties alleging fraud after his lead narrowed. On Saturday, he urged Florida's sheriffs to "watch for any violations during the recount process as outlined in Florida law." Meanwhile, Nelson -- accusing Scott of trying to suppress votes -- fired back with a lawsuit of his own to block steps that would reject thousands of mail-in ballots. The recount is reminiscent of the dramatic recounts that occurred in parts of Florida after the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Those recounts were halted by the US Supreme Court, and Bush defeated Gore by 537 votes in Florida to win the presidency. Broward County was at the heart of that controversy as well. Most US political races have already been settled. But Florida is not alone. In neighboring Georgia, the Democratic candidate for governor initiated legal action to ensure all votes were counted in her contest. In Arizona, there is still no official result in a fierce US Senate battle that has Democrat Kyrsten Sinema leading Republican Martha McSally by a slim margin. The ballot chaos raises fresh questions about why the world's most powerful democracy is incapable of producing swift and accurate election results across all 50 states.[SEP]Florida finds familiar territory with allegations of voter fraud and accusations of voter suppression dashing between Republicans and Democrats as the state prepares for an election recount. Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Saturday ordered a machine recount, which includes three key races: Florida governor, Florida agriculture commissioner and U.S. Senate. "Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!" President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday after the recount was announced. Trump on Friday said that Broward County "miraculously started finding Democrat votes" after Democrats sent Marc Elias – "their best Election stealing lawyer." "Don’t worry, Florida - I am sending much better lawyers to expose the FRAUD!" Trump wrote. Ron DeSantis, the Republican candidate who in the first unofficial results was ahead of Andrew Gillum by a margin of 0.41 percent, released a video statement on Saturday in which he said he was preparing to serve as Florida's governor DeSantis – described in the video as the "governor-elect" – said Florida voters chose him to lead, citing "clear and unambiguous" results. "It is important that everyone involved in the election process strictly adhere to the rule of law, which is the foundation for our nation. Since the election a few days ago, we have begun our transition efforts to build an administration that can secure Florida's future," DeSantis said. "With the election behind us, it's now time to come together as a state as we prepare to serve all Floridians." Rick Scott's campaign spokesman, Chris Hartline, released a statement in which he said Scott won a "close but decisive victory" with a 0.15 percent margin. "It’s time for Senator Nelson to accept reality and spare the state of ... Florida the time, expense and discord of a recount," Hartline wrote. Matt Caldwell, the Republican candidate for Florida agriculture commissioner, said he filed a lawsuit against Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes to "hold her accountable, follow Florida law and uphold the integrity of our elections." Though Caldwell was initially leading on Election Day, Democratic candidate Nikki Fried surpassed Caldwell in the first unofficial results and holds a lead of 0.06 percent. Despite accusations of wasting taxpayer dollars and voter fraud, Democrats are not backing down and are even suggesting or outright accusing Republicans of attempts to suppress votes. "I am replacing my earlier concession with an unapologetic and uncompromised call to count every vote," Gillum said in a press conference. "This process is about one thing: making sure every legal ballot is counted and protecting the right of every Floridian to participate in our democracy," Nelson wrote on Twitter. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., who endorsed and campaigned with Gillum, also called for every vote to be counted. "No surprise. Law enforcement says Rick Scott’s allegation of voter fraud was not based in reality. He and Trump are just trying to undermine the results if he loses," Sanders wrote on Twitter. Soon after the first unofficial results were released, Fried said that her campaign was "confident that once the votes were counted we would win the Agriculture Commissioner race!" "Now that the deadline has come & the votes have been processed, the people’s will is clear – I’m honored to serve as Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture," Fried wrote on Twitter. U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, who serves in Florida's District 24, said that Scott and Sen. Marco Rubio "are making reckless and unfounded accusations about the midterm election in an attempt to prevent every vote from being counted. What are they afraid of?"[SEP]TALLALHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on the potential recounts in Florida's U.S. Senate and governor elections (all times local): The deadline to submit unofficial vote tallies in Florida's election has passed. County elections supervisors had until noon Saturday to submit results. Now the state must announce whether recounts are needed in the U.S. Senate and governor races. As the deadline arrived, Republican former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis led Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum by less than 0.5 percentage points in the governor's race, which would require a machine recount of ballots. In the Senate race, Republican Gov. Rick Scott's lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson was less than 0.25 percentage points, which would require a hand recount of ballots in which tabulation machines couldn't detect a vote.[SEP]On Saturday, the Florida secretary of state announced that the races for governor, senator, and agriculture commissioner are all officially headed for a recount. According to the Washington Post, Republican Rick Scott’s lead for Senate has shrunk to just over 12,000 votes, while gubernatorial candidate Republican Ron DeSantis is leading by about 33,000 votes. The Florida election has once again gained national attention as accusations of fraud and problems with ballots have brought the races to the forefront of the midterm elections. In his race against Democrat Senator Bill Nelson, Governor Rick Scott leads by just 12,500 votes. Rick Scott’s campaign has accused Broward County election supervisor Brenda Snipes of election fraud after she was forced to admit that she had counted about a dozen rejected ballots. “Three days after Election Day, the vote tally continues to change and Supervisor Snipes still refuses to explain where and how the new votes came to light,” the campaign said. “The public deserves a clear and direct answer.” After vote counts were made public, Scott’s campaign called for Nelson to concede the election and spare the cost of a recount, but Nelson stayed the course. Meanwhile, Scott escalated tensions by claiming, without evidence, that “left-wing activists” were attempting to steal the election. President Trump has joined in the accusations, spending the past few days tweeting about the midterm elections, calling into question the results. “Law Enforcement is looking into another big corruption scandal having to do with Election Fraud in Broward and Palm Beach. Florida voted for Rick Scott!” he tweeted on Friday. Trump suggested that the narrowing margin between Scott and Nelson is attributed to fraud. “Rick Scott was up by 50,000+ votes on Election Day, now they “found” many votes and he is only up 15,000 votes. ‘The Broward Effect.’ How come they never find Republican votes?” he said. The race for governor between Representative Ron DeSantis and Democrat Mayor Andrew Gillum has a wider gap, but is still within the margin for a recount. The president commented on the race, saying that Gillum had conceded the election, but was now “back in play.” “This is an embarrassment to our Country and to Democracy!” he wrote. The Florida Department of State, which is run by individuals appointed by Scott, said that no evidence of criminal activity was found. After the news of the Florida recount was announced, Trump once again took to Twitter to call the process an attempt to “steal” the election. “Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!” he said. Andrew Weinstein, a representative for the Democratic Lawyers Council, countered Trump’s claims of fraud, saying that more Democratic votes have been counted in the past few days as the Broward County results come in because there are more Democrats in that county. “Florida has never had a full statewide recount. It’s about to have three,” he said. “Buckle up.” Florida has until Thursday to complete the recount.[SEP]The Florida secretary of state has officially ordered a recount in the U.S. Senate and governor races, an unprecedented review of two major races in the state that took five weeks to decide the 2000 presidential election. Secretary Ken Detzner issued the order on Saturday after the unofficial results in both races fell within the margin that by law triggers a recount. The unofficial results show that Republican former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis led Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum by .41 percentage points. In the Senate race, Republican Gov. Rick Scott's leads over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson by .15 percentage points. Detzner also ordered a recount for Florida's Agriculture Commissioner race where Democratic Nikki Fried stands .06 percentage points above Republican Matt Caldwell. All three races will undergo machine recounts with results due no later than 3pm on Thursday November 15 to the Florida Department of State. If the vote is too close to call yet again by falling within a 0.25 margin or less, the three races will advance to hand recounts, due to be completed by November 18. County elections supervisors had until noon Saturday to submit results. President Donald Trump - who campaigned for both Scott and DeSantis - said that the recounts are a Democrat ploy to steal the election. 'Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!' the president tweeted on Saturday. Scott called for his opponent DeSantis to decline the recount. 'It's time for Senator Nelson to accept reality and spare the state of the Florida the time, expense and discord of a recount,' Scott's spokesman Chris Hartline said. Nelson responded saying he does not intend to back down. 'We have every expectation the recount will be full and fair and will continue taking action to ensure every vote is counted without interference or efforts to undermine the democratic process. We believe when every legal ballot is counted we'll win this election,' he said in a statement. All the while protesters rallied outside the offices of the Broward County Supervisor of Elections in Lauderhill on Saturday where the final counts were made ahead of the noon deadline. The announcement was made after Broward County election monitors said they saw no evidence of criminal activity in Tuesday's midterm election, despite the county being run by a controversial supervisor who mixed in illegal votes and failed to reveal the number of uncounted votes. 'Our staff has seen no evidence of criminal activity at this time,' Sarah Revell, spokesperson for the state Department of Elections, said to the Miami Herald on Saturday morning. Following Tuesday's election, Rick Scott filed a lawsuit against Broward County and Palm Beach County, accusing Democrats of trying to steal the election on Thursday evening. He asked for Snipes to turn over several records detailing the counting and collection of ballots. Snipes has been accused of 'fraud' in how she handled counting ballots in the election by Scott, President Donald Trump, and Republicans. She has a long history of controversies when it comes to vote counting. She agreed to present 205 provisional ballots to Broward County's canvassing board for inspection, and the board declared on Friday that 20 of the 205 provisional ballots were illegal due to mismatched signatures. They were set aside then counted in a voting machine, but the results were not added to the election's final total vote count. On Friday the county didn't know how to move forward with the invalid ballots. 'We have found no clear authority controlling the situation faced by the board,' Broward County Attorney Andrew Meyers said. Broward County collected more than 600 provisional ballots on Election Day, but majority were deemed invalid by the board for reasons including late registration or voting in the wrong precinct. Since the election two Department of Elections have been stationed in Broward County to oversee see the administration of the elections, visit polling stations and 'ensure all laws are followed'. In May Florida's Secretary of State announced increased oversight after a court found Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes broke the law by authorizing the premature destruction of ballots pertaining to a contested race following the 2016 elections. On Saturday Broward official hit back at fraud allegations in a news conference after the ballot tally. 'There have been allegation of fraud. Those are serious charges to recklessly offer out there. To give a claim of fraud without any evidence, I think it unacceptable,' Eugene Pettis, a lawyer for Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes said.[SEP]Democrat Andrew Gillum withdrew his concession in Florida's gubernatorial race Saturday after a recount was ordered in the too-close-to-call race. "I am replacing my words of concession with an uncompromised and unapologetic call that we count every single vote," Gillum tweeted. Unofficial election results showed Republican former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis ahead of Gillum by less than 0.5 percentage points. Under state law, such a margin requires a machine recount of ballots. On Saturday, Florida's secretary of state ordered a recount for three statewide races, including the governor and U.S. Senate contests. The margins in all races remain well under the half-percent needed to automatically trigger a machine recount. More than 8 million votes will be recounted. In the Senate race, the Republican challenger, Gov. Rick Scott, claimed victory just before midnight Tuesday, but the incumbent, Democrat Bill Nelson, never conceded the race. Now, Scott leads Nelson by 12,562 votes or a margin of .15 percent. The contentious race led to lawsuits being filed by both Scott and Nelson. Scott alleged "rampant fraud" in the election and asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate Palm Beach and Broward counties. In the race for the state's agriculture commissioner, Republican candidate Matt Caldwell and his campaign committee also filed a lawsuit Friday against Broward elections chief Brenda Snipes seeking to stop the counting of ballots that were not in hand when the polls closed. The Florida Democratic Party has accused Caldwell of trying to interfere with legal ballot counting. Caldwell is down by 5,326 votes or a margin of .06 percent in his race against Democrat Nikki Fried.[SEP]TALLAHASSEE — Republican Gov. Rick Scott, claiming south Florida election officials are fraudulently mishandling ballots, asked the state's top law enforcement agency on Thursday to investigate and filed lawsuits demanding access to ballots narrowing his lead against Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. "I will not stand idly by while unethical liberals try to steal an election," Scott said during a hastily called media appearance Thursday night outside the Governor's Mansion. The event was organized by his political team. "The people of Florida deserve fairness and transparency," Scott said in prepared remarks. He did not take questions from reporters gathered for the appearance after announcing he was requesting the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate an election in which he was a candidate. Scott accused election officials in Broward and Palm Beach counties, two Democratic strongholds, of "rampant fraud" in a vote counting process that has continued two days after the election and sharply narrowed GOP leads in statewide races, even flipping the state agriculture commission race from a Republican Matt Caldwell lead to Democrat Nikki Fried advantage of more than 2,000 votes on Thursday. “Tonight I am asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate this immediately and I am considering every single legal option available,” he said. “No ragtag group of liberal activists or lawyers form D.C. will be allowed to steal this election from the voters of this great state.” President Donald Trump, who held up GOP wins in Florida as evidence of his success in the midterm elections, chimed in with a tweet on Scott's call for a state investigation Thursday night. "Law enforcement is looking into another big corruption scandal having to do with election fraud in #Broward and Palm Beach. Florida voted for Rick Scott!” Efforts to reach election officials in Broward and Palm Beach counties failed Thursday night. "If he has credible proof of rampant fraud, he should make it public immediately," said state Rep. Evan Jenne, who represents south Broward. Nelson's campaign responded to Scott's claim by criticizing it as a sign he is fearful of losing the election. “The goal here is to see that all the votes in Florida are counted and counted accurately. Rick Scott’s action appears to be politically motivated and borne out of desperation,” Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin said. The additional ballots counted over the past two days in Broward and Palm Beach have chopped Scott's statewide lead over Nelson by more than half to about 15,000 votes out of more than 8.1 million cast. The additional votes, identified by the county offices as absentee and early in-person votes, also narrowed Republican Ron DeSantis' more than 80,000-vote lead in the Florida governor's race over Democrat Andrew Gillum to about 36,000. Gillum, who had conceded his race Tuesday night, tweeted in response to Scott's statements that "counting votes isn't partisan. It's democracy. Count every vote." The small margins in those races likely will trigger an automatic recount under Florida law once all of the votes are submitted to the state on Saturday. "Every day since the election, the left-wing activists in Broward County have been coming out with more and more ballots out of nowhere," Scott said. "We all know what is going on. Everyone in Florida knows exactly what is happening. Their goal is to keep mysteriously finding more votes until the election turns out the way they want it.” Caldwell applauded Scott's action in a statement Thursday, calling it "decisive action to uphold the integrity and fairness of this election. "To echo the governor, it is unacceptable that we cannot get an accurate count of how many outstanding ballots remain, while boxes of ballots continue to be 'found,'" Caldwell said. While ballot counting continued Thursday in Palm Beach and Broward counties, the state's other 65 counties reported completing counts from their early and absentee ballots hours after the polls closed Tuesday. Earlier on Thursday, Scott's campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee filed state lawsuits demanding access to the south Florida ballots, claiming Broward and Palm Beach elections supervisors withheld information about the ballots and requests for the campaign to inspect and review the vote-counting process. "The lack of transparency raises substantial concerns about the validity of the election process," states the lawsuit, filed by Scott's campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Scott's lawsuit demands a hearing to discuss the handling of the ballots and immediate access to inspect and copy ballots.

As the Florida Senate election heads to a mandatory recount, United States President Donald Trump and Rick Scott claim, without evidence, that widespread voter fraud occurred in Florida during the recent midterm election.

Judges rule in favor of Scott election lawsuits Florida Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for Senate who currently leads Democratic opponent Sen. Bill Nelson by 15,000 votes, has won his first lawsuit against Palm Beach County Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher. As ballots in the gubernatorial and Senate races head to a recount, Scott sued Bucher Thursday night for refusing to allow official party and campaign representatives into the ballot counting area, and having staff members determine a voter’s intent without review by the county canvassing board. On Friday, West Palm Beach Circuit Court Judge Krista Marx granted an injunction ordering Bucher to submit “over-voted” and “under-voted” absentee ballots to the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board for public review of each vote before they are counted. In a machine recount, all completed ballots are re-fed through ballot-counting machines to try to confirm the original, unofficial counts. The machines must first be re-tested and re-calibrated to read and separate ballots with apparent over-votes, that is, the ballots in which the machines read that the voter may have selected more than one candidate, and undervotes, in which the machine does not register a vote on the ballot. The testing of the machines has to be done in public. The lawsuit against Bucher accused her office of withholding some of the over-voted and under-voted absentee ballots from the county canvassing board, even though Florida law dictates that only a canvassing board is allowed to determine “all valid votes” from over-votes or under-votes. Scott also filed a lawsuit against Broward County Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes on Thursday evening, alleging that her office is hiding information about the number of ballots left to be counted. Broward County Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips ordered the immediate release of voter information from Snipes, ruling in Scott’s favor. Nelson filed a lawsuit Friday morning asking that the deadline for local election officials to file preliminary unofficial vote totals to the state be extended past noon Saturday, a deadline dictated by Florida law. Author: CBS News Do you see a typo or an error? Let us know[SEP]The Florida Democratic Party accused the Republican candidate for state Agriculture Commissioner, Matt Caldwell, of trying to interfere with legal ballot counting, as the North Fort Myers Republican awaits a hearing on a request to halt counting absentee ballots received after voting hours ended. "Florida is not a banana republic and Matt Caldwell is not a third world dictator," said Party Executive Director Juan Penalosa, in a one-paragraph statement released Saturday. "In America we don't allow politicians to manipulate the courts or government agencies to interfere with legal elections that they are losing," Penalosa said. Caldwell and his campaign committee filed suit Friday against beleaguered Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes seeking to stop the counting of ballots that were not in hand when the polls closed. More: Key dates, terms for Florida’s recount decisions on governor, Senate races More: Florida recounts: Hand recount vs. machine recount and other things to know Caldwell Campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez released the following statement Saturday: “Brenda Snipes continues to believe she is above the law. Our process server has tried to deliver our lawsuit both last night and again this morning, a period of more than 14 hours, but Snipes refuses to be served. Her disregard for Florida voters and the integrity of this election is illegal and shameful.” Caldwell thought he had edged out a victory in the agricultural commissioner race Tuesday night when he had about a 40,000 vote lead over Democratic candidate Nikki Fried. But the latest vote count shows Caldwell trailing Fried by 4,485 votes, as of Saturday morning. The difference between the candidates is .06 percent, signaling an automatic recount and possibly a manual recount, if the machine count narrows the margin to 0.025 percent. Judge Raag Singhal did not immediately schedule a hearing on Caldwell's request to stop counting absentee ballots received after the polls closed. No hearing time has been entered on the docket for the case and Caldwell's attorneys did not immediately respond to an email request for information on scheduling a hearing on the emergency request. More: Thousands of provisional ballots could flip Florida races now too close to call The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections’ office must provide copies of duplicate ballots to the Scott campaign by noon. Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher requested an emergency hearing in a lawsuit brought by the Scott campaign for copies of damaged and duplicate ballots. On Friday, the judge overseeing the suit, Krista Marx, ordered Bucher to provide the campaign the ballots by 10 a.m. Saturday. But late Friday Bucher filed a motion for reconsideration. During the hearing, Bucher said it would take two to three days for them to find and provide duplicate ballots because they’ve already been mixed in with regular ballots. Marx told Scott’s attorneys during the hearing that she knew Bucher was not going to make the noon deadline, but expected Bucher to comply with the order since Palm Beach County has already completed counting ballots. Scott’s attorney, Aliette Rodz, said the hearing should have never taken place and Bucher should have done more to find the ballots under the initial deadline. Bucher declined to talk with reporters, saying the office had work to get done. As she walked out of the hearing, a small group of protesters began to yell at her, calling her a “criminal.” Both a spokeswoman for the Scott campaign and the Republican National Committee stood next to the protesters.[SEP]Local Democratic officials in Broward and Palm Beach counties in Florida are recklessly violating state law in what may be an attempt to overturn the results of Tuesday’s midterm elections for governor and the U.S. Senate in the Sunshine State. This looks like a repeat of the actions in Florida in the 2000 presidential election, when Democratic officials ignored state election laws – and were slapped down by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 7-2 decision. Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda C. Snipes said Tuesday night that 634,000 votes had been cast in the county. But by Thursday night, Snipes was claiming 712,840 ballots had been cast. The effect of these newly discovered votes that inexplicably appeared long after they should have been counted shrunk the leads of Republicans Gov. Rick Scott in the Senate race and former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis in the gubernatorial contest. Late Tuesday night Scott was up roughly 57,000 votes in his race against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. By Friday afternoon, Scott’s lead had declined dramatically to about 15,000 votes. Late Tuesday night DeSantis led Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in the gubernatorial race by 75,000 votes. But Friday afternoon DeSantis was ahead by less than half that – about 36,000 votes. Broward County officials blatantly disregarded the Florida law requiring that all vote-by-mail and absentee ballots be accounted for within 30 minutes of the polls closing. Though the county’s voting locations closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Snipes said Friday that she still didn’t know how many ballots remain to be processed. Nor could she say how many provisional, military or mismarked ballots she had in her possession. Mysteriously, over 70,000 ballots have been counted since Tuesday night with apparently no one knowing how many more are still to come. In addition, at least one ballot box for provisional votes was left unattended at a polling place – a school where it was discovered days after the election. The box was locked but not sealed, and could have been tampered with or stuffed. Could there be others? Snipes then refused to allow Republican officials to inspect all ballots before they are submitted to the Canvassing Board. And she refused other requests for public records that should be available under Florida’s expansive “sunshine laws,” drawing a sharp rebuke from a judge late Friday afternoon. In response to Republican lawsuits, Florida state Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips ruled Friday that “there has been a violation of the Florida constitution” and the state’s public records act by Broward County officials. The judge sided with Scott and ordered that Republicans should be granted “immediate access” to information they have requested about ballots Broward County. There are also problems in next-door Palm Beach County. On Wednesday morning, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher stopped filing updates of the vote count with the Florida Department of State as required by law. The law mandates that she report every 45 minutes until all the election results are in. Instead, Bucher dropped news of the 15,000 surprise ballots she’s counted since Tuesday night at any time she chose. Besides telling the state to get lost, Bucher is also refusing to allow designated official political party representatives into the ballot counting area. She’s kept them isolated behind a glass wall where they can’t see and hear all that’s going on – yet another violation of Florida election law. Even more troubling, Bucher has copied vote-by-mail ballots that she claims are damaged, but without allowing witnesses to observe the process as required by Florida law. In fact, she explicitly denied requests for witnesses to see her staff at work. As election supervisor, Bucher also assumed the power to determine what constitutes a “valid vote.” Under Florida law, she doesn’t have that authority. She can only refer questionable ballots to the county’s bipartisan Canvassing Board. This is not the first time these two Board of Election supervisors have shown contempt for their official responsibilities under Florida law, especially Snipes in Broward County. In 2012 Snipes was criticized for absentee ballots that never arrived, balky scanners that didn’t work, slow reporting and mounds of ballots that showed up long after Election Day. In 2014 Snipes demonstrated such incompetence that even fellow Democrats complained her office made it difficult for people to vote. In 2016 Snipes allowed her employees to campaign on county time, violated state law by posting election results half an hour before the polls closed and was sued for leaving amendments off the ballots. A judge also ruled that Snipes’ office violated state and federal laws by illegally destroying ballots. But the ruling regarding her action illegally obliterating evidence two years ago did not come down until this year. In 2017, accusations of ballot stuffing swirled around Snipes’ office during local elections. She even admitted that ineligible voters who were on the rolls and had voted. This year Snipes has drawn more fire. It was revealed that her office broke Florida law earlier this election season by opening ballots in private without observers present (maybe a trick she learned from Bucher). Then after people complained they didn’t get their absentee ballots, it turned out that Snipes failed to notify some voters that their right to cast an absentee ballot had expired. She blamed it on not having enough funds to mail notifications. Maybe that was because she wasted her budget by sending some voters ballots with duplicate pages. This may all be rank incompetence, but perhaps these actions by two Democratic election officials are a smokescreen for something worse – a deliberate attempt to overturn the Florida election results. Fortunately, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., blew the whistle and the Scott campaign, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican National Committee have rushed to the scene of the possible crime and filed lawsuits to ensure that voters – not Democratic officials – pick the next governor and U.S. senator in Florida. There may be a basis for the U.S. Justice Department to intervene and investigate this troubling situation in Broward and Palm Beach counties to answer the obvious question: Are Democratic elections officials deliberately breaking the law and playing games to delay everything just long enough so they can create just the number of ballots needed to overturn the election results to install Gillum as governor and keep Nelson in the Senate? That’s the kind of behavior you expect in Third World banana republics – not true great democracies, and certainly not the United States. Let’s hope it’s not too late and that any election fraud in Broward and Palm Beach counties in Florida can be reversed.[SEP]Broward and Palm Beach County elections officials were still counting votes on Thursday morning, and questions continued about why more than 24,000 people voted for governor but not Senate in Broward. The elections office counted 22,000 ballots Wednesday, continuing late into the night. In total, more than 695,700 Broward ballots were counted by 1 a.m. Thursday. Fred Bellis, elections operations coordinator, said the office would continue to count ballots Thursday after breaking for a few hours overnight to give employees some rest. With close margins in the U.S. Senate, agricultural commissioner, and governor races, large numbers of uncounted ballots in the Democratic heavy Broward could make a difference in whether or not those races lead to a recount. Palm Beach County had also not finished counting mail-in vote results Thursday morning, according to the Florida Division of Election website. Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Under Florida law, a machine recount is conducted when the margin of victory is 0.5 percent or less. If the margin is 0.25 percent or less after the machine recount, a manual recount is conducted. The U.S. Senate and agriculture commissioner races are both within in a recount. The difference in the gubernatorial candidates Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum was .52 percent Thursday morning. Both parties on Wednesday had lawyers at the supervisor’s voting equipment center in Lauderhill. The Broward elections office plans to review provisional ballots at 5 p.m. Thursday and have first unofficial results by 1 p.m. Friday. Provisional ballots are given to voters whose eligibility can not be determined at the polls. g Of the Broward ballots already counted, more than 24,000 people voted for a governor candidate but didn’t vote for a Senate candidate, according to county results Thursday morning. More than 690,000 people voted for governor in Broward in Tuesday’s election, while more than 665,000 voters cast ballots for Senate, preliminary county election results show. The difference was nearly even between the Republican and Democratic candidates. Gillum received more than 10,200 votes than Nelson, while DeSantis also received more than 10,400 votes than Scott. Some voters said that they don’t remember seeing the Senate race on their ballots or that they almost missed it. For the midterms, Broward’s discrepancy among the number of votes wasn’t just in the Senate and governor races. More people in Broward voted for the state’s commissioner of agriculture, chief financial officer and attorney general positions than they did for the Senate, according to the preliminary county results. There is a caveat: The state data released Thursday did not include votes for write-in candidates for Senate. In the largest counties, that could affect the differences by as many as 2,000 total votes. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.[SEP]PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. - Republican Gov. Rick Scott and his opponent in the midterm election race for a Senate seat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson have pending cases alleging ballots were mishandled. In one of Scott's lawsuits, Palm Beach County supervisor of elections' was unable to meet her 7 p.m. Friday deadline to provide ballot information and she was requesting an emergency hearing. Meanwhile, Scott's campaign released a statement saying Bucher was refusing to comply with the court order "to submit overvotes and undervotes to the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board for review." The Palm Beach canvassing board began reviewing ballots at 10 a.m., and the Palm Beach Post reported the process continued on Friday night. Bucher also has a 12 p.m. Saturday deadline to submit unofficial midterm election results. Nelson's campaign and and the Democratic Executive Committee of Florida filed a lawsuit against Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner over a "complete lack of uniformity" in the handling of vote-by-mail ballots and the signature matching process that is used to validate them. Nelson wants those ballots to count. "This entirely standardless, inconsistent, and unreliable signature matching process, which has a disparate impact on People of Color and young, first time voters, violates the prohibition against undue burdens on the right to vote," the lawsuit says. Former Rep. Patrick Murphy of Palm Beach Gardens, a Democrat, reported on Twitter to Politico's Marc Caputo that his ballot was not counted because of an "invalid signature" match. "Must overhaul these ridiculous barriers to voting," Murphy wrote.[SEP]Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) accuses Democrats of trying to "steal the election" and saying there is rampant fraud in Broward and Palm Beach counties.[SEP]UPDATE: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher has requested an emergency hearing. According to the court order, the hearing is set for Saturday at 8:30 a.m. The deadline for turning in any duplicates or damaged ballots that were thrown out without going to the canvassing board is set for Saturday no later than 10 a.m., which Bucher filed for an extension. RELATED: Full Election results | Latest news on Tuesday's election | Gov. Rick Scott seeks state probe, lawsuit over ballots | Trump says Palm Beach, Broward counties have "horrible history" Palm Beach County is in the national spotlight after allegations of voter fraud, and after Governor Rick Scott filed a lawsuit against election bosses in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. There was an emergency hearing inside Palm Beach County Circuit Court Friday morning, as the drama surrounding the razor-thin race between Governor Scott and Senator Bill Nelson heats up. “What we need to have is a proper and accurate election,” said Aliette Rodz, counsel for the plaintiff. The Governor stood outside the governor’s mansion Thursday night and announced a lawsuit against Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher and Broward County Supervisor Brenda Snipes. “Every Floridian should be concerned there may be rampant fraud happening in Palm Beach and Broward Counties,” Scott said. Judge Krista Marx granted a request by the Democratic Party of Florida to receive a list of everyone who cast a provisional ballot by 4 p.m. Friday. She also rejected a request to extend the provisional ballot deadline, which expired Thursday evening. The judge said she was not convinced she has the jurisdiction to do so, and that it would basically be a fishing expedition. Attorneys representing Governor Scott also called into question the county’s practices. Judge Marx raised concern after Bucher’s attorney admitted her staff was making decisions about over and under voted ballots that did not go in front of the canvassing board. “I’m really puzzled if that’s the practice now that some staff member is making that determination and not the canvassing board, that’s troubling,” Marx said. Marx ordered any duplicates or damaged ballots that were thrown out without going to the canvassing board now must go to them. She set a deadline for 10 a.m. Saturday. “I think it’s fair, I think she made a fair ruling,” Rodz said.[SEP]TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP/WSVN) — Gov. Rick Scott’s Senate campaign filed two separate lawsuits against the Broward and Palm Beach county elections supervisors concerning the way they are handling the midterm elections’ ballot counts. Scott’s campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee filed a lawsuit late Thursday demanding that Broward Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes be ordered to turn over several records detailing the counting and collection of ballots cast in Tuesday’s election. They are seeking an emergency hearing as the votes must be certified by noon Saturday. The lawsuit was filed about the same time Scott ordered state law enforcement officials to investigate the Broward and Palm Beach voting operation. Scott has a narrow lead over incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and the race may be headed to a recount. His lead narrowed as final ballots in heavily Democratic Broward and Palm Beach counties were counted Wednesday and Thursday. No one answered at Snipes’ office late Thursday. Nelson campaign spokesman Dan McLaughlin issued a statement saying that all votes should be counted accurately and that Scott’s action “appears to be politically motivated and borne out of desperation.” Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[SEP]Recently, my wife and I received the opportunity to receive absentee ballots for the upcoming elections. We accepted the offer and shortly after received the mid-term ballots. While filling out the ballots, we noticed that there is a glaring flaw in this way of voting. Nowhere on the forms do they ask for any form of personal identification. No driver’s license number, no social security number or no birth date. All you do is sign and date your ballot and return it in the envelope provided. What if my ballot had been put in my neighbor’s mailbox instead of mine? Couldn’t he just fill them out and then on election day just vote again in person? I have thought of many loopholes in this absentee voting scenario. What about you?[SEP]Almost a full day after polls closed, counties across the Bay Area still had hundreds of thousands of ballots to count — almost half of the number cast in a couple of cases. And that’s to be expected as more and more California voters turn to mail-in ballots, which take longer to count, elections staff and experts say. “This is the new normal,” said Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation. “We vote for a month and count ballots for a month in California.” What’s also lengthened the tallying time is a state law that went into effect in 2015, which allows vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received up to three days later to be counted. Such ballots previously had to be received by Election Day. As a result, many of the ballots sent close to Election Day don’t get into the hands of counters until later. Alameda County had counted roughly 255,000 ballots Wednesday morning and still had some 250,000 more to count, said Tim Dupuis, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. Of the 255,442 that the county had already processed, about 134,000 were vote-by-mail and early voting ballots received before the polls closed. Dupuis estimated 90,000 more of those ballots still need to be counted. “What we’re seeing is a shift in the way that our voters are voting,” Dupuis said, noting that about 70 percent of voters now submit mail ballots. “And that’s been a big shift. It’s been changing over the last few big election cycles.” While the registrar had hoped the shift to mail-in ballots might encourage early voting, that hasn’t exactly happened. “We’re seeing a large number of our voters dropping those vote-by-mail votes off on Election Day, which is going to lead to us having a larger number of votes to count after Election Day,” Dupuis said. “We’ve really started to see it hit us in June,” he said. “We had over 100,000 votes dropped off on Election Day for the June primary, which was unusually high for us.” Elections offices have 30 days to certify results. Dupuis said Alameda County is aiming to have that done before Thanksgiving. In Contra Costa County, elections staff estimated Wednesday afternoon that 177,000 ballots still needed to be counted. Of those, about 151,000 are vote-by-mail ballots, 25,000 are provisional ballots and about 1,000 are conditional voter ballots. Provisional ballots are cast by people who believe they are registered to vote even though their names are not on the official voter registration list or by people expected to vote by mail who instead show up at their polling place without a ballot, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Voters also are allowed to vote conditionally if they did not register to vote by the Oct. 22 deadline. These votes have to be verified by elections officials. In Santa Clara County, more than 75 percent of voters use mail-in ballots. As of Wednesday afternoon, about 304,000 ballots were counted and staff estimated roughly 270,000 still needed to be. While voting by mail makes for a slow counting process because signatures have to be checked, envelopes opened and ballots flattened, it makes things easier for voters, said Shannon Bushey, Registrar of Voters for Santa Clara County. Santa Clara County implemented a 24-hour vote-by-mail processing system to help speed things up, she added. In San Mateo County, as well as Madera, Napa, Sacramento and Nevada counties, the election offices participate in a new system made possible by the Voter’s Choice Act of 2016, which allows the counties to mail out ballots to every registered voter. There, people can vote at designated centers or simply drop off their ballots. That left some of those counties with surges in mail-in ballots that needed to be counted, Alexander said. But Alexander agreed with local elections officials that overall, the expansion of vote-by-mail ballots, conditional voter registration and some of the things that make ballot counting slower in recent elections is actually a good sign. “I know people are impatient,” she said, “But we take our time, we count ballots, we make sure people aren’t disenfranchised. We also verify the vote and other states don’t do that. I’m grateful for that. I want us to get it right.”

State judges order election officials from Broward and Palm Beach Counties to release absentee ballot information as they continue to count the ballots.

CLOSE Despite days of walking, illness, and uncertainty, Honduran native Joel Eduardo Espinar is determined to continue the arduous trek with his wife and children as part of a migrant caravan winding its way through Mexico toward the U.S. border. (Nov 2) AP Members of the Central American migrant caravan move in the early hours towards their next destination on Nov. 04, 2018 in Isla, Mexico. (Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images) WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union is seeking a court injunction to block President Donald Trump's new restrictions on asylum, arguing in a lawsuit filed Friday that the policy violates federal immigration law. “The new asylum ban is flatly unlawful and may result in many people being sent back to danger," said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project. “Neither the President nor the Attorney General may override the immigration laws enacted by Congress,” Gelernt said. The ACLU, along with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Center for Constitutional Rights, filed the lawsuit on behalf of several refugee and immigrant advocacy groups in federal court in Northern California on Friday. The Trump administration said the president had acted with "clear legal authority" and blasted the lawsuit as defending the rights of immigrants to enter the U.S. illegally. "The president has the right to suspend the entry of aliens if he determines it to be in the national interest – and that is what President Trump has done," the Justice and Homeland Security departments said in a joint statement Friday evening. Trump made the policy official on Friday by signing a proclamation that denies asylum to immigrants who enter the U.S. illegally, rather through a port of entry – a move aimed at a caravan of Central American migrants moving toward the U.S.-Mexico border. In its legal challenge, the ACLU argues that Trump's move flouts a 1965 law that says any foreigner who arrives in the U.S. – "whether or not at a designated port of arrival" – may apply for asylum. In addition, the suit charges the president with violating a 1946 law that spells out how the Executive Branch can develop and issue regulations. That administrative law allows courts to nix any actions that are "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law" or contrary to constitutional rights. “Ever since the horrors of World War II, the world’s nations have committed to giving asylum seekers the opportunity to seek safe haven," said Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. "The Trump administration cannot defy this most elementary humanitarian principle, in violation of U.S. and international law, with a flip of a presidential pen.” Under the new White House policy, immigrants who enter illegally would be placed into expedited deportation proceedings instead of being granted access to the asylum process, according to a posting by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security on the Federal Register late Thursday. ‘Flooding our country’ “They’re flooding our country, we’re not letting them in. But they’re trying to flood our country," Trump said Friday after signing the proclamation. Asylum is a form of protection granted to people who fear persecution in their home countries based on their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or their political opinion. From 2000 to 2016, the United States granted asylum to an average of 26,651 foreigners a year, according to Department of Homeland Security data. Gelernt said there are already long lines at the legal ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border, forcing desperate migrants into extended limbo as they seek to plead their case for asylum. Most of the migrants have already made arduous journeys to reach the U.S. border. The long waits at legal ports of entry have driven some to attempt illegal crossings and request asylum that way. When the last caravan reached the US in April, 401 presented themselves at ports of entry, as the administration has urged them to do, but 122 entered the country illegally to request asylum, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Trump and other White House officials have claimed there is "rampant abuse" in the nation's asylum system, which saw an increase in claims from 5,000 in 2008 to 97,000 in 2018, mostly fueled by Central Americans fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries. “Our asylum system is overwhelmed with too many meritless asylum claims from aliens who place a tremendous burden on our resources, preventing us from being able to expeditiously grant asylum to those who truly deserve it,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said in a joint statement on Thursday previewing Friday's proclamation. On Friday, Trump blamed Democrats for blocking reform that he said was needed to fix "obsolete" and "incompetent" immigration laws. "They are the worst laws any country has anywhere in the world, and it's only because we don't have the Democrats' votes," he told reporters before leaving for a trip to Paris. "We need Democrat votes so we can change immigration, and we'll have no trouble whatsoever at the border." Trump restrictions ‘shortsighted’ Rep. Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat who is poised to become chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the next Congress, called Trump’s asylum restrictions “shortsighted.” He said the new Democratic majority will examine Trump’s actions on a broad range of issues, including immigration. "The president has the wrong attitude when it comes to immigration or new people coming to this country. He’s afraid of them," Engel said. "I don’t know why. We are a nation of immigrants," he added, noting his own grandparents immigrated to the U.S. 110 years ago. Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, was more blunt. "The president’s xenophobic effort to exploit the suffering of desperate mothers and children legally seeking asylum is clearly intended for crude political distraction from his own failures," the New Jersey Democrat said. Trump's policy would create "a bottleneck at ports of entry, which will effectively shut the door on vulnerable individuals seeking asylum," he added. "I refuse to stand by as this administration continues to systematically undermine asylum and refugee protection." Friday’s action follows several other steps taken by the administration to halt the caravan. The Pentagon dispatched more than 7,000 active-duty military troops to the border. And U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have repositioned agents from around the country to line the southern border to prevent illegal entries. During a trip to the border, CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said he viewed the oncoming caravan as a "law enforcement situation" and his officers could not speed up the process to interview asylum seekers. Officials with the departments of Justice and Homeland Security said they are negotiating with Mexico about accepting deported migrants. Mexico has already agreed to grant asylum to immigrants moving north from Central America, largely from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. U.S. officials say that's the preferred location to receive asylum from persecution, but many migrants want to come to the United States. More: President Trump denies asylum for immigrants at U.S. border who enter outside ports of entry Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/11/09/donald-trump-migrant-caravan-aclu-federal-court-immigration-immigration-border-central-americans/1940528002/[SEP](Reuters) - Civil rights groups said on Friday they had filed a federal lawsuit challenging the legality of U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly announced restrictions that would effectively bar illegal migrants from Mexico from qualifying for asylum. The lawsuit in San Francisco federal court by the American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center and Center for Constitutional Rights seeks an injunction to prevent the administration from implementing the asylum policy. Trump on Friday signed a proclamation that effectively will suspend the granting of asylum to migrants who cross the U.S. border with Mexico illegally for up to 90 days. The order, which goes into effect on Saturday, means that migrants will have to present themselves at U.S. ports of entry to qualify for asylum. Civil rights groups have said that U.S. immigration law clearly allows anyone present in the country to seek asylum, regardless of how they crossed the border. “President Trump’s new asylum ban is illegal. Neither the president nor his cabinet secretaries can override the clear commands of U.S. law, but that’s exactly what they’re trying to do,” Omar Jadwat of the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement.[SEP]Trump Administration Aims To Deny Asylum To Migrants Who Enter U.S. Illegally The Trump administration announced new measures Thursday to deny asylum to migrants who enter the country illegally. On Friday, the administration will announce which countries are affected.[SEP]President Donald Trump on Friday invoked extraordinary national security powers to deny asylum to migrants who enter the country illegally, tightening the border as caravans of Central Americans slowly approach the United States. Trump is using the same powers he used to push through a version of the travel ban that was upheld by the Supreme Court. The proclamation puts into place regulations adopted Thursday that circumvent laws stating that anyone is eligible for asylum no matter how he or she enters the country. "We need people in our country but they have to come in legally and they have to have merit," Trump said Friday as he prepared to depart for Paris. The measures are meant to funnel asylum seekers through official border crossings for speedy rulings, officials said, instead of having them try to circumvent such crossings on the nearly 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) border. But the busy ports of entry already have long lines and waits, forcing immigration officials to tell some migrants to turn around and come back to make their claims. The move was spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot but will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally, officials said Thursday. It's unknown whether those in the caravan, many fleeing violence in their homeland, plan to cross illegally. Administration officials said those denied asylum under the proclamation may be eligible for similar forms of protection if they fear returning to their countries, though they would be subject to a tougher threshold. Those forms of protection include "withholding of removal" — which is similar to asylum, but doesn't allow for green cards or bringing families — or asylum under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The announcement was the latest push to enforce Trump's hardline stance on immigration through regulatory changes and presidential orders, bypassing Congress. But those efforts have been largely thwarted by legal challenges and, in the case of family separations this year, stymied by a global outcry that prompted Trump to scrap them. The new changes were likely to be met with legal challenges, too. Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project, said Thursday they were clearly illegal. "U.S. law specifically allows individuals to apply for asylum whether or not they are at a port of entry. It is illegal to circumvent that by agency or presidential decree," he said. Curbing immigration has been a signature issue for Trump, who pushed it hard in the days leading up to Tuesday's midterm elections, railing against the caravans that are still hundreds of miles from the border. He has made little mention of the issue since the election but has sent troops to the border in response. As of Thursday, there are more than 5,600 U.S. troops deployed to the border mission, with about 550 actually working on the border in Texas. The military is expected to have the vast majority of the more than 7,000 troops planned for the mission deployed by Monday, and that number could grow. Trump also suggested he'd revoke the right to citizenship for babies born to non-U.S. citizens on American soil and erect massive "tent cities" to detain migrants. Those issues were not addressed by the regulations Thursday. The administration has long said immigration officials are drowning in asylum cases partly because people falsely claim asylum and then live in the U.S. with work permits. The asylum section of the Immigration and Nationality Act says a migrant is allowed to make a claim up to a year after arriving in the U.S., and it doesn't matter how they arrive — illegally or through a border crossing. Migrants who cross illegally are generally arrested and often seek asylum or some other form of protection. Claims have spiked in recent years, and there is a backlog of more than 800,000 cases pending in immigration court. Generally, only about 20 percent of applicants are approved. Trump has long said those seeking asylum should come through legal ports of entry. But many migrants are unaware of that guidance, and official border crossings have grown clogged. Officials have turned away asylum seekers at border crossings because of overcrowding, telling them to return later. Backlogs have become especially bad in recent months at crossings in California, Arizona and Texas, with some people waiting five weeks to try to claim asylum at San Diego's main crossing. In 2017, the U.S. fielded more than 330,000 asylum claims, nearly double the number two years earlier and surpassing Germany as highest in the world. It's unclear how many people en route to the U.S. will even make it to the border. About 4,800 migrants are sheltered in a sports complex in Mexico City, some 600 miles (965 kilometers) from the U.S. border. Several smaller groups were trailing hundreds of miles to the south; officials estimated about 7,000 in all were in the country in the caravans. The migrants are largely poor people and many say they're fleeing violence; more than 1,700 were children under 18, and more than 300 were children under age 5. Similar caravans have gathered regularly over the years and have generally dwindled by the time they reach the southern border. Most have passed largely unnoticed. Associated Press writers Elliot Spagat in San Diego and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[SEP]WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump and immigration (all times local): The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Donald Trump's order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt says the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and want a judge to stop rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. President Donald Trump says he hopes a legal battle over an Obama-era program shielding young immigrants from deportation goes to the Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday decided to keep in place an injunction blocking Trump's decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. Lawsuits by California and others challenging the Trump administration's decision will continue in federal court while the injunction remains in place. DACA has protected 700,000 people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children or came with families that overstayed visas. The Trump administration has said it moved last year to end DACA because Texas and other states threatened to sue, raising the prospect of a chaotic end to the program. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to deny asylum to migrants who enter the United States illegally through the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump invoked the same national security powers he used to push his travel ban through. He says he wants people to come to the U.S. legally. The move on Friday was spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say it will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say the measure is meant to funnel asylum seekers through official border crossings for speedy rulings instead of having them try to circumvent such crossings on the nearly 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) stretch. The busy ports of entry already have long lines and waits, forcing immigration officials to tell some migrants to return to make their claims. Trump's proclamation puts into practice regulations adopted by immigration officials on Thursday. The Trump administration says it will deny asylum to migrants who enter the country illegally. The administration is invoking extraordinary presidential national security powers to tighten the border as caravans of Central Americans slowly approach the United States. The measures are meant to funnel asylum seekers through official border crossings for speedy rulings, officials said, instead of having them try to circumvent such crossings on the nearly 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) border. But the busy ports of entry already have long lines and waits, forcing immigration officials to tell some migrants to come back to make their claims. The move was spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say it will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally.[SEP]The United States will no longer allow people who enter the country illegally to claim asylum, officials said Thursday, unveiling a controversial new crackdown on immigration. The restriction on asylum claims will seek to address what a senior administration official called the "historically unparalleled abuse of our immigration system" along the border with Mexico. The new rule was published by the Department of Homeland Security and is expected to get President Donald Trump's signature shortly -- as well as face court challenges. The American Civil Liberties Union said that the right to request asylum must be granted to anyone entering the country, regardless of where they were. "US law specifically allows individuals to apply for asylum whether or not they are at a port of entry. It is illegal to circumvent that by agency or presidential decree," the ACLU said. But according to the new rule, Trump has authority to restrict illegal immigration "if he determines it to be in the national interest." Trump's administration argues that he has the executive power to curb immigration in the name of national security, a power he invoked right after taking office with a controversial ban on travelers from several mostly-Muslim countries -- whose final version was upheld by the US Supreme Court on June 26 after a protracted legal battle. "Today's rule applies this important principle to aliens who violate such a suspension or restriction regarding the southern border," Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker said. Those seeking political or other kinds of asylum -- nearly all of them coming from impoverished and violent crime-plagued countries of Central America -- will be heard exclusively at the border crossings, administration officials told journalists. This is expected to put a dent in those streaming into an already overburdened system, officials said, noting that there is a backlog of more than 700,000 cases in the immigration courts. Many politicians on both sides of the aisle agree that the US immigration system is hugely inefficient and unable to cope with demand. However, Trump's focus on the issue during campaigning for Tuesday's hotly contested midterm congressional elections was criticized as veering into immigrant-bashing and even racism. In speeches and on Twitter, Trump hammered away nearly daily at "caravans" of a few thousand impoverished Central Americans that periodically attempt to walk up through Mexico and then gain entry to the United States. He called a current caravan, which is still hundreds of miles from the US border and dwindling in numbers, an "invasion" and said it would bring hardened criminals to US streets. Administration officials say that aside from the rhetoric the border really does have a problem, given that anyone who manages to get across can request asylum and subsequently often vanish while their case sits in the court system. "The vast majority of these applications eventually turn out to be non-meritorious," a senior administration official said, asking not to be identified. Less than 10 percent of cases result in asylum being granted, the government says. Human rights campaigners and other critics of the Trump crackdown say that by restricting asylum seekers to the narrow border crossing points -- which are already under enormous pressure -- the government is effectively shutting the door on people who may truly be fleeing for their lives. But the administration official argued that "what we're attempting to do is trying to funnel credible fear claims, or asylum claims, through the ports of entry where we are better resourced." That way, he said, courts will "handle those claims in an expeditious and efficient manner, so that those who do actually require an asylum protection get those protections." In 2018, border patrols have registered more than 400,000 illegal border crossers, homeland security said. And in the last five years, the number of those requesting asylum has increased by 2,000 percent, it said.[SEP]The Trump administration announced new measures Thursday that would deny asylum to migrants who enter the country illegally, invoking emergency national security powers to curb long-standing humanitarian protections for foreigners who arrive on American soil. The restrictions rely on authorities invoked by the president to implement his "travel ban" in early 2017, according to senior administration officials who briefed reporters on the measures. "Those who enter the country between ports are knowingly and voluntarily breaking the law," said one official. "So while immigration laws afford people various forms of protection, there's a violation of federal law in the manner these illegal aliens are entering the country." President Donald Trump is preparing issue a proclamation to assert the emergency powers, and the rule changes will be published Friday in the Federal Register, the officials said. Legal challenges are expected to follow soon after. Immigration advocacy groups insist U.S. laws clearly extend asylum protections to anyone who reaches the United States, no matter how they enter the country. But the asylum restrictions are the latest attempts by the administration to assert executive powers to restrict immigrants and foreigners from entering the United States. And with an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 Central Americans moving north through Mexico in caravan groups, Trump has been demanding new tools to stop them at the border. Privately, Homeland Security officials acknowledge the new restrictions, at least on their own, are unlikely to achieve the kind of immediate deterrent effect the White House desires. Detention capacity at U.S. immigration jails already nearly maxxed out, and court-imposed limits on the government's ability to hold children in immigration jails for longer than 20 days mean most migrant families who arrive seeking protection are still likely to be released pending a hearing. Under U.S. immigration laws, foreigners who arrive on American soil stating a fear of return can request asylum as a shield against deportation. A U.S. asylum officer then conducts an interview to determine if the person has a "credible fear" of persecution, in which case the applicant is typically assigned a court date and released from custody. Soaring numbers of migrants have entered the United States taking this administrative path in recent years, often crossing illegally to turn themselves in to U.S. border agents. Since 2014, asylum claims at the border have increased fourfold, adding to a backlog of more than 750,000 pending cases in U.S. immigration courts. The new measures under preparation would continue to allow foreigners to request asylum if they enter the country legally at U.S. ports of entry, but not those who cross without authorization, administration officials said. With so many asylum seekers arriving at border crossings, U.S. customs officers have been limiting the number of people allowed to approach the pedestrian entry lanes, a tactic known as "metering" that has triggered challenges in federal court. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials defend the practice on the grounds that the border crossings are not equipped to process hundreds of asylum seekers daily, and officers must continue to facilitate ordinary cross-border travel and trade while protecting the country from terrorists and drug runners. It is unclear how many of the migrants traveling in the caravans will approach the ports of entry and attempt to enter legally. In recent weeks the wait at some crossings has stretched to several days or more, and in Tijuana the list of asylum seekers has grown to more than 1,000 people. Those delays increase the chances that caravan members could attempt to cross illegally by fording the Rio Grande or trekking through the desert to set foot on U.S. soil and surrender to Border Patrol agents. Under the proposed rule changes, migrants who cross illegally would be ineligible for asylum, but they could still be spared from deportation by qualifying for a lesser status known as "withholding of removal." That status does not give foreigners a path to a green card or citizenship, and instead functions as a kind of provisional suspension of the deportation process, revocable at any time. Nonetheless, it would still give those who cross illegally a way to get into the immigration court backlog and released from custody, especially those who are traveling with children. "Congress very specifically said you can apply for asylum if you arrive in the United States regardless of whether you're at a port of entry," said Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project. "They clearly and explicitly meant to make asylum available to anyone who reaches the United States. "We do this because of our obligations under international law and who we are as a country, and what we understand our role to be in terms of protecting people fleeing persecution," added Jadwat, who said ACLU attorneys have been anticipating the measures and reviewing legal options. "If the president doesn't like what the law says, the way to address it is to get Congress to pass a new one." Separately on Thursday, a federal appeals court in California ruled that Trump cannot immediately end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that shields from deportation young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit increases the likelihood that the fate of nearly 700,000 "dreamers" will be settled by the Supreme Court. Trump said he would allow the program to expire, after Texas and other states threatened to sue to force an end to protections. An early draft of the proposal reviewed by The Washington Post asserted the president can use his authority under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to declare certain migrants ineligible for asylum for national security grounds. The section is the same legal authority Trump asserted to bar foreigners from certain Muslim-majority countries from coming to the United States under the "travel ban" in early 2017. The ban drew multiple legal challenges and forced the administration to issue three different versions before a revised ban was upheld in June by the Supreme Court on a 5 to 4 vote. The Washington Post's Maria Sacchetti and Robert Barnes contributed to this report.[SEP]The Trump administration took a major step on Thursday to restrict asylum claims by migrants, putting forward a regulation that would make individuals ineligible for asylum if they cross the U.S. southern border illegally. Once the plan goes into full effect, which is expected to happen in coming days, migrants entering at the U.S. southern border would only be eligible for asylum if they come to official ports of entry. "What we are attempting to do is trying to funnel ... asylum claims through the ports of entry where we are better resourced, have better capabilities and better manpower and staffing to actually handle those claims in an expeditious and efficient manner," a senior administration official told reporters in a news briefing on Thursday, on condition of anonymity. The plan is the Trump administration's latest move to limit the eligibility of migrants for asylum in the United States. The regulation would largely affect migrants from Central America's Northern Triangle - Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador - who cross the U.S. border with Mexico to flee violence and poverty in their home countries. "The vast majority of aliens who enter illegally today come from the Northern Triangle countries, and large portions of those aliens assert a credible fear," the regulation's text says. "Channeling those aliens to ports of entry would encourage these aliens to first avail themselves of offers of asylum from Mexico." "U.S. law specifically allows individuals to apply for asylum whether or not they are at a port of entry," said Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project. "It is illegal to circumvent that by agency or presidential decree."[SEP]WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said Friday he has signed an immigration proclamation, an order that would help effectively ban migrants who cross the U.S. border with Mexico illegally from qualifying for asylum. The Trump administration unveiled new rules on Thursday to sharply limit migrant asylum claims by barring individuals who cross the US southern border illegally from seeking asylum. People have to come into the United States at points of entry, Trump said before leaving for Paris. “We need people in our country but they have to come in legally and they have to have merit,” Trump said. The plan, which invokes the same authority Trump used to justify his travel ban on citizens of several Muslim-majority nations, is likely to be quickly challenged in court. The Trump administration lost a court bid on Thursday, when a federal appeals court in California ruled that it must continue a program begun under former President Barack Obama that protects hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who were brought into the country as children, known as Dreamers. Trump said the ruling on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was good news because now the administration can appeal the case to the US Supreme Court. The measures are meant to funnel asylum seekers through official border crossings for speedy rulings, officials said, instead of having them try to circumvent such crossings on the nearly 3200-kilometre border. But the busy ports of entry already have long lines and waits, forcing immigration officials to tell some migrants to turn around and come back to make their claims. The move was spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot but will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally, officials said on Thursday. It’s unknown whether those in the caravan, many fleeing violence in their homeland, plan to cross illegally. Administration officials said those denied asylum under the proclamation may be eligible for similar forms of protection if they fear returning to their countries, though they would be subject to a tougher threshold. Those forms of protection include “withholding of removal” — which is similar to asylum, but doesn’t allow for green cards or bringing families — or asylum under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The announcement was the latest push to enforce Mr Trump’s hard line stance on immigration through regulatory changes and presidential orders, bypassing Congress. But those efforts have been largely thwarted by legal challenges and, in the case of family separations this year, stymied by a global outcry that prompted Trump to scrap them. The new changes were likely to be met with legal challenges, too. Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said on Thursday they were clearly illegal. “US law specifically allows individuals to apply for asylum whether or not they are at a port of entry. It is illegal to circumvent that by agency or presidential decree,” he said. Curbing immigration has been a signature issue for Mr Trump, who pushed it hard in the days leading up to Tuesday’s midterm elections, railing against the caravans that are still hundreds of kilometres from the border. He has made little mention of the issue since the election but has sent troops to the border in response. As of Thursday, there are more than 5600 US troops deployed to the border mission, with about 550 actually working on the border in Texas. The military is expected to have the vast majority of the more than 7000 troops planned for the mission deployed by Monday, and that number could grow. Trump also suggested he’d revoke the right to citizenship for babies born to non-US citizens on American soil and erect massive “tent cities” to detain migrants. Those issues were not addressed by the regulations on Thursday. The administration has long said immigration officials are drowning in asylum cases partly because people falsely claim asylum and then live in the US. with work permits. The asylum section of the Immigration and Nationality Act says a migrant is allowed to make a claim up to a year after arriving in the US, and it doesn’t matter how they arrive — illegally or through a border crossing. Migrants who cross illegally are generally arrested and often seek asylum or some other form of protection. Claims have spiked in recent years, and there is a backlog of more than 800,000 cases pending in immigration court. Generally, only about 20 per cent of applicants are approved. Trump has long said those seeking asylum should come through legal ports of entry. But many migrants are unaware of that guidance, and official border crossings have grown clogged. Officials have turned away asylum seekers at border crossings because of overcrowding, telling them to return later. Backlogs have become especially bad in recent months at crossings in California, Arizona and Texas, with some people waiting five weeks to try to claim asylum at San Diego’s main crossing.[SEP] • The Trump administration on Thursday took its first steps toward restricting asylum to immigrants who cross the border into the United States illegally. • The changes are coming as multiple caravans of thousands of Central American migrants make their way to the US through Mexico. • Many of them have said they intend to request asylum. • Immigration and civil liberties advocates have repeatedly said that the Trump administration’s efforts will contravene domestic and international law, which allow migrants to seek asylum no matter how they enter. The Trump administration on Thursday made its first move toward barring asylum to immigrants who cross the border illegally, as President Donald Trump has been promising for weeks ahead of a slow-moving caravan of Central American migrants traveling to the United States. The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday released documents outlining the new restrictions, which are set to be published to the Federal Register on Friday morning. The documents say that the changes won’t take effect until Trump issues a proclamation. “Consistent with our immigration laws, the President has the broad authority to suspend or restrict the entry of aliens into the United States if he determines it to be in the national interest to do so,” Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said in a joint statement announcing the changes. They added: “Today, we are using the authority granted to us by Congress to bar aliens who violate a Presidential suspension of entry or other restriction from asylum eligibility.” The changes come as multiple caravans of thousands of migrants remain in Mexico, grappling over what route to take to the US-Mexico border. Many of the caravan members have said they intend to seek asylum in the US, though it’s unclear whether they plan to request it after crossing the border illegally or after reaching a legal port of entry. Immigration and civil liberties advocates have repeatedly said the Trump administration’s efforts will contravene domestic and international law, which allow migrants to seek asylum no matter how they enter. “US law specifically allows individuals to apply for asylum whether or not they are at a port of entry. It is illegal to circumvent that by agency or presidential decree,” Omar Jadwat of the American Civil Liberties Union said Thursday in a statement. Read more: Trump rages against migrant caravans in long, bizarre press conference, vows to bar asylum claims from people who cross the border illegally In a briefing with reporters Thursday afternoon, senior administration officials said the changes were an attempt to “funnel” credible asylum claims through the ports of entry, where border officials would be better equipped to handle the volume. The senior administration officials also called the current asylum system – which is currently backlogged with roughly 800,000 cases – a “full-fledged and very large crisis.” They argued that the changes would reduce the amount of illegitimate asylum claims, paving the way for legitimate asylum-seekers to get a fair hearing. “It’s important just to remind people that those who enter between the ports of entry are knowingly and voluntarily breaking the law. It’s a federal crime. People can and do go to jail for that every single day,” one official said. “While immigration laws do afford people various forms of protection, the reality is that it’s a violation of federal law in the manner that these illegal aliens are entering the country.”

The American Civil Liberties Union files a lawsuit in response to President Trump's proclamation that denies asylum to immigrants who enter the country illegally.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The Brexit deal "will see us cede control" - Jo Johnson Jo Johnson has quit as transport minister and called for the public to have a fresh say on Brexit. The MP, who is Boris Johnson's brother but voted Remain in the referendum, said the deal being negotiated with the EU "will be a terrible mistake". Arguing Britain was "on the brink of the greatest crisis" since World War Two, he said what was on offer wasn't "anything like what was promised". Downing Street thanked him for his work but ruled out another referendum. Jo Johnson voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum while his brother Boris, who quit as foreign secretary in July, was a leading Brexiteer. His brother praised his decision, saying they were "united in dismay" at the PM's handling of the negotiations. Cabinet ministers have been invited this week to read the UK's draft withdrawal deal with the EU. Theresa May has said the withdrawal deal is 95% done - but there is no agreement yet on how to guarantee no hard border in Northern Ireland. On Friday the DUP, whose support Theresa May relies on for votes in the Commons, said they cannot support any deal which included the possibility that Northern Ireland would be treated differently from the rest of the UK. Mr Johnson, the MP for Orpington in Greater London, said the choice being finalised was either: an agreement which would leave the UK "economically weakened with no say in the EU rules it must follow", or a "no-deal Brexit" which would "inflict untold damage on our nation". He described this as "a failure of British statecraft unseen since the Suez crisis" but said even a no-deal Brexit "may well be better than the never-ending purgatory" being put forward by the prime minister. But in a warning to his brother and fellow Brexiteers, he added: "Inflicting such serious economic and political harm on the country will leave an indelible impression of incompetence in the minds of the public." The "democratic thing to do is to give the public the final say", he argued. Serious impact? Image copyright PA Image caption Mr Johnson was elected MP for Orpington in 2010 and was made transport minister in January Analysis by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg For some time, Jo Johnson has struggled with the unfolding reality of Brexit. A well-respected and liked member of the government, he has decided that what was promised to people during the referendum campaign is now so different to what is on the table that he has quit the government instead. He's not the first, nor the best-known minister to resign over Brexit. But to leave at this moment, right when Theresa May is trying to stitch together a final deal, could have a serious impact. Read Laura's full blog He added: "This would not be about re-running the 2016 referendum, but about asking people whether they want to go ahead with Brexit now that we know the deal that is actually available to us, whether we should leave without any deal at all or whether people on balance would rather stick with the deal we already have inside the European Union. "Britain stands on the brink of the greatest crisis since the Second World War. My loyalty to the party is undimmed. I have never rebelled on any issue before now. "But my duty to my constituents and our great nation has forced me to act." 'Authority lost' In response, a Downing Street spokesman said: "The referendum in 2016 was the biggest democratic exercise in this country's history. We will not under any circumstances have a second referendum. "The prime minister thanks Jo Johnson for his work in government." Mr Johnson is the sixth minister in Theresa May's government to resign specifically over Brexit, following David Davis, Boris Johnson, Philip Lee, Steve Baker and Guto Bebb. For Labour, Shadow Brexit Minister Jenny Chapman said Mrs May had "lost all authority and is incapable of negotiating a Brexit deal within her own party, let alone with the EU". But asked in an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel whether he would stop Brexit if he had the chance, Jeremy Corbyn replied: "We can't stop it, the referendum took place." Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable, whose party supports calls for a "People's Vote" on the final deal, said: "We warmly welcome Jo Johnson's support of the campaign to give the people the final say on the deal and a chance to exit from Brexit. "This is a fascinating situation in which Jo and his sister are united in opposing their brother Boris and his Brexit plans." Brexiteer Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns tweeted that she did not agree with him about another referendum - but his intervention highlighted unease on both sides of the debate, with the PM's efforts to secure a deal. And pro-Remain Conservative Anna Soubry supported his decision and said it was time for another referendum. Skip Twitter post by @Anna_Soubry Huge respect for @JoJohnsonUK . It’s tough resigning from a Ministerial post, he’s done the right thing. Now is the time for people to stand up for what they believe in or we will sleepwalk to a #Brexit disaster. There is another way – it’s a @peoplesvote_uk — Anna Soubry MP (@Anna_Soubry) November 9, 2018 Report David Davis, who quit as Brexit Secretary over Mrs May's Chequers Brexit plan, tweeted:[SEP]Transport minister says he cannot support deal and will push for second referendum Theresa May’s hopes of winning parliament’s backing for her Brexit deal have been plunged into fresh doubt after Jo Johnson resigned from the government and accused her of offering MPs a choice between “vassalage and chaos”. Four months after his Brexiter brother Boris quit as foreign secretary, the remainer MP for Orpington, and erstwhile transport minister, said he could not vote for the deal that May is expected to bring back to parliament within weeks, and instead would throw his weight behind a second referendum. Profile Jo Johnson MP Show Hide Jo Johnson MP: the less well-known younger brother When Jo Johnson made his maiden speech in the House of Commons, shortly after his election in 2010, he was keen to highlight the differences with his better known, older brother. “Anyone hoping that I will enliven proceedings in the manner of one of my elder brothers, the former member for Henley, is likely to be disappointed,” the newly elected MP said, before giving a short political history of his constituency, Orpington in Kent. Yet, humour apart, the similarities between Boris and Jo are far greater than the differences. Both were educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, although Jo, seven-and-a-half-years younger, outshone Boris with a first in modern history. Jo Johnson also pursued a career in journalism before entering politics, after a short stint at Deutsche Bank. He worked at the Financial Times for 13 years, where he edited the Lex investment column after stints abroad in Paris and New Delhi. The 46-year-old was selected for the safe Conservative seat of Orpington by the narrowest of margins, beating Sajid Javid, after the first ballot between the two was tied. He won by a single vote among association members on the second ballot. A ministerial career looked likely and Johnson became the first in his family to get a job at No 10 when he was made head of the Downing Street policy unit by David Cameron in 2013 although, at the time, there was some surprise not because of his talents but because of his relative leftwing views. Some colleagues even described him as “pro European” but he compiled the 2015 manifesto on behalf of Cameron, which included the fateful promise to hold an in/out referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. Johnson subsequently became universities minister after the 2015 election, a job he enjoyed and in which he tried to wrestle with the problem of growing student debt, before, to his disappointment, he was reshuffled to become rail minister. In his resignation statement Johnson warned that Theresa May’s Brexit plans would leave the UK “vassalage and chaos”. If his career as an MP began with a promise that he would sound different to his brother, with his latest criticisms of the prime minister he sounds dangerously similar. “It has become increasingly clear to me that the withdrawal agreement, which is being finalised in Brussels and Whitehall even as I write, will be a terrible mistake,” he wrote in an online article. He said the public were being offered “an agreement that will leave our country economically weakened, with no say in the EU rules it must follow and years of uncertainty for business” or a no-deal Brexit “that I know as a transport minister will inflict untold damage on our nation. “To present the nation with a choice between two deeply unattractive outcomes, vassalage and chaos, is a failure of British statecraft on a scale unseen since the Suez crisis.” Jo Johnson (@JoJohnsonUK) With great regret, I'm resigning from the Government - I have set out my reasons in this article and the video below. https://t.co/hzimcS8uiR pic.twitter.com/hUN9RLzDfq May is expected to call a special cabinet meeting next week as she tries to persuade ministers to unite behind her proposals for the Irish backstop. Brexit secretary Dominic Raab is believed to be particularly concerned about the risk of the UK being locked into a customs union with the EU indefinitely. The pound fell on the foreign exchanges after Johnson’s resignation, sliding by almost 0.7% against the dollar to drop below $1.30. Johnson said the mooted deal had united him in “fraternal dismay” with Boris, who stepped down as foreign secretary in July over May’s Chequers strategy. “My brother Boris, who led the leave campaign, is as unhappy with the government’s proposals as I am,” Johnson said. “Indeed he recently observed that the proposed arrangements were ‘substantially worse than staying in the EU’. On that he is unquestionably right.” The former foreign secretary tweeted about his “boundless admiration” for his brother: Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) Boundless admiration as ever for my brother Jo. We may not have agreed about brexit but we are united in dismay at the intellectually and politically indefensible of the UK position 1/2 https://t.co/QI4tMpLecc Their sister, the journalist Rachel Johnson, also tweeted: Rachel Johnson (@RachelSJohnson) Am hugely proud of my honourable and principled brother Jo who has put the interests of the country ahead of his political career https://t.co/CCXH6bbDQF Their father, Stanley Johnson, interviewed on Channel 4 News, praised his son and cited Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s The Charge of the Light Brigade: “The prime minister charges on into the valley of death. And thank God Jo has come out today with a bit of sanity. Saying we have got to draw back from this cliff edge.” The former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine, who backs the campaign for another referendum, said: “This is a very significant resignation. Here is a young politician with everything to gain from staying inside the government, pursuing his distinguished career, keeping his head down and waiting for events to take their course. “He has not done that. He has resigned on an issue of principle, putting the country before his party and his own career.” As Johnson added his voice to the small but growing list of Conservatives calling for the public to be given a say on Brexit, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told German newspaper Der Spiegel: “We can’t stop it. The referendum took place. Article 50 has been triggered. What we can do is recognise the reasons why people voted leave.” Corbyn and his frontbench colleagues have consistently said they will respect the result of the 2016 referendum, fearing that leave voters in Labour constituencies would reject the party if it swings its weight behind blocking Brexit. Corbyn also said: “I’ve been critical of the competitions policy in Europe and the move towards free market, and obviously critical in the past of their treatment of Greece, although that was mostly the eurozone that did that. My idea is of a social Europe with inclusive societies that work for everyone and not just for a few.” Johnson’s shock resignation came just hours after May’s de facto deputy, David Lidington, said he remained confident that the government could win MPs’ backing for the deal. The Guardian view on Mrs May’s Brexit: blocked by naysayers | Editorial Read more Johnson’s statement was published after May spent much of the day in France and Belgium, laying wreaths alongside fellow leaders to mark the centenary of the armistice. A Downing Street spokesman said: “The referendum in 2016 was the biggest democratic exercise in this country’s history. We will not under any circumstances have a second referendum. The PM thanks Jo Johnson for his work in government.” We’ve been hurtling towards a blindfolded Brexit, so it’s about time politicians hand back control to the people Eloise Todd, Best for Britain CEO Johnson’s resignation highlighted the fact that some Conservative remainers, as well as disgruntled Brexiters, could vote against May’s deal, threatening her chances of achieving a majority in the “meaningful vote”. As negotiations with Brussels enter their final fraught days, May’s approach to the talks has come under fire from both wings of her warring party, with the pro-Brexit European Research Group and europhiles such as Anna Soubry, fiercely critical of her stance. Following Johnson’s resignation, Soubry said: “Jo isn’t the only minister who shares these views and I hope others will follow his lead. We are reaching that time when people have to stand up and be counted, because if they don’t we are going to sleepwalk to disaster and it doesn’t have to be like this.” The DUP, whose 10 MPs May relies on for her majority, has also suggested it could vote down the deal if it fears it could result in new customs or regulatory checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In seeking to prevent that outcome, the government is proposing that the UK would effectively enter a temporary customs union with the EU if a trade deal cannot be struck by the end of the transition period in December 2020 to avoid such checks. Johnson became the latest senior Tory to back the idea of a second referendum and appeared to support the approach suggested by the former education secretary Justine Greening, who has suggested a three-option referendum. “On this most crucial of questions, I believe it is entirely right to go back to the people and ask them to confirm their decision to leave the EU and, if they choose to do that, to give them the final say on whether we leave with the prime minister’s deal or without it,” Johnson said. “To do anything less will do grave damage to our democracy.” His decision was welcomed by campaigners for a second referendum, with some privately suggesting other junior ministers could join him in the coming days. Brexit: five things we learned this week Read more Eloise Todd, of the anti-Brexit campaign group Best for Britain, said: “This is an incredibly brave move from Jo Johnson at a time when the public desperately needs more MPs to act in the national interest. “We’ve been hurtling towards a blindfolded Brexit for too long, so it’s about time that politicians hand back control to the people of this country by giving them the final say on Brexit with the option to stay and lead in Europe.” The shadow Brexit minister, Jenny Chapman, said: “Jo Johnson is the 18th minister to resign from Theresa May’s government. She has lost all authority and is incapable of negotiating a Brexit deal within her own party, let alone with the EU.” • This article was amended on 12 November 2018. An earlier version referred to customs checks “between the UK and Northern Ireland”; this should have said “between Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.[SEP]A minister in the British government stepped down Friday to protest Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plan and is backing calls for a second referendum on whether the country should leave the European Union. Jo Johnson, younger brother of former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, said the withdrawal agreement being discussed by EU and British leaders would greatly weaken Britain and require the country to follow EU rules without having any say. The only alternative on the table, he said, is a no-deal Brexit that would “inflict untold damage” on Britain. “It has become increasingly clear to me that the withdrawal agreement, which is being finalized in Brussels and Whitehall even as I write, will be a terrible mistake,” said Johnson, who was a transport minister in the government. He said it would be proper to give the British public a chance to vote again because of the way the Brexit negotiations have evolved. “Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so far from what was once promised, the democratic thing to do is to give the public the final say,” he said. His older brother Boris resigned in July to protest May’s Brexit plan — but Boris did so as a staunch support of a hard-line Brexit, while Jo Johnson backed the “remain” side during the June, 2016 referendum. Jo Johnson’s resignation, and his call for a fresh referendum to test voter sentiment, further complicates matters for May as she tries to strike a deal with EU leaders that would pass muster with her own cabinet and win backing in Parliament. She has consistently rejected the idea of another nationwide vote on Brexit, insisting her obligation is to make good on the will of the people as expressed in 2016. Her Conservative Party remains deeply divided on her approach, and it is not clear if she will win wide backing from opposition Labour Party lawmakers when any proposed deal is put to Parliament. © The Associated Press. All rights reserved.[SEP]LONDON — A minister in the British government stepped down Friday to protest Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan and is backing calls for a second referendum on whether the country should leave the European Union. Jo Johnson, younger brother of former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, said the withdrawal agreement being discussed by EU and British leaders would greatly weaken Britain and require the country to follow EU rules without having any say. The only alternative on the table, he said, is a no-deal Brexit that would "inflict untold damage" on Britain. "It has become increasingly clear to me that the withdrawal agreement, which is being finalized in Brussels and Whitehall even as I write, will be a terrible mistake," said Jo Johnson, who was a transport minister in the government. To give the public a choice between these two disastrous versions of Brexit would be a "failure of British statecraft on a scale unseen since the Suez crisis," he said, referencing the 1956 conflict against Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser that is widely seen as marking the moment at which Britain formally lost its imperial role in the world. Instead, Johnson said it would be proper to give the British public a chance to vote again because of the way the Brexit negotiations have evolved. "Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so far from what was once promised, the democratic thing to do is to give the public the final say," Jo Johnson said. His older brother, Boris, resigned in July to protest May's Brexit plan — but Boris did so as a staunch support of a hard-line Brexit, while Jo Johnson backed the "remain" side during the June, 2016 referendum. In a tweet, Boris Johnson said he had "boundless admiration" for his brother and that they are "united in dismay" at the indefensibility of May's position even though they disagree over Brexit. Jo Johnson's resignation, and his call for a fresh referendum to test voter sentiment, further complicates matters for May as she tries to strike a deal with EU leaders that would pass muster with her own cabinet and win backing in Parliament. She has consistently rejected the idea of another nationwide vote on Brexit, insisting her obligation is to make good on the will of the people as expressed in 2016.[SEP]Jo Johnson has resigned from Theresa May’s Government in protest at her Brexit plan, warning the country faced a choice between “vassalage” under her proposed deal or the “chaos” of crashing out of the EU. Mr Johnson quit as transport minister and minister for London in order to vote against the Brexit deal whenever it comes before Parliament and called for the public to be given a second referendum. The senior Tory, who campaigned for Remain, follows his Leave-supporting brother Boris Johnson out of Mrs May’s government. The former foreign secretary quit in July in protest at Mrs May’s handling of Brexit. In a blog explaining his decision, Jo Johnson said: “It has become increasingly clear to me that the withdrawal agreement, which is being finalised in Brussels and Whitehall even as I write, will be a terrible mistake. “Indeed, the choice being presented to the British people is no choice at all. “The first option is the one the Government is proposing: an agreement that will leave our country economically weakened, with no say in the EU rules it must follow and years of uncertainty for business. “The second option is a no-deal Brexit that I know as a transport minister will inflict untold damage on our nation. “To present the nation with a choice between two deeply unattractive outcomes, vassalage and chaos, is a failure of British statecraft on a scale unseen since the Suez crisis.” He added: “Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so far from what was once promised, the democratic thing to do is to give the public the final say.” Boris Johnson backed his brother’s decision, saying: “We may not have agreed about Brexit but we are united in dismay at the intellectually and politically indefensible of the UK position.” Jo Johnson acknowledged that the Brexit negotiations “have at least united us in fraternal dismay”. He said that the terms of the Brexit deal being discussed with the EU would mean deciding key issues in the future relationship being put off while the UK is kept in a “boundless transitionary period”. “This is a con on the British people: there is no evidence that the kind of Brexit that we’ve failed to negotiate while we are still members can be magically agreed once the UK has lost its seat at the table.” He acknowledged that a no-deal Brexit could result in “Kent becoming the Lorry Park of England”, with real questions about guaranteeing supplies of food and medicines. But even a no-deal Brexit “may well be better than the never-ending purgatory” that Mrs May’s plan would offer. However, in a pointed message to his brother and other Brexiteers, he said: “Inflicting such serious economic and political harm on the country will leave an indelible impression of incompetence in the minds of the public. “It cannot be what you wanted nor did the 2016 referendum provide any mandate for it.” He said the public should be asked to confirm their decision to leave the EU and, if they choose to do that, whether to accept Mrs May’s plan or leave without a deal. A Downing Street spokesman said: “The referendum in 2016 was the biggest democratic exercise in this country’s history. We will not under any circumstances have a second referendum. “The Prime Minister thanks Jo Johnson for his work in Government.” Mr Johnson’s resignation came just hours after Mrs May’s de facto deputy said he hoped a deal would result in a “new dynamic” at Westminster, with MPs rallying behind the Prime Minister. David Lidington said a UK-EU deal would involve “compromises, give and take on all sides” but when faced with “product on the table” in the form of an agreement backed by all 28 governments there could be a shift in attitude at Westminster. “I hope and I believe that we can secure that majority in Parliament for the agreement,” he said. Hopes of an imminent breakthrough in the Brexit negotiations have so far failed to be met. But both Mr Lidington and Ireland’s Leo Varadkar suggested a deal could be reached between the UK and EU in the coming weeks. The Taoiseach said: “A successful outcome is not guaranteed but I think it is possible in the next couple of weeks.” But the fragile alliance keeping Mrs May in power has been strained as the Democratic Unionist Party railed against measures it fears will create a border down the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. DUP leader Arlene Foster said the Prime Minister appeared “wedded to the idea of a border down the Irish Sea” despite Downing Street’s repeated assurances to the contrary.[SEP]Jo Johnson, brother of Boris Johnson, has resigned from Theresa May's cabinet as Transport minister, claiming the Brexit deal being finalized “will be a terrible mistake,” calling for a second referendum or ‘people's vote’. Johnson made the shock resignation via an online video through his Twitter account. The Orpington MP, whose brother Boris spearheaded the Leave campaign, warned PM Theresa May's Brexit deal would leave the UK outside the EU but “wholly subject” to its rules. The now ex-cabinet minister, who campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum, made the stark claim that the issue of Brexit meant “Britain stands on the brink of the greatest crisis since the Second World War.” He claimed the decision as to whether the UK now leaves the EU should be put into the hands of British citizens through a 'people's vote'. Johnson said: “I think it is imperative that we now go back to the people and check that they are content to proceed on this extraordinary basis. “Instead of 'in Europe but not run by Europe', we will be out of Europe and yet wholly subject to European rules.” In his video, he insists that any hopes that existed for the “easiest deal in history” had now turned out to be “delusions.” Tom Watson, Labour's Deputy leader, has called into question Theresa May's status as prime minister, highlighting the fact she has overseen a long list of cabinet resignations. Labour’s shadow Brexit minister, Jenny Chapman, said Johnson was the 18th minister to quit May’s Tory government, adding: “She has lost all authority and is incapable of negotiating a Brexit deal within her own party, let alone with the EU.” His resignation follows that of high profile Tories such as David Davis, his brother Boris, and Steve Baker who all fell out with the PM over her Chequers Brexit proposal. Read More: Sinking ship? Spate of resignations could mean game over for Theresa May government Downing Street have issued a statement saying: “The referendum in 2016 was the biggest democratic exercise in this country’s history.We will not under any circumstances have a second referendum. The prime minister thanks Jo Johnson for his work in government.” It comes as Theresa May has been accused by the DUP of reneging on her promise to not sign up to a Brexit deal that treated Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the UK, warning the PM she couldn't rely on its support to get the plans agreed. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media won’t tell you.[SEP]Jo Johnson has resigned from the government, saying he cannot support Theresa May’s Brexit deal, and MPs are being offered a choice between “vassalage and chaos”. The MP for Orpington and rail minister published an article saying he could not vote for the deal which May is expected to bring back to parliament within weeks – and instead would be campaigning for a second referendum. “It has become increasingly clear to me that the withdrawal agreement, which is being finalised in Brussels and Whitehall even as I write, will be a terrible mistake,” he said in an online article. He said the public were being offered “an agreement that will leave our country economically weakened, with no say in the EU rules it must follow and years of uncertainty for business” or a no-deal Brexit “that I know as a transport minister will inflict untold damage on our nation”. “To present the nation with a choice between two deeply unattractive outcomes, vassalage and chaos, is a failure of British statecraft on a scale unseen since the Suez crisis.” He added: “On this most crucial of questions, I believe it is entirely right to go back to the people and ask them to confirm their decision to leave the EU and, if they choose to do that, to give them the final say on whether we leave with the prime minister’s deal or without it. “To do anything less will do grave damage to our democracy.” Johnson said his objections to the deal were different to those of his brother, Boris, who stepped down as foreign secretary in July saying that he could not support May’s Chequers strategy. Jo’s shock resignation came just a few hours after May’s de facto deputy, David Lidington, insisted he was confident MPs would throw their weight behind the government’s deal once it was published. The prime minister is expected to hold a cabinet meeting next week in the hope of securing the support of her ministers for her negotiating stance – and hopes to strike a deal within weeks.[SEP]LONDON (AP) - A former U.K. minister says others may step down from the government to protest Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan. Jo Johnson told BBC radio Saturday it is up to members of Parliament to take a stand. He said that if others decide to resign, "good on them." Johnson, the younger brother of Boris Johnson, stepped down as a transport minister Friday and called for a second Brexit referendum. He said May's Brexit plan would damage Britain's national interest. He said the plan is so different from what had been promised during the 2016 referendum that a second vote is needed. May has rejected all demands for another vote, saying the 2016 vote in favor of leaving the European Union is definitive. FILE - In this March 3, 2016 file photo, Universities Minister Jo Johnson is photographed prior to giving a speech on science, universities and the EU at the Babbage Lecture Theatre, University of Cambridge in Cambridge. England. Johnson, the younger brother of Boris Johnson, stepped down as a transport minister Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 and called for a second Brexit referendum. He says Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan would damage Britain's national interest. (Chris Radburn/PA via AP, File) Difficult negotiations between Britain and the EU continue. FILE - In this March 28, 2017 file photo, Jo Johnson visits the the European Commission in Brussels. A transport minister in the British government stepped down Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 to protest Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan and is backing calls for a second referendum on whether the country should leave the European Union. Jo Johnson, younger brother of former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, said Friday that the withdrawal agreement being discussed would greatly weaken Britain. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP, file)[SEP]UK ex-minister says other officials may resign over Brexit LONDON (AP) — A former U.K. minister says others may step down from the government to protest Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan. Jo Johnson told BBC radio Saturday it is up to members of Parliament to take a stand. He said that if others decide to resign, "good on them." Johnson, the younger brother of Boris Johnson, stepped down as a transport minister Friday and called for a second Brexit referendum. He said May's Brexit plan would damage Britain's national interest. He said the plan is so different from what had been promised during the 2016 referendum that a second vote is needed. May has rejected all demands for another vote, saying the 2016 vote in favor of leaving the European Union is definitive. Difficult negotiations between Britain and the EU continue.[SEP]The UK needs to "pause and reflect" before doing something "irrevocably stupid" over Brexit, Jo Johnson said a day after quitting as a minister. On BBC Radio 4's Today he called again for another referendum, saying what was being offered fell "spectacularly short" of what had been promised. The ex-transport minister said it would be a "democratic travesty" to not have another vote. He denied his actions amounted to a coup against the prime minister. Mr Johnson, who voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum, stood down as Theresa May's prospective deal with Brussels was being presented to Cabinet ministers. He warned the UK faced a choice between "vassalage" under her proposals and "chaos" if it left the EU without a deal. The MP for Orpington in Kent said he had "happily taken the decision" to end his own ministerial career and, when asked if he thought other ministers would resign, he said if they thought it was right thing for them to take a stand then "good on them". • Brexit: All you need to know Cabinet ministers have been invited this week to read the UK's draft withdrawal deal with the EU. Theresa May has said the withdrawal deal is 95% done - but there is no agreement yet on how to guarantee no hard border in Northern Ireland. In a resignation statement on Friday, Mr Johnson, who is the brother of former foreign secretary and leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson, argued Britain was "on the brink of the greatest crisis" since World War Two, saying what was on offer wasn't "anything like what was promised". Mr Johnson told Today: "My view is that this is so different from what was billed that it would be an absolute travesty if we do not go back to the people and ask them if they actually do want to exit the EU on this extraordinarily hopeless basis." His call for another vote was attacked by the Conservative MP and leading Brexiteer, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and the former First Secretary of State Damian Green. Mr Green told Today another referendum "would be divisive but it wouldn't be decisive", and all the evidence showed the country was "still, more or less, split down the middle". Mr Rees-Mogg said Mr Johnson was "re-heating 'Project Fear' to stop us leaving". Mr Johnson is the sixth minister in Theresa May's government to resign specifically over Brexit, following David Davis, Boris Johnson, Philip Lee, Steve Baker and Guto Bebb. For some time, Jo Johnson has struggled with the unfolding reality of Brexit. A well-respected and liked member of the government, he has decided that what was promised to people during the referendum campaign is now so different to what is on the table that he has quit the government instead. He's not the first, nor the best-known minister to resign over Brexit. But to leave at this moment, right when Theresa May is trying to stitch together a final deal, could have a serious impact.

British MP Jo Johnson resigns as transport minister over Theresa May's Brexit plan and calls for a second referendum.

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CNN) The President of Sri Lanka dissolved parliament on Friday and called a snap election for January 5, in a move aimed at ending a political standoff that has disrupted its capital, Colombo, for weeks. Last month, President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and appointed controversial former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, which triggered protests and violence leaving one person dead. Wickremesinghe denounced Sirisena's attempt to remove him from office and refused to leave the official prime minister's residence, claiming the president does not have the power to take such action. Just before Sirisena's announcement on Friday night, Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP), attempted to call for a "floor test" in parliament to measure how much support Sirisena maintained. UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim told CNN: "They do not have the numbers to show a 113 majority in the 225-seat Parliament." Read More[SEP]Image copyright AFP Image caption Mr Sirisena's opponents say his move is illegal President Maithripala Sirisena has moved to dissolve parliament amid a political crisis following his attempt to replace Sri Lanka's prime minister. The official notification, which took effect at midnight on Friday (17:30 GMT), would trigger a general election on 5 January. However, it could be challenged in the Supreme Court. The sacked prime minister's party says the president does not have the power to take such action. Last month, President Sirisena named former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister after sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cabinet and suspending parliament. But Mr Wickremesinghe has refused to leave, saying his sacking was illegitimate. An MP from Mr Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) said the move to dissolve parliament was "illegal" and said he believed it would be rejected. "We are requesting the election commission to solve this issue peacefully without creating a bloodbath in the country," Ajith Perera told the BBC. BBC Sinhala's Azzam Ameen says the Sirisena-Rajapaksa camp are calling a snap election because they did not have enough support in parliament for their new government. The UNP meanwhile would prefer a parliamentary vote to a national election at this time, our correspondent says. What has led to this? Mr Sirisena, the president, and Mr Wickremesinghe, the sacked prime minister, joined forces in the 2015 election to defeat the then long-time president, Mr Rajapaksa. But their uneasy coalition has since fractured and Mr Sirisena announced he was sacking the PM and replacing him with Mr Rajapaksa. The pair had reportedly clashed in cabinet recently over government plans to lease a port to India. Image copyright EPA Image caption Mr Wickremesinghe has refused to leave office after his sacking The sacking left the country with two people claiming to run the government. The ousted PM has refused to leave his residence, Temple Trees, arguing that the president's move is unconstitutional and calling for parliament to be convened quickly so a vote can take place. Meanwhile, Mr Rajapaksa has sworn in a new cabinet and has also taken the post of finance minister. Four MPs aligned with Mr Wickremesinghe were given ministerial portfolios in a bid to win their support in parliament. The crisis led to violence last month, when the bodyguard of the sacked oil minister fired at a crowd of protesters outside his office. Regional rivals are watching events closely - China has congratulated Mr Rajapaksa, while India, the EU and US have called for the constitution to be respected. Who is Rajapaksa? Mahinda Rajapaksa is a popular but controversial figure. As president, he ended the decades-long civil war in 2009, but faced criticism for the means by which he achieved victory - many thousands of Tamil civilians are thought to have been killed by government forces in the final months of the fighting. The military has always denied this, but it has remained a bitterly contentious issue and been the subject of intense scrutiny. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mr Rajapaksa has been accused of massive corruption and atrocities during the country's civil war Mr Rajapaksa also signed several large infrastructural deals with China when he was in office - saddling Sri Lanka with billions of dollars in debt. The former president and his inner circle are also accused of corruption, which they deny. Many in Sri Lanka are now worried about the fate of corruption cases targeting members of the Rajapaksa family, along with investigations into the murders of journalists and others under Mahinda Rajapaksa's 2005-2015 presidency, correspondents say.[SEP]COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s president has dissolved Parliament and called for elections on Jan. 5 in a bid to stave off a deepening political crisis over his dismissal of the prime minister that opponents say is unconstitutional. An official notification signed by President Maithripala Sirisena announced the dissolution of Parliament effective midnight Friday. It said the names of candidates will be called before Nov. 26 and the new Parliament is to convene Jan. 17. Sri Lanka has been in a crisis since Oct. 26, when Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. Both say they command a majority in Parliament and had been expected to face the 225-member body on Wednesday after it was suspended for about 19 days. Foreign Minister Sarath Amunugama told The Associated Press on Saturday that the president dissolved Parliament due to the need to go to the people to find a resolution to the crisis. He said that on Wednesday “there was to be a lot of commotion and unparliamentary activities sponsored by the speaker.” “The speaker was not planning to act according to the constitution and standing orders of Parliament,” Amunugama said. Sirisena’s supporters had been irked by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s announcement that he was going to call for a vote for either party to prove their support. “The dissolution clearly indicates that Mr. Sirisena has grossly misjudged and miscalculated the support that he might or could secure to demonstrate support in the Parliament,” said Bharath Gopalaswamy, director at U.S.-based analyst group Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center. “At the end of the day, he is a victim of his own homegrown crisis.” Wickremesinghe has insisted that his firing is unconstitutional. He has refused to vacate his official residence and demanded that Parliament be summoned immediately to prove he had support among its members. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, one of Sri Lanka’s foremost constitutional law experts and a member of Parliament representing Wickremesinghe’s United National Front coalition, said he and other coalition delegates met with the chairman of Sri Lanka’s Election Commission on Saturday and urged him not to take action toward the snap elections decreed by the president on Friday. Wickramaratne said that President Sirisena has cited a general clause in Sri Lanka’s constitution stating that the president has the power to summon or suspend Parliament. But Wickramaratne said a specific clause in the 19th amendment, added in 2015, stipulates that the president can only dissolve Parliament after 4 1/2 years, or earlier if requested by two-thirds of Parliament. “You cannot read the constitution in one provision in isolation — you have to read it as a whole, especially when amendments have been brought,” he said, adding that “before the 19th amendment, the president could dissolve Parliament at will after one year. The amendment will have been negated if this absurd argument is allowed to succeed.” However, Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, another constitutional expert and Wickremesinghe’s justice minister who alongside Wickramaratne spearheaded the introduction of the 19th amendment, said the president was empowered to dissolve Parliament to avoid stalemate situations. “When it comes to a stalemate situation or a constitutional deadlock, the president is obliged to take measures to avoid a conflict situation and political instability. Therefore, he has been compelled to take this decision and dissolve Parliament and he has the authority to do that,” said Rajapaksa, who is not related to the newly named prime minister. Tensions had been building between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of economic reforms introduced by the prime minister. Sirisena has also accused Wickremesinghe and another Cabinet member of plotting to assassinate him, a charge Wickremesinghe repeatedly denied. Sirisena was critical of investigations into military personnel accused of human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s long civil war against a Tamil separatist group, which ended in 2009. Rajapaksa, who ruled as president from 2005 to 2015, is considered a hero by the ethnic Sinhalese majority for winning the conflict. But he lost a re-election bid in 2015 amid accusations of nepotism, corruption and wartime atrocities. Wickremesinghe’s camp is likely to contest Sirisena’s move because of constitutional provisions stating a Parliament can’t be dissolved until 4 1/2 years after its election. The current Parliament was elected in August 2015. “It’s totally unconstitutional,” said Harsha de Silva, a member of Wickremesinghe’s United National Party and a former government minister. “Sirisena has relegated the constitution to toilet paper. We will fight this dictator to the end.” The party said in a Twitter message that it will meet the elections commissioner to discuss the constitutionality of Sirisena’s move. The U.S. State Department tweeted that it is deeply concerned by news that the Sri Lanka Parliament will be dissolved, “further deepening the political crisis.” “As a committed partner of Sri Lanka, we believe democratic institutions and processes need to be respected to ensure stability and prosperity,” the statement said. Earlier, U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and two other lawmakers wrote to Sirisena warning that actions circumventing the democratic process could impact U.S. assistance — including a planned five-year aid package from the Millennium Challenge Corporation worth hundreds of millions of dollars. “We fear that recent actions, if not corrected, will threaten your country’s democratic development and derail the progress made in recent years,” the three lawmakers said in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. Associated Press writers Krishan Francis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Emily Schmall in New Delhi and Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.[SEP]COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday dissolved Parliament and called for fresh elections amid a deepening political crisis. The government printer published a notification signed by Sirisena announcing the dissolution of Parliament effective at midnight Friday. The notice says names of candidates for new elections will be called for one week from Nov. 19, and the election will be held on Jan. 5. The new Parliament is to be convened on Jan. 17. Sri Lanka has been in a political crisis since Oct. 26, when Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe has insisted his firing is unconstitutional. He has refused to vacate his official residence and demanded that Parliament be summoned to prove he had support among its members. There were also calls both locally and internationally to convene Parliament to end the impasse. Sirisena maintained his choice for prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, had a majority in Parliament, but the decision to dissolve Parliament shows that is not so. "The dissolution clearly indicates that Mr. Sirisena has grossly misjudged and miscalculated the support that he might or could secure to demonstrate support in the Parliament," said Bharath Gopalaswamy, director at New Delhi-based analyst group Atlantic Council's South Asia Center. "At the end of the day, he is a victim of his own homegrown crisis." Wickremesinghe's camp is likely to contest Sirisena's move because of constitutional provisions stating a Parliament can't be dissolved until four and a half years after its inception. The current Parliament was elected in August 2015. Wickremesinghe or his party officials could not be contacted immediately for comment. Rajapaksa indicated what was coming hours before the dissolution in a speech. He said the government must go to the people for confirmation on whether the president made the correct decision when he appointed him as prime minister. Associated Press writer Emily Schmall in New Delhi, India, contributed to this report.[SEP]COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s state media said Friday that President Maithripala Sirisena has dissolved Parliament amid a deepening political crisis. State television network Rupavahini said Sirisena signed a notification announcing the dissolution of Parliament effective at midnight Friday. The notification has been sent to the government printer, according to the report. The notice will become official once it’s published, and it is required to include dates for nominations for fresh elections. The law requires nominations be called between 10 and 17 days from the time of the announcement of an election, and the polls are required to be taken between the fifth and eighth week from the day nomination closes. Sri Lanka has been in a political crisis since Oct. 26, when Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe has insisted his firing is unconstitutional and has refused to vacate his official residence. He also has demanded that Parliament be summoned to prove his majority. There were calls both locally and internationally to convene Parliament to end the impasse. Sirisena maintained his choice for prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, had a majority in Parliament, but the decision to dissolve Parliament shows that is not so. Wickremesinghe’s camp is likely to contest Sirisena’s move because of constitutional provisions stating that the Parliament can’t be dissolved until four and a half years after its inception. The current Parliament was elected in August 2015.[SEP]COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday dissolved Parliament and called for fresh elections amid a deepening political crisis. The government printer published a notification signed by Sirisena announcing the dissolution of Parliament effective at midnight Friday. The notice says the names of candidates for new elections will be called before Nov. 26, and the election will be held on Jan. 5. The new Parliament is to be convened on Jan. 17. Sri Lanka has been in a political crisis since Oct. 26, when Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe has insisted his firing is unconstitutional. He has refused to vacate his official residence and demanded that Parliament be summoned immediately to prove he had support among its members. Sirisena had suspended Parliament for two weeks in a move Wickremesinghe's backers said was designed to buy time to shore up support. There were calls both locally and internationally to convene Parliament to end the impasse. Amid the pressure, Sirisena announced Parliament would be summoned Nov.14. He maintained his choice for prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, had a majority in Parliament. However, the decision to dissolve Parliament shows that is not so, observers say. "The dissolution clearly indicates that Mr. Sirisena has grossly misjudged and miscalculated the support that he might or could secure to demonstrate support in the Parliament," said Bharath Gopalaswamy, director at New Delhi-based analyst group Atlantic Council's South Asia Center. "At the end of the day, he is a victim of his own homegrown crisis." Wickremesinghe's camp is likely to contest Sirisena's move because of constitutional provisions stating a Parliament can't be dissolved until four and a half years after its inception. The current Parliament was elected in August 2015. "It's totally unconstitutional," said Harsha de Silva, a member of Wickremesinghe's United National Party and a former minister. "Sirisena has relegated the constitution to toilet paper. We will fight this dictator to the end." The party said in a Twitter message that it will meet the elections commissioner to discuss the constitutionality of Sirisena's move. Earlier, U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and two other lawmakers wrote to the Sri Lankan president expressing grave concern over the country's political developments. They warned that actions circumventing the democratic process could impact U.S. assistance — including a planned five-year aid package from the Millennium Challenge Corporation worth hundreds of millions of dollars. "We fear that recent actions, if not corrected, will threaten your country's democratic development and derail the progress made in recent years," the three lawmakers said in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. Rajapaksa indicated what was coming hours before the dissolution in a speech. He said the government must go to the people for confirmation on whether the president made the correct decision when he appointed him as prime minister. Associated Press writer Emily Schmall in New Delhi, India, and Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.[SEP]Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena dissolves parliament: The political turmoil in Sri Lanka deepened on Friday, November 9, after President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the Parliament, calling for early elections in the country on January 5, almost 2 years ahead of schedule. Sirisena signed an official order dismissing Sri Lanka’s 225-member assembly after his party lost to prove strength in support of ex-president Mahinda Rajapakse. The dissolution comes following the unprecedented political turmoil after Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, replacing him by Rajapakse. Following the unprecedented decision, Wickremesinghe refused to accept the move and sought a vote in the Parliament to prove his majority, however, Parliament was suspended and was scheduled to reconvene, it was dissolved on Friday by Sirisena. To this, Wickremesinghe said he would certainly challenge the decision in the court and the party would move an impeachment motion against the President saying, he is a threat to the democratic tradition of Sri Lanka. He also pointed out that he clearly rejects the dissolution of the Parliament, citing the Constitutional validity of the move, which does not allow the President to dissolve the House within four-and-a-half years of rule under the 19th Amendment to Sri Lanka. While the President’s legal team has invoked Article 33(2) c of the Constitution, which gives power to the President to prorogue, summon and dissolve Parliament. The move was welcomed by Rajapaksa, who wrote on Twitter, that general election will truly establish the will of the people of Sri Lanka and proceed for a stable country. On the other hand, Shreen Saroor, a human rights activist, who has very actively protested against Sirisena’s move, called the dissolution “yet another unconstitutional move”.[SEP]Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved Parliament late on Friday amid a political crisis that erupted in the island nation since October 26, local media reported. Sirisena signed a special gazette notification, dissolving the Parliament from Saturday , Xinhua quoting a report said. The island nation has been facing a political turmoil since October 26, when President Sirisena dissolved his cabinet and sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapakse to the post. Wickremesinghe, who called his sudden dismissal illegal, has urged Parliament to convene immediately to prove his majority in the 225-member unicameral chamber. President Sirisena suspended Parliament till November 14.[SEP]Sri Lanka’s president has dissolved Parliament and called for elections on January 5 in a bid to stave off a deepening political crisis over his dismissal of the prime minister that opponents say is unconstitutional. Sri Lanka’s president has dissolved Parliament and called for elections on January 5 in a bid to stave off a deepening political crisis over his dismissal of the prime minister that opponents say is unconstitutional. An official notification signed by President Maithripala Sirisena announced the dissolution of Parliament effective from midnight on Friday. It said the names of candidates will be called before November 26 and the new Parliament is to convene on January 17. Sri Lanka has been in a crisis since October 26, when Mr Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. Both say they command a majority in Parliament and had been expected to face the 225-member house on Wednesday after it was suspended for about 19 days. Foreign Minister Sarath Amunugama told reporters that the reason for the president to dissolve Parliament was the need to go to the people to find a resolution to the crisis. “On the 14th there was to be a lot of commotion and unparliamentary activities sponsored by the speaker,” Mr Amunugama said. “The speaker was not planning to act according to the constitution and standing orders of Parliament.” Mr Sirisena’s supporters had been irked by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s announcement that he was going to call for a vote for either party to prove their support. “The dissolution clearly indicates that Mr Sirisena has grossly misjudged and miscalculated the support that he might or could secure to demonstrate support in the Parliament,” said Bharath Gopalaswamy, director at US-based analyst group Atlantic Council’s South Asia Centre. “At the end of the day, he is a victim of his own homegrown crisis.” Mr Wickremesinghe has insisted his firing is unconstitutional. He has refused to vacate his official residence and demanded that Parliament be summoned immediately to prove he had support among its members. Tensions had been building between Mr Sirisena and Mr Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of economic reforms introduced by the prime minister. Mr Sirisena has also accused Mr Wickremesinghe and another Cabinet member of plotting to assassinate him, a charge Mr Wickremesinghe repeatedly denied. Mr Sirisena was critical of investigations into military personnel accused of human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s long civil war against a Tamil separatist group, which ended in 2009. Mr Rajapaksa, who ruled as president from 2005 to 2015, is credited as a hero by the ethnic Sinhalese majority for winning the conflict. But he lost a re-election bid in 2015 amid accusations of nepotism, corruption and wartime atrocities. Mr Wickremesinghe’s camp is likely to contest Mr Sirisena’s move because of constitutional provisions stating a Parliament cannot be dissolved until four-and-a-half years after its election. The current Parliament was elected in August 2015.[SEP]Sri Lanka's president dissolved Parliament and called for elections on Jan. 5 in a bid to stave off a deepening political crisis over his dismissal of the prime minister that opponents say is unconstitutional. An official notification signed by President Maithripala Sirisena announced the dissolution of Parliament effective midnight Friday. It said the names of candidates will be called before Nov. 26 and the new Parliament is to convene Jan. 17. Sri Lanka has been in a crisis since Oct. 26, when Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. Both say they command a majority in Parliament and had been expected to face the 225-member house on Wednesday after it was suspended for about 19 days. Foreign Minister Sarath Amunugama told The Associated Press on Saturday that the reason for the president to dissolve Parliament was the need to go to the people to find a resolution to the crisis. "On the 14th there was to be a lot of commotion and unparliamentary activities sponsored by the speaker," Amunugama said. "The speaker was not planning to act according to the constitution and standing orders of Parliament." Sirisena's supporters had been irked by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya's announcement that he was going to call for a vote for either party to prove their support. "The dissolution clearly indicates that Mr. Sirisena has grossly misjudged and miscalculated the support that he might or could secure to demonstrate support in the Parliament," said Bharath Gopalaswamy, director at U.S.-based analyst group Atlantic Council's South Asia Center. "At the end of the day, he is a victim of his own homegrown crisis." Wickremesinghe has insisted his firing is unconstitutional. He has refused to vacate his official residence and demanded that Parliament be summoned immediately to prove he had support among its members. Tensions had been building between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of economic reforms introduced by the prime minister. Sirisena has also accused Wickremesinghe and another Cabinet member of plotting to assassinate him, a charge Wickremesinghe repeatedly denied. Sirisena was critical of investigations into military personnel accused of human rights violations during Sri Lanka's long civil war against a Tamil separatist group, which ended in 2009. Rajapaksa, who ruled as president from 2005 to 2015, is credited as a hero by the ethnic Sinhalese majority for winning the conflict. But he lost a re-election bid in 2015 amid accusations of nepotism, corruption and wartime atrocities. Wickremesinghe's camp is likely to contest Sirisena's move because of constitutional provisions stating a Parliament can't be dissolved until 4 ½ years after its election. The current Parliament was elected in August 2015. "It's totally unconstitutional," said Harsha de Silva, a member of Wickremesinghe's United National Party and a former minister. "Sirisena has relegated the constitution to toilet paper. We will fight this dictator to the end." The party said in a Twitter message that it will meet the elections commissioner to discuss the constitutionality of Sirisena's move. The U.S. State Department tweeted that it is deeply concerned by news the Sri Lanka Parliament will be dissolved, "further deepening the political crisis." "As a committed partner of Sri Lanka, we believe democratic institutions and processes need to be respected to ensure stability and prosperity," the statement said. Earlier, U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and two other lawmakers wrote to Sirisena warning that actions circumventing the democratic process could impact U.S. assistance — including a planned five-year aid package from the Millennium Challenge Corporation worth hundreds of millions of dollars. "We fear that recent actions, if not corrected, will threaten your country's democratic development and derail the progress made in recent years," the three lawmakers said in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. Rajapaksa indicated what was coming hours before the dissolution in a speech. He said the government must go to the people for confirmation on whether the president made the correct decision when he appointed him as prime minister.

President Maithripala Sirisena dissolves Parliament.

The trio joins a long and illustrious list of athletes to receive the honor, including Muhammad Ali, Jesse Owens and Michael Jordan. Ruth will become the 12th professional baseball player to be honored the award, the first being another former Yankees legend, Joe DiMaggio, who was selected by Gerald Ford in 1977. Staubach and Page are the first pro football players recognized. Ruth, born George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. in Baltimore in 1895, played 22 seasons in the major leagues during which he hit 714 home runs to become baseball’s “Sultan of Swat.” He entered majors as a pitcher in 1915, when the home run was not a standard part of the game. Stadiums were built to keep the ball in play and maximize attendance. He died of cancer in 1948 at age 53. Staubach, 76, quarterbacked the Dallas Cowboys to Super Bowl victories in 1971 and 1977 and went to six Pro Bowls. Dallas never had a losing season in Staubach’s eight years as the full-time starter and went to the playoffs seven of those years. The sustained period of excellence under Coach Tom Landry helped the Cowboys develop the reputation as “America’s team.” In college, he won the 1963 Heisman trophy and led Navy to a No. 2 national ranking and the 1964 Cotton Bowl, the de facto national championship game that season. The Midshipemen fell, 28-6, to No. 1 Texas. Staubach clashed with Trump in 2016 after the president said the Army-Navy game was not “necessarily the best football.” Staubach, who has historically campaigned for Republican political candidates, responded, “I don’t want to comment on any political stuff but, service football is extremely respectable and very competitive. They’ve won some big games. They are not in the top 10 this year or anything, but it’s still good football. I really enjoy watching service football.” Page, 73, was one of the original members of the Minnesota Vikings' “Purple People Eaters” defensive line and later became an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. He helped Notre Dame to the 1966 national championship. He was drafted by the Vikings in 1967 and was named NFL MVP in 1971. He played in four Super Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. During the final years of his football career, Page enrolled at the University of Minnesota’s law school and practiced law privately until winning a seat on the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1992. He served on the bench for 20 years. Trump also will award the Medal of Freedom to Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), physician, philanthropist and political donor Miriam Adelson, rock and roll star Elvis Presley and late Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia. Read more from The Post: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t planning to make a coaching change. Make of that what you will. Aurora movie theater shooting survivor signs with Arizona Cardinals John Wall’s feud with Stephen A. Smith over Rosebar is the Wizards’ version of the NBA Finals She ditched cheerleading to join the football team — and then scored a record-setting touchdown[SEP]Image zoom Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images President Donald Trump named Elvis Presley among this year’s recipients for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House announced on Saturday. Other recipients named for “the Nation’s highest civilian honor” include baseball legend Babe Ruth, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, GOP Senator Orrin Hatch, doctor and philanthropist Miriam Adelson (wife of billionaire Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson), judge and Pro Football Hall of Famer Alan Page. This is the first time Trump will bestow a Medal of Freedom as president. Presley, who died in 1977, is one of three recipients to receive the distinction posthumously, including Ruth and Scalia. He’s also one of few entertainers (even if you include the world of sports) receiving a medal this year, no doubt due to most of the entertainment industry’s rejection of Trump, his rhetoric, and politics. Many musicians also spoke out against Trump for use of their music during rallies. “Elvis Presley defined American culture to billions of adoring fans around the world,” reads a statement from the White House. “Elvis fused gospel, country, and rhythm and blues to create a sound all his own, selling more than a billion records. Elvis also served nearly 2 years in the United States Army, humbly accepting the call to serve despite his fame. He later starred in 31 films, drew record-breaking audiences to his shows, sent television ratings soaring, and earned 14 GRAMMY Award nominations. He ultimately won 3 GRAMMY Awards for his gospel music. Elvis Presley remains an enduring American icon 4 decades after his death.” Scalia died in 2016 during Barack Obama’s presidency, but the Republicans in power refused to let the sitting commander in chief proceed with his nomination. Trump eventually filled the seat with Neil Gorsuch after taking office. Hatch was one of the more vocal supporters of Trump’s second Supreme Court Justice appointment, Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault. Hatch told a group of female Kavanaugh protestors during the hearings to “grow up.” Adelson founded two research centers fighting against substance abuse, in addition to the Adelson Medical Research Foundation. Along with her husband, she is one of the largest Republican donors. As for the athletes, Page played in the NFL for 15 years before serving as a judge. In 1988, he started the Page Education Foundation, which went on to provide scholarships to nearly 7,000 students. Staubach, another Hall of Famer, won two Super Bowls as quarterback, served during the Vietnam War, and worked with charities and businesses. Obama awarded the most Medals of Freedom over the course of his eight-year presidency. Among the 123 medals he gave out were honors for Ellen DeGeneres, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Stevie Wonder, Tom Hanks, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Cicely Tyson, Gloria Estefan, Steven Spielberg, and Barbra Streisand. Related content:[SEP]Elvis Presley, Babe Ruth and Justice Antonin Scalia are among the list of seven people named by President Donald Trump to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Also included are retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach; Pro Football Hall of Famer, philanthropist and Minnesota Supreme Court Judge Alan Page; philanthropist Miriam Adelson, wife of casino magnate and major Republican donor Sheldon Adelson. Presley, the rock and roll legend from Tupelo, Miss., died in 1977 at the age of 42; Baseball giant Ruth was 53 when he died in 1948. Scalia, who served on the Supreme Court for 30 years, died in 2016 at the age of 79. The awards will be presented Nov. 16. The honor, which is not necessarily given every year, can be bestowed by the president to individuals deemed to have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The Medal of Freedom was established by President Harry Truman in 1945 and greatly expanded by President John F. Kennedy, adding the distinctive medal of a golden star with white enamel against a red enamel pentagon behind it. It is attached to a blue sash worn around the neck. The Medal of Freedom can be awarded posthumously and to non-Americans. It can also bestowed more than once. Gen. Colin Powell has received two such awards, the second with distinction.[SEP]President Trump on Saturday named seven individuals — including three posthumous recipients — to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Those to be honored are music legend Elvis Presley, who died in 1977, and baseball great Babe Ruth, who died in 1948. The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who wrote the majority’s opinion in the landmark 2008 Heller decision upholding individual gun ownership, will also receive the award. Miriam Adelson, Israeli-American philanthropist and prominent Republican party donor, the wife of Sheldon Adelson, will be a recipient, as will retiring GOP senator of Utah Orrin Hatch. Alan Page, a former Minnesota Viking and a Supreme Court justice for that state, will be honored, as will Vietnam veteran Roger Staubach, a Heisman Trophy winner and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys. The award, considered to be the highest civilian honor, is bestowed to individuals “who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security of national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” according to a release by the White House. The medals will be awarded on Nov. 16.[SEP]Music legend Elvis Presley, baseball great Babe Ruth and late Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia are among seven people who will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House said Saturday. The award is the country's highest civilian honor, and recognizes "meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," the White House said in a statement. Three of this year's recipients will receive the award posthumously -- Presley, Ruth and Scalia. The other honorees are; longtime Republican Senator Orrin Hatch; philanthropist and heavyweight political donor Miriam Adelson, the wife of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson; and two NFL Hall of Famers: quarterback Roger Staubach and defensive tackle Alan Page, who went on to serve as a state supreme court justice in Minnesota. The medals will be handed out in a ceremony at the White House on November 16.[SEP]WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has announced his first recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and they include the wife of a major Republican Party donor, the longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history, Elvis Presley and Babe Ruth. Trump will also posthumously recognize the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Medals are going to Miriam Adelson, a doctor and wife of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, a Republican donor; Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, who is retiring after more than 41 years in the U.S. Senate; former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and Alan Page, who began a legal career after leaving the NFL. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest honor for a civilian.[SEP]President Donald Trump has announced his first recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and they include two athletes with strong ties to Maryland — Babe Ruth and Roger Staubach. Ruth, one of baseball’s all-time greats, was born in Baltimore. Staubach, who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, won the Heisman Trophy playing for Navy. Also named to receive the award on Nov. 16 was the wife of a major Republican Party donor, the longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history and Elvis Presley. Trump will also posthumously recognize the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Medals are going to Miriam Adelson, a doctor and wife of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, a Republican donor; Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, who is retiring after more than 41 years in the U.S. Senate; and Alan Page, who began a legal career after leaving the NFL. Born on Emory Street in Pigtown in 1895, Ruth played 22 years with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Boston Braves, and batted .342, hit 714 home runs and had 2,213 RBI. He played on seven World Series champions and was a charter member of the Hall of Fame in 1936. Ruth died in 1948. Staubach was a first-team All-American and recipient of both the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Trophy in 1963 for the Mids. He led Navy to a 21-15 win over Army that year in the annual rivalry game that was delayed a week because of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. After serving in Vietnam, Staubach went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest honor for a civilian. According to a White House statement Saturday, the medal is awarded to those who have "made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” Trump did not name any Medal of Freedom winners in 2017.[SEP]US President Donald Trump will award the 2018 Presidential Medal of Freedom to Elvis Presley, George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. and five other individuals, the White House said in a statement on Saturday. The medal is the highest civilian honour in the United States and is given annually to people who have made outstanding contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours. Trump will also award the medal to Miriam Adelson, a physician who together with her husband Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire casino magnate, is a major donor to the Republican party, Jewish causes worldwide, and medical research. Also receiving the award next week will be Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and the first African-American to serve on that court Alan Page, the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, and former professional football player Roger Staubach.[SEP]U.S. President Donald Trump will award the 2018 Presidential Medal of Freedom to Elvis Presley, George Herman 'Babe' Ruth, Jr. and five other individuals, the White House said in a statement on Saturday. The medal is the highest civilian honor in the United States and is given annually to people who have made outstanding contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. In addition to Ruth and Presley, Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, former professional football player Roger Staubach and former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page. Miriam Adelson is married to billionaire Sheldon Adelson. According to the White House, the physician was chosen for founding research centers dedicated to substance abuse. The two have also established the Adelson Medical Research Foundation for life-threatening illness. They've also help support Jewish schools, Holocaust memorial organizations and Israeli military personnel. The couple were one of the largest contributors to the GOP's efforts for the midterm election. They donated a staggering $112million to super PACs through September, CNN reports. The White House praised the work of Hatch, who has four decades of legislative work during his time as Utah senator. Scalia was chosen for his 'insisting that the role of federal judges is to uphold the original meaning of the Constitution — never to impose their own beliefs on the country.' Presley was selected for his two years of Army Service. The White House also said that it relished in how Presley 'fused gospel, country, and rhythm and blues to create a sound all his own, selling more than a billion records.' The Great Bambino set baseball records that lasted for decades, making him the obvious choice for the White House. They also cited the work Babe Ruth did through his foundation, named after the athlete, which helped underprivileged youth. 'His legacy has never been eclipsed, and he remains the personification of 'America's Pastime,' the White House added. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach was tapped for volunteering to fight in the Vietnam War and the work he has done as a businessman. The Hall of Famer was also praised for his charitable work with the United Way. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the other professional football player tapped for the Medal of Freedom. The former Minnesota Viking then embarked on a legal career where he became the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court in Minnesota. Trump has yet to present a Presidential Medal of Freedom. He did give out the Medal of Honor, the U.S. highest military honor, as recently as October.[SEP]The press is now learning about a list of people President Donald Trump is planning to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to, Buzzfeed News is reporting. This medal is considered the highest honor for civilians, and Trump will be giving out a round of medals for the first time on Friday, November 16. Recipients include Elvis Presley, Babe Ruth, and Miriam Adelson. Adelson is one of the top donors to the Republican party and to Trump. Adelson is a doctor who founded two research centers and is married to billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who is also one of the top donors for Trump. The Adelsons reportedly donated $100 million to Republican candidates for the 2018 election cycle. They also donated $20 million dollars to Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, along with $5 million dollars towards his inauguration. This makes them the largest donors in U.S. politics. The couple were reportedly at the White House Tuesday evening to watch the mid-term election results with Trump. Adelson is not being honored for her donations, however. According to a statement released by the White House, she is being celebrated for her work as a doctor, philanthropist, and humanitarian. It has also been reported that the Adelsons, who openly support many pro-Israel causes, influenced Trump to move the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, prompting speculation that they may have had a direct influence on government operations through their substantial financial contributions. In addition to Adelson, Trump is also awarding a medal to Justice Antonin Scalia, the conservative Supreme Court Justice who died in 2016. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch will be also receiving one. Hatch has most recently made headlines during the Brett Kavanaugh trial, after he told a group of female protesters to “grow up.” Other recipients include Justice Alan Page and Roger Staubach, two former NFL players who have done significant charity work. Page was previously inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and then became a judge on the Minnesota Supreme Court. As for Staubach, he is a Vietnam war veteran who won the Super Bowl twice with the Dallas Cowboys. While this may seem like a lot of people, Obama still holds the title for most medals given out of any president, having awarded a total of 123 people throughout his eight years in office. This is only Trump’s first Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony, however, so he has time to catch up to Obama’s grand total.

Elvis Presley, Babe Ruth, Roger Staubach, Antonin Scalia, Orrin Hatch, doctor and philanthropist Miriam Adelson, and Alan Page are expected to be recipients for the Presidential Medal of Freedom award.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Fleeing through flames: 'I'm so scared right now... so terrified' The death toll in the wildfires raging through California has risen to 25, according to officials. This comes after 14 more bodies were discovered in or near the decimated town of Paradise in the state's north, bringing the number of confirmed dead there to 23. Two more people were killed in the south, near Malibu. An estimated 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to avoid three major blazes in the state. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has drawn anger by saying that poor forestry management is to blame for the fires. What are the main fires? The blaze known as the Camp Fire started spreading through Butte County on Thursday, and firefighters were powerless to stop it destroying the town of Paradise. Another fire swept into the affluent southern beach resort of Malibu on Friday and has now doubled in size. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Many houses burnt down in Malibu Known as the Woolsey, it had burned more than 83,000 acres (33,500 hectares) by late Saturday. Among the towns under evacuation orders is Thousand Oaks, where a gunman killed 12 people in a rampage on Wednesday. Meteorologists have warned that dangerous conditions may continue well into next week, as hot dry "devil winds" blow through the Los Angeles area. "This is getting bad," said Marc Chenard of the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. "It's nothing but bad news." What is the latest on the Camp Fire? At a news conference on Saturday, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said 10 of the additional victims were found in Paradise with four in the nearby Concow area. Images from Paradise showed the sky filled with acrid smoke, almost blotting out the sun. By Saturday night, the Camp Fire had burned 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) and was only 20% contained. Fire chiefs estimate it will take about three weeks to fully control the blaze. The fire started in the Plumas National Forest, north of Sacramento, on Thursday and quickly engulfed the town of Paradise. Residents fled for their lives as more than 6,700 homes and businesses were destroyed, making the fire the most destructive in the state's history. The flames moved so fast that some had to abandon their cars and escape the town on foot. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The Camp Fire has been fuelled by strong winds and dry forest Driving through walls of flame By the BBC's James Cook, Paradise in California Paradise is hell. A smouldering, sepia world in ruins. The air is acrid. Burning chemicals leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Walking among the ashes of people's lives is eerie and awful. There is a profound sadness here. We pass a child's charred swing, a swimming pool filled with filth, and worst of all, a pet dog which did not survive. Such was the intensity of the blaze that much of the debris is hard to recognise. Wafers of ash are drifting down like enormous snowflakes, smothering sound. But it is not quite silent here. A sooty squirrel scrambles up a blackened tree in a panic. There are booms and creaks from burning trees and telegraph poles. And soon, going from ruin to ruin, there will be the sound of those with the hardest job of all, checking to see if anyone was left behind. Fire officials have also issued evacuation notices for parts of Chico, a town of 93,000 people north of Sacramento. Where is the Woolsey Fire? The blaze started on Thursday near Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64km) north-west of central Los Angeles. Another blaze, the Hill Fire, started at about the same time, also near Thousand Oaks. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption 'How much more can this town endure?' - deadly wildfire hits Thousand Oaks, where 12 people were killed in a mass shooting On Friday, the flames jumped Highway 101 and headed into coastal areas. All residents have been ordered to evacuate. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Chief John Benedict said on Saturday that two people had been found dead but provided no details on the deaths. Malibu and nearby Calabasas are home to many celebrities and some have been forced to flee, including Kim Kardashian West, Caitlyn Jenner, Lady Gaga and Guillermo Del Toro. The actor Martin Sheen was briefly reported missing but he later said he was on Zuma Beach in Malibu, unharmed. The fire has also reportedly destroyed one of the sets for the TV series Westworld and is threatening Malibu's Pepperdine University, a private residential college with more than 7,000 students. Firefighters have not managed to build containment barriers around the fire. What did Mr Trump say? The president has previously blamed Californian officials for wildfires and threatened to withhold federal funding. In a tweet on Saturday, he again accused state authorities of "gross mismanagement". Evan Westrub, spokesman for state Governor Jerry Brown, hit back, called Mr Trump's comments "inane and uninformed". "Our focus is on the Californians impacted by these fires and the first responders and firefighters working around the clock to save lives and property," he said. Celebrities also criticised Mr Trump's unsympathetic reaction. California-born singer Katy Perry called it an "absolutely heartless response", while singer-songwriter John Legend said Mr Trump "can't bring himself to show some empathy to Californians dealing with a horrific disaster". There is a total of 16 fires currently active in California. Officials have put most of Northern California under a Red Flag Warning, which means "extreme fire behaviour" can occur within 24 hours. The region has grappled with serious wildfires in recent years, including the worst in the state's history - the Mendocino fire in 2018. Are you in the area or have you been evacuated? If it's safe to share your experiences, then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:[SEP]As another series of wildfires spread rapidly through California, more than 20 million people in the state are under red flag warnings Friday. The Camp Fire in the northern part of the state has burned through 20,000 acres, while the Woolsey Fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties quadrupled in size overnight. Meanwhile, the Hill Fire, located just down the road from the Thousand Oaks bar where 12 people were killed earlier this week in a mass shooting, has topped 10,000 acres. Here’s the latest on each of the California wildfires: Fire officials have issued evacuation orders for homes in areas of Chico, Calif., which has a population of roughly 93,000 people. (Chico is about 90 miles north of Sacramento.) 35 mph winds are hampering efforts to contain the blaze, which has already destroyed the town of Paradise, burning more than 1,000 homes and the town hospital. All totaled, 40,000 people have been evacuated from the path of the wildfire so far. 15,000 homes are at risk, according to CalFire—a number that could increase dramatically with the next update. While there have been injuries from the fire, there’s no official tally of how many civilians and firefighters were hurt or possibly killed. Nearly 2,300 fire personnel are battling the blaze. While not as big as the Camp Fire, the Woolsey Fire, which currently measures approximately 8,000 acres, is in a much more densely populated area. Last night it covered just 2,000 acres. The Los Angeles County Fire Department has issued mandatory evacuation orders south of the 101 freeway to Mulholland Highway. Early Friday morning, the wildfire jumped the 101 in Ventura County into Agoura Hills, closing a 4-mile stretch of the highway. Forecasters expect things to get worse today, as wind gusts will come close to 60 mph amid very dry conditions. As of 5:30 a.m. ET, the fire was 0% contained. Nearly 75,000 homes are under evacuation orders and at least 30,000 are at risk. At present, 400 fire personnel are on scene fighting the fire. With the area still reeling from the shooting at the Thousand Oaks bar, the Hill fire has spread to 10,000 acres, quickly shutting down the 101 Freeway. News from official sources on this fire is not as readily available, but social media is filled with scary scenes.[SEP]The Woolsey Fire exploded to 14,000 acres on Friday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and fire officials said the relentless blaze is continuing to grow.A total of 88,000 residents were evacuated from their homes -- 45,000 from Ventura County and 43,000 from L.A. County. It's believed another 60,000 residents south of the 101 Freeway were in the process of evacuating between the 101 and the ocean. No injuries have been reported.Acting Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to the two fires, the Woolsey Fire and the Hill Fire.The fast-moving Woolsey Fire jumped the 101 Freeway at Chesebro Road at about 5:15 a.m. and established itself on the south side of freeway, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. The jump forced the freeway to close again in both directions at Liberty Canyon Road as approximately as the fire moved uphill, burning approximately 3 acres, according to the California Highway Patrol.The blaze started in Simi Valley near the Rocketdyne facility in the Santa Susana Pass. By early Friday morning, the fire had grown to more than 10,000 acres, then to 14,000 by around 11:30 a.m., Ventura County Fire Department Chief Mark Lorenzen said."We have hundreds of firefighters here on the fire lines right now, many more on order," Lorenzen said.The containment stood at 0 percent. Multiple structures were damaged and destroyed. Among the homes ruined in the blaze, several were in the Oak Park area as well as Bell Canyon.The Woolsey Fire also burned the beloved Western Town at Paramount Ranch in Agoura.The massive blaze triggered mandatory evacuations - including the entire city of Malibu Detailed fire and shelter information can be found atThe destructive flames tore through neighborhoods as wind gusts reached upwards of 30 and 40 mph . Strong winds are expected to diminish between 10 a.m. and noon.A second fire, dubbed the Hill Fire , burning in the Santa Rosa Valley east of Camarillo, west of Simi Valley near Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks, was mere miles from the scene of a deadly mass shooting that claimed 12 lives Wednesday night. Lorenzen said the fire activity in the Hill Fire zone has diminished, allowing more resources to be more focused on the Woolsey Fire.Hundreds of Ventura County firefighters and eight air tankers were battling the flames on the ground and from above.Plumes of thick, white smoke could be seen rising above the burn site as strong Santa Ana winds drove the flames amid red flag conditions.The cause of the fires remain under investigation.[SEP]Raging wildfires in California have driven 157,000 people from their homes and caused unspecified numbers of fatalities, fire officials said Friday. Near Los Angeles, a large portion of the beachside town of Malibu was ordered evacuated as a wind-driven blaze jumped the U.S. 101 Freeway and raced toward the sea. Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said the Camp Fire in Northern California that destroyed the town of Paradise had also claimed lives, but said the number was unknown. The Camp Fire, which has wracked Butte County, 80 miles north of Sacramento, quadrupled overnight to nearly 110 square miles, according to fire officials. In Southern California, some 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with the Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeting: "imminent threat," adding that "Malibu lakes residents must leave area immediately." Ventura County Fire Department Captain Scott Dettorre warned that as the fire crosses the famous highway 101, “it will make its historic and typical run all the way down Pacific Coast Highway, threatening more homes, more property, more lives,” KTLA-TV reports. Fire officials initially ordered the evacuation of all 13,000 residents of the community, which stretches 21 miles along the ocean, but later scaled it back to the western two-thirds of the city. Homeowners fleeing the wind-driven blaze jammed roadways as the fire crept closer to a community that is home to such movie and TV stars as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Ellen DeGeneres and Angelina Jolie. At one point, one resident on Twitter pleaded for help in evacuating 40 horses from a farm, The Malibu Times reports. Pepperdine University shut down its Malibu and Calabasas campuses and initiated shelter-in-place protocols as the fire roared southward, sweeping into the Santa Monica mountains. The Woolsey fire was one of three ravaging the state, with the northern California town of Paradise largely destroyed overnight. The swift-moving Camp Fire moved Friday morning into the eastern side of Chico, a city with a population of around 90,000. Fire officials said strong winds had hampered efforts to drop retardant by aircraft. As the blaze roared into Paradise, it turned escape routes into tunnels of fire as the entire community of 27,000 residents were ordered to evacuate. On Thursday, as flames engulfed Paradise, frantic residents racing to safety plunged into the thick smoke that darkened the daytime sky and made driving difficult. “We were surrounded by fire, we were driving through fire on each side of the road,” said police officer Mark Bass, who lives in Paradise and works in neighboring Chico. Bass evacuated his family and then returned to the fire to help rescue several disabled residents, including a man trying to carry his bedridden wife to safety. “It was just a wall of fire on each side of us, and we could hardly see the road in front of us.” Sherri Pritchard said she only had time to grab a few pictures before fleeing with her family and dogs, even leaving clothes behind. "It was crazy, because when we were sitting in traffic people were panicking," she said. "It was chaos. I couldn't believe what people were doing." Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean said a couple of thousand structures were destroyed in the town about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco. “Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it’s that kind of devastation,” he said. The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for fire dangers in many areas of the state, saying low humidity and strong winds were expected to continue through the evening. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, where the fire was burning about 80 acres per minute at one point, according to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. That’s equal to about 60 football fields per minute. The Hill Fire comes down the hillside near Thousand Oaks at Hill Canyon Road and Santa Rosa Road Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Hill Fire near Thousand Oaks in Ventura Country needed just 12 minutes to jump Highway 101, one of the area’s primary roadways. It burned in the same path as the 2013 Springs Fire that torched 24,000 acres before running into the Pacific Ocean. The Hill Fire had consumed 10,000 acres, or 15 square miles, according to Cal Fire, though the Ventura County Fire Department reported no injuries or structure losses at a Thursday night press conference. “The first part of this fuel bed had not seen fire for many years. Drought-stricken fuels, Santa Ana wind conditions, low relative humidity, high temperatures: It’s a recipe for fire,” said Ventura County Fire Department Assistant Chief Chad Cook, the incident commander for the Hill Fire. The Woolsey Fire triggered a mandatory evacuation order for the entire beachside city of Malibu. The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted that the fire is headed to the ocean, punctuating the message with the declaration: "Imminent threat!" The fire swelled unabated to 8,000 acres over night in Ventura and Los Angeles counties with the Santa Ana winds fanning flames and forcing hundreds of people from their homes. The Ventura County fire department said Friday that 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in the two adjoining counties west of Los Angeles. Reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian-West, who lives in an area known as Hidden Hills in Los Angeles county, was among those forced to evacuate their homes, People magazine reported. She had been filming aerial shots in her private plane earlier for her Instagram Stories and realized her own home was threatened. “Just landed back home and had 1 hour to pack up & evacuate our home. I pray everyone is safe,” she wrote. Friday morning, fire officials reported that the fire had jumped Highway 101 near the city of Calabasas.[SEP]Raging wildfires in California have driven 157,000 people from their homes and caused unspecified numbers of fatalities, fire officials said Friday. Near Los Angeles, a large portion of the beachside town of Malibu was ordered evacuated as a wind-driven blaze jumped the U.S. 101 Freeway and raced toward the sea. Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said the Camp Fire in Northern California that destroyed the town of Paradise had also claimed lives, but said the number was unknown. The Camp Fire, which has wracked Butte County, 80 miles north of Sacramento, quadrupled overnight to nearly 110 square miles, according to fire officials. In Southern California, some 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with the Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeting: "imminent threat," adding that "Malibu lakes residents must leave area immediately." Ventura County Fire Department Captain Scott Dettorre warned that as the fire crosses the famous highway 101, “it will make its historic and typical run all the way down Pacific Coast Highway, threatening more homes, more property, more lives,” KTLA-TV reports. Fire officials initially ordered the evacuation of all 13,000 residents of the community, which stretches 21 miles along the ocean, but later scaled it back to the western two-thirds of the city. Homeowners fleeing the wind-driven blaze jammed roadways as the fire crept closer to a community that is home to such movie and TV stars as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Ellen DeGeneres and Angelina Jolie. At one point, one resident on Twitter pleaded for help in evacuating 40 horses from a farm, The Malibu Times reports. Pepperdine University shut down its Malibu and Calabasas campuses and initiated shelter-in-place protocols as the fire roared southward, sweeping into the Santa Monica mountains. The Woolsey fire was one of three ravaging the state, with the northern California town of Paradise largely destroyed overnight. The swift-moving Camp Fire moved Friday morning into the eastern side of Chico, a city with a population of around 90,000. Fire officials said strong winds had hampered efforts to drop retardant by aircraft. As the blaze roared into Paradise, it turned escape routes into tunnels of fire as the entire community of 27,000 residents were ordered to evacuate. On Thursday, as flames engulfed Paradise, frantic residents racing to safety plunged into the thick smoke that darkened the daytime sky and made driving difficult. “We were surrounded by fire, we were driving through fire on each side of the road,” said police officer Mark Bass, who lives in Paradise and works in neighboring Chico. Bass evacuated his family and then returned to the fire to help rescue several disabled residents, including a man trying to carry his bedridden wife to safety. “It was just a wall of fire on each side of us, and we could hardly see the road in front of us.” Sherri Pritchard said she only had time to grab a few pictures before fleeing with her family and dogs, even leaving clothes behind. "It was crazy, because when we were sitting in traffic people were panicking," she said. "It was chaos. I couldn't believe what people were doing." Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean said a couple of thousand structures were destroyed in the town about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco. “Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it’s that kind of devastation,” he said. The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for fire dangers in many areas of the state, saying low humidity and strong winds were expected to continue through the evening. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, where the fire was burning about 80 acres per minute at one point, according to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. That’s equal to about 60 football fields per minute. The Hill Fire comes down the hillside near Thousand Oaks at Hill Canyon Road and Santa Rosa Road Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Hill Fire near Thousand Oaks in Ventura Country needed just 12 minutes to jump Highway 101, one of the area’s primary roadways. It burned in the same path as the 2013 Springs Fire that torched 24,000 acres before running into the Pacific Ocean. The Hill Fire had consumed 10,000 acres, or 15 square miles, according to Cal Fire, though the Ventura County Fire Department reported no injuries or structure losses at a Thursday night press conference. “The first part of this fuel bed had not seen fire for many years. Drought-stricken fuels, Santa Ana wind conditions, low relative humidity, high temperatures: It’s a recipe for fire,” said Ventura County Fire Department Assistant Chief Chad Cook, the incident commander for the Hill Fire. The Woolsey Fire triggered a mandatory evacuation order for the entire beachside city of Malibu. The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted that the fire is headed to the ocean, punctuating the message with the declaration: "Imminent threat!" The fire swelled unabated to 8,000 acres over night in Ventura and Los Angeles counties with the Santa Ana winds fanning flames and forcing hundreds of people from their homes. The Ventura County fire department said Friday that 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in the two adjoining counties west of Los Angeles. Reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian-West, who lives in an area known as Hidden Hills in Los Angeles county, was among those forced to evacuate their homes, People magazine reported. She had been filming aerial shots in her private plane earlier for her Instagram Stories and realized her own home was threatened. “Just landed back home and had 1 hour to pack up & evacuate our home. I pray everyone is safe,” she wrote. Friday morning, fire officials reported that the fire had jumped Highway 101 near the city of Calabasas.[SEP]Wildfires burned out of control on Friday across California, killing at least nine people in a mountain town and forcing residents to flee the upscale beach community of Malibu in the face of a monster fire storm. All nine victims were found in and around the Northern California town of Paradise, where more than 6,700 homes and businesses were burned down by the Camp Fire, making it one of the most destructive in state history, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire protection data. “This event was the worst-case scenario. It was the event we have feared for a long time,” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at a Friday evening press conference. “Regrettably, not everybody made it out.” The remains of five of the victims were discovered in or near burned out cars, three outside residences and one inside a home, Honea said. Another 35 people had been reported missing and three firefighters had been injured. The flames descended on Paradise so quickly that many people were forced to abandon their cars and run for their lives down the sole road through the mountain town. A school bus was among several abandoned vehicles left blackened by flames on one road. The Camp Fire, which broke out on Thursday at the edge of the Plumas National Forest northeast of Sacramento, has since blackened more than 90,000 acres and was only 5 percent contained as of nightfall on Friday. A total of 6,453 homes had been destroyed in Paradise and elsewhere, Honea said, along with 260 commercial buildings. The Tubbs Fire, which destroyed 5,636 structures in Napa and Sonoma counties in October 2017, is listed by Cal Fire as the most destructive in state history. In Malibu, some 500 miles (800 km) to the south, flames driven by hot Santa Ana winds gusting up to 50 miles per hour (80 kph) raced down hillsides and through canyons toward multi-million dollar homes. Thousands of residents packed the Pacific Coast Highway to head south or took refuge on beaches, along with their horses and other pets. Among those force to flee the Woolsey Fire, which had charred some 35,000 acres (14,164 hectares) as of Friday afternoon, were celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian, who said on Twitter flames had damaged the home she shares in nearby Calabasas with Kanye West. “Fire is now burning out of control and heading into populated areas of Malibu,” the city said in a statement online. “All residents must evacuate immediately.” Malibu and Calabasas, west of Los Angeles, are home to hundreds of celebrities and entertainment executives attracted by ocean views, rolling hills and large, secluded estates. The blaze, which spewed massive plumes of thick black smoke, also threatened parts of the nearby town of Thousand Oaks, where a gunman killed 12 people earlier this week in a shooting rampage at a college bar, stunning the bucolic Southern California community with a reputation for safety. The Woolsey Fire broke out on Thursday and quickly jumped the 101 Freeway in several places. On Friday, it climbed over the Santa Monica Mountains toward Malibu. Authorities were forced to shut down the 101, a major north-south artery, as well as the Pacific Coast Highway. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said a “significant number” of homes had been destroyed by the flames but that an accurate count could not yet be made. Elsewhere, the Hill Fire in Ventura County’s Santa Rosa Valley had charred about 6,000 acres (2,428 hectares) as of Friday evening, according to Cal Fire. In Los Angeles, another, smaller fire in Griffith Park forced the Los Angeles Zoo to evacuate a number of show birds and some small primates on Friday as flames came within less than 2 miles (3 km) of the facility, zoo officials said in a statement.[SEP]Both ends of California are on fire. While firefighters battle the Camp Fire in Northern California, their compatriots in Southern California are facing an equally harrowing situation. Spurred by the Santa Ana winds, the Woolsey and Hill fires are wreaking havoc just north of Los Angeles with an estimated 75,000 homes under evacuation orders. The number is likely to rise as winds conditions pick up again on Friday. The twin blazes began in Ventura County on Thursday, forcing widespread evacuations in a region reeling from a deadly mass shooting earlier this week. As of late Thursday night, the Woolsey Fire had burned 7,500 acres and the Hill Fire was up to 10,000 acres. Both are running completely wild with zero percent containment as flames race up and down the steep hillsides. Powerful Santa Ana winds blasting up to 60 mph have made conditions even worse. The winds are annual occurrence in Southern California. As they flow from east to west, rolling down the mountains and into valleys, the air they move becomes compressed. That heats it up and dries it out, which in turn can create dangerous fire conditions. Pile that on top of a severe drought that’s gripped the region for months, creating loads of fire fuel, and you have a recipe for the disaster currently unfolding. Mandatory evacuations went up overnight in large parts of Ventura County. The county’s fire department reported that there were 30,000 people under evacuation orders, many forced to flee in the dead of night. The evacuation orders have spread to Los Angeles County as firefighters have been unable to keep pace with the fires racing across the landscape. The Woolsey Fire jumped the 101 Freeway on Friday morning and began to descend on the multi-million dollar homes of Malibu. The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted that it posed an “[i]mminent threat!” Fire season is changing in Southern California in a variety of ways that are not good. That includes the global warming rigamarole every corner of the planet is dealing with to bizarre local impacts like the region losing its cooling cloud cover. Add in densely populated areas like Malibu and, well, you have a trappings of a very, very bad situation. Update November 9, 12:31 p.m. ET: Local officials held a press conference to update reporters on the state of the Woolsey and Hill fires. Los Angeles County Chief Deputy David Richardson said there are more than 2,000 firefighters currently battling the blazes in Southern California and that up to 60,000 homes could see mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders over the course of the day. “If you have a mandatory evacuation order, leave.,” Linda Parks, a Ventura County Supervisor, said. “We don’t want any tragedies, any deaths, any injuries.” In addition to the challenging conditions, there’s also a resource challenge. Firefighters are being stretched thin between these fires and the Camp Fire, making it tough to set a proper fire line. That’s in part why the Woolsey Fire jumped the 101 Freeway and Malibu is being evacuated. “The perimeter now is the Pacific Ocean,” Richardson said. Update November 8, 4:30 p.m. ET: Populated parts of Malibu are now burning as the Woolsey Fire pushes into town uncontrolled. Local TV news crew are reporting that firefighters are unable to access large areas from the ground and are only able to offer air support. Acting Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency.[SEP]Raging wildfires in California have driven 157,000 people from their homes and caused unspecified numbers of fatalities, fire officials said Friday. Near Los Angeles, a large portion of the beachside town of Malibu was ordered evacuated as a wind-driven blaze jumped the U.S. 101 Freeway and raced toward the sea. Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said the Camp Fire in Northern California that destroyed the town of Paradise had also claimed lives, but said the number was unknown. The Camp Fire, which has wracked Butte County, 80 miles north of Sacramento, quadrupled overnight to nearly 110 square miles, according to fire officials. In Southern California, some 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with the Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeting: "imminent threat," adding that "Malibu lakes residents must leave area immediately." Ventura County Fire Department Captain Scott Dettorre warned that as the fire crosses the famous highway 101, “it will make its historic and typical run all the way down Pacific Coast Highway, threatening more homes, more property, more lives,” KTLA-TV reports. Fire officials initially ordered the evacuation of all 13,000 residents of the community, which stretches 21 miles along the ocean, but later scaled it back to the western two-thirds of the city. Homeowners fleeing the wind-driven blaze jammed roadways as the fire crept closer to a community that is home to such movie and TV stars as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Ellen DeGeneres and Angelina Jolie. At one point, one resident on Twitter pleaded for help in evacuating 40 horses from a farm, The Malibu Times reports. Pepperdine University shut down its Malibu and Calabasas campuses and initiated shelter-in-place protocols as the fire roared southward, sweeping into the Santa Monica mountains. The Woolsey fire was one of three ravaging the state, with the northern California town of Paradise largely destroyed overnight. The swift-moving Camp Fire moved Friday morning into the eastern side of Chico, a city with a population of around 90,000. Fire officials said strong winds had hampered efforts to drop retardant by aircraft. As the blaze roared into Paradise, it turned escape routes into tunnels of fire as the entire community of 27,000 residents were ordered to evacuate. On Thursday, as flames engulfed Paradise, frantic residents racing to safety plunged into the thick smoke that darkened the daytime sky and made driving difficult. “We were surrounded by fire, we were driving through fire on each side of the road,” said police officer Mark Bass, who lives in Paradise and works in neighboring Chico. Bass evacuated his family and then returned to the fire to help rescue several disabled residents, including a man trying to carry his bedridden wife to safety. “It was just a wall of fire on each side of us, and we could hardly see the road in front of us.” Sherri Pritchard said she only had time to grab a few pictures before fleeing with her family and dogs, even leaving clothes behind. "It was crazy, because when we were sitting in traffic people were panicking," she said. "It was chaos. I couldn't believe what people were doing." Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean said a couple of thousand structures were destroyed in the town about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco. “Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it’s that kind of devastation,” he said. The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for fire dangers in many areas of the state, saying low humidity and strong winds were expected to continue through the evening. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, where the fire was burning about 80 acres per minute at one point, according to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. That’s equal to about 60 football fields per minute. The Hill Fire comes down the hillside near Thousand Oaks at Hill Canyon Road and Santa Rosa Road Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Hill Fire near Thousand Oaks in Ventura Country needed just 12 minutes to jump Highway 101, one of the area’s primary roadways. It burned in the same path as the 2013 Springs Fire that torched 24,000 acres before running into the Pacific Ocean. The Hill Fire had consumed 10,000 acres, or 15 square miles, according to Cal Fire, though the Ventura County Fire Department reported no injuries or structure losses at a Thursday night press conference. “The first part of this fuel bed had not seen fire for many years. Drought-stricken fuels, Santa Ana wind conditions, low relative humidity, high temperatures: It’s a recipe for fire,” said Ventura County Fire Department Assistant Chief Chad Cook, the incident commander for the Hill Fire. The Woolsey Fire triggered a mandatory evacuation order for the entire beachside city of Malibu. The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted that the fire is headed to the ocean, punctuating the message with the declaration: "Imminent threat!" The fire swelled unabated to 8,000 acres over night in Ventura and Los Angeles counties with the Santa Ana winds fanning flames and forcing hundreds of people from their homes. The Ventura County fire department said Friday that 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in the two adjoining counties west of Los Angeles. Reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian-West, who lives in an area known as Hidden Hills in Los Angeles county, was among those forced to evacuate their homes, People magazine reported. She had been filming aerial shots in her private plane earlier for her Instagram Stories and realized her own home was threatened. “Just landed back home and had 1 hour to pack up & evacuate our home. I pray everyone is safe,” she wrote. Friday morning, fire officials reported that the fire had jumped Highway 101 near the city of Calabasas.[SEP]Raging wildfires in California have driven 157,000 people from their homes and caused unspecified numbers of fatalities, fire officials said Friday. Near Los Angeles, a large portion of the beachside town of Malibu was ordered evacuated as a wind-driven blaze jumped the U.S. 101 Freeway and raced toward the sea. Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said the Camp Fire in Northern California that destroyed the town of Paradise had also claimed lives, but said the number was unknown. The Camp Fire, which has wracked Butte County, 80 miles north of Sacramento, quadrupled overnight to nearly 110 square miles, according to fire officials. In Southern California, some 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with the Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeting: "imminent threat," adding that "Malibu lakes residents must leave area immediately." Ventura County Fire Department Captain Scott Dettorre warned that as the fire crosses the famous highway 101, “it will make its historic and typical run all the way down Pacific Coast Highway, threatening more homes, more property, more lives,” KTLA-TV reports. Fire officials initially ordered the evacuation of all 13,000 residents of the community, which stretches 21 miles along the ocean, but later scaled it back to the western two-thirds of the city. Homeowners fleeing the wind-driven blaze jammed roadways as the fire crept closer to a community that is home to such movie and TV stars as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Ellen DeGeneres and Angelina Jolie. At one point, one resident on Twitter pleaded for help in evacuating 40 horses from a farm, The Malibu Times reports. Pepperdine University shut down its Malibu and Calabasas campuses and initiated shelter-in-place protocols as the fire roared southward, sweeping into the Santa Monica mountains. The Woolsey fire was one of three ravaging the state, with the northern California town of Paradise largely destroyed overnight. The swift-moving Camp Fire moved Friday morning into the eastern side of Chico, a city with a population of around 90,000. Fire officials said strong winds had hampered efforts to drop retardant by aircraft. As the blaze roared into Paradise, it turned escape routes into tunnels of fire as the entire community of 27,000 residents were ordered to evacuate. On Thursday, as flames engulfed Paradise, frantic residents racing to safety plunged into the thick smoke that darkened the daytime sky and made driving difficult. “We were surrounded by fire, we were driving through fire on each side of the road,” said police officer Mark Bass, who lives in Paradise and works in neighboring Chico. Bass evacuated his family and then returned to the fire to help rescue several disabled residents, including a man trying to carry his bedridden wife to safety. “It was just a wall of fire on each side of us, and we could hardly see the road in front of us.” Sherri Pritchard said she only had time to grab a few pictures before fleeing with her family and dogs, even leaving clothes behind. "It was crazy, because when we were sitting in traffic people were panicking," she said. "It was chaos. I couldn't believe what people were doing." Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean said a couple of thousand structures were destroyed in the town about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco. “Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it’s that kind of devastation,” he said. The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for fire dangers in many areas of the state, saying low humidity and strong winds were expected to continue through the evening. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, where the fire was burning about 80 acres per minute at one point, according to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. That’s equal to about 60 football fields per minute. The Hill Fire comes down the hillside near Thousand Oaks at Hill Canyon Road and Santa Rosa Road Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Hill Fire near Thousand Oaks in Ventura Country needed just 12 minutes to jump Highway 101, one of the area’s primary roadways. It burned in the same path as the 2013 Springs Fire that torched 24,000 acres before running into the Pacific Ocean. The Hill Fire had consumed 10,000 acres, or 15 square miles, according to Cal Fire, though the Ventura County Fire Department reported no injuries or structure losses at a Thursday night press conference. “The first part of this fuel bed had not seen fire for many years. Drought-stricken fuels, Santa Ana wind conditions, low relative humidity, high temperatures: It’s a recipe for fire,” said Ventura County Fire Department Assistant Chief Chad Cook, the incident commander for the Hill Fire. The Woolsey Fire triggered a mandatory evacuation order for the entire beachside city of Malibu. The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted that the fire is headed to the ocean, punctuating the message with the declaration: "Imminent threat!" The fire swelled unabated to 8,000 acres over night in Ventura and Los Angeles counties with the Santa Ana winds fanning flames and forcing hundreds of people from their homes. The Ventura County fire department said Friday that 75,000 homes were ordered evacuated in the two adjoining counties west of Los Angeles. Reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian-West, who lives in an area known as Hidden Hills in Los Angeles county, was among those forced to evacuate their homes, People magazine reported. She had been filming aerial shots in her private plane earlier for her Instagram Stories and realized her own home was threatened. “Just landed back home and had 1 hour to pack up & evacuate our home. I pray everyone is safe,” she wrote. Friday morning, fire officials reported that the fire had jumped Highway 101 near the city of Calabasas.[SEP]250,000 people were forced to flea their homes across the state including in Los Angeles, Malibu and Thousand Oaks. The Woolsey Fire spanning an incredible 35,000-acres has become one of the most destructive in the state's modern history. Emergency services were powerless to stop the blaze as 50 mph winds fuelled the spread of the fire throughout the western state, which was described as the “worst-case scenario” after 75,000 homes were threatened. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed the remains of five of the victims in Northern California were discovered in or near burned out cars, three outside residences and one inside a home.

Two people have been confirmed killed by the Woolsey Fire, which has burned 70,000 acres and hundreds of homes near Los Angeles.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Medical teams are vaccinating people to help stop the spread of the virus The latest outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the worst in the country's history, the health ministry says. Almost 200 people have died since August, officials say, with more than 300 confirmed or probable cases. A vaccination programme has so far inoculated about 25,000 people. DR Congo has suffered long years of instability and efforts to relieve the disease have been hampered by attacks on medical workers. "At this point, 319 cases and 198 deaths have been registered," health minister Oly Ilunga said. "In view of these figures, my thoughts and my prayers go to the hundreds of families grieving, to the hundreds of orphans and the families which have been wiped out." About half the victims were from Beni, a city of 800,000 in the North Kivu region, the national health authority said. The current outbreak is the tenth DR Congo has suffered and the worst since the country's first epidemic in 1976, so early in the disease's history it had yet to be named. The outbreak in 1976 of what was then an unknown disease in a remote part of DR Congo sparked terror, but was brought under control by experts quickly identifying the virus' nature and using quarantines. Ebola is spread via small amounts of bodily fluid and infection often proves fatal. Early symptoms are flu-like, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash and internal and external bleeding.[SEP]The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to more than 200. The health ministry said it had recorded 201 deaths from the virus and that 291 cases have been confirmed since the outbreak began in August. About half of the cases were in Beni, a city of 800,000 people, in the North Kivu region. The United Nation’s Department of Peacekeeping on Friday called on armed groups active in the region not to hinder efforts to fight the disease. Teams responsible for responding to the outbreak “have faced threats, physical assaults, repeated destruction of their equipment and kidnapping,” Health Minister Oly Ilunga said. “Two of our colleagues in the Rapid Response Medical Unit have even lost their lives in an attack,” he said. The outbreak is the 10th in DR Congo since Ebola was first detected there in 1976. Ebola is a serious infectious disease that can spread rapidly through small amounts of bodily fluid. It causes internal bleeding and can be fatal. Since a vaccination programme began on August 8, more than 25,000 people have been innoculated, the health ministry said earlier this month.[SEP]Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that people need to be prepared for the worst. Redfield said the Democratic Republic of Congo’s newest Ebola outbreak may not be containable. Tom Inglesby, the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, said that if the Ebola outbreak becomes endemic in the Congo’s North Kivu province, it shows “we’ve lost the ability to trace contacts, stop transmission chains and contain the outbreak.” In this situation, Ebola could spread, which could negatively impact both trade and travel, according to a report by Becker’s Hospital Review. “I do think this is one of the challenges we’ll have to see, whether we’re able to contain, control and end the current outbreak with the current security situation, or do we move into the idea that this becomes more of an endemic Ebola outbreak in this region, which we’ve never really confronted,” Dr. Redfield told The Washington Post. According to The Washington Post, if international Ebola containment efforts fail in the Congo, it would mark the first time the virus was not stopped since 1976 when Ebola was first identified. The current Ebola outbreak is going on its fourth month, totaling 300 cases and 186 deaths as of November 4th. The problems with containment of this particular Ebola outbreak stem from the fact that the disease is spreading in an active war zone with several armed groups attacking health officials, government aids and civilians. Some civilians with Ebola have refused treatment, and health care workers are still being infected. About 60 to 80 percent of new cases do not show an epidemiological link to prior cases. The daily rate of new Ebola cases had more than doubled in early October. In addition, there is community resistance and a deep mistrust of the government as the raging outbreak continues to spread through an active war zone. The World Health Organization (WHO), CDC and other international health organizations say they are worried about the current Ebola outbreak spreading to port cities like Butembo, which will only exacerbate infection transmission rates.[SEP]The current Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the worst in the country's recorded history, with 319 confirmed and probable cases, resulting in 198 deaths, the country's health ministry said. Ebola virus disease, which causes an often-fatal type of hemorrhagic fever, is endemic to the region. It's the 10th outbreak the Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen since 1976, the year that scientists first identified the deadly virus near the eponymous Ebola River. "No other epidemic in the world has been as complex as the one we are currently experiencing," the country's health minister, Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga, said in a statement late on Friday. The outbreak is also the third most severe in the recorded history of the African continent, following 28,652 cases in the 2013-2016 outbreak in multiple West African nations and 425 cases in the 2000 outbreak in Uganda, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among the total amount of people who have reported symptoms of hemorrhagic fever since the country's latest outbreak began Aug. 1, 284 of them have tested positive for Ebola virus disease. Nearly 28,000 people have been vaccinated in the outbreak zone since Aug. 8, according to the health ministry. The outbreak has been heavily concentrated in the northeastern province of North Kivu, where about half of all cases have been recorded in the conflict-torn city of Beni, which is home to 800,000 people. People have also been infected in neighboring Ituri province. North Kivu and Ituri are among the most populous provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and share borders with Uganda and Rwanda. They are also awash with violence and insecurity, particularly in the mineral-rich borderlands where militia activity has surged in the past year, all of which complicates the response to the outbreak. There is also misinformation and mistrust from the community, partly due to the security situation, and there's a reluctance among some residents to seek care or allow health workers to vaccinate, conduct contact tracing and perform safe burials, according to the health ministry. "Since their arrival in the region, the response teams have faced threats, physical assaults, repeated destruction of their equipment and kidnapping. Two of our colleagues in the Rapid Response Medical Unit even lost their lives in an attack," the health minister said in his statement Friday night. Although the outbreak remains "dangerous and unpredictable," new measures to overcome these challenges are having a "positive impact," the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement Thursday after a joint mission to assess the situation. "The fact that we have so far prevented Ebola from spreading into neighboring countries is a testament to the hard work and determination of staff from all partners," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in the statement. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has recently adopted an "active approach" to the armed groups operating in North Kivu, providing a "period of calm" in and around Beni, although some attacks have persisted in surrounding villages. "We are facing numerous complex challenges, but it’s encouraging and inspiring to see that our efforts to deliver as one UN have been extremely successful in many hotspots and will help to end the outbreak and save lives," United Nations under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in the statement. Last month, the WHO heeded the recommendation of an expert advisory committee to not declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern -- a proclamation that would have mobilized more resources and garnered global attention. The committee chairman, Robert Steffen, said they came to the decision by looking at three main criteria. "Is it extraordinary? Is there a risk of cross-border spread? Is there potential for requiring international response?" Steffen told reporters in a teleconference Oct. 17. Despite its conclusion, the committee emphasized in a statement that the Congolese government, WHO and partners "must intensify the current response" to the ongoing outbreak and this "should be supported by the entire international community," otherwise "the situation is likely to deteriorate significantly." "I’ve accepted the recommendation of the committee but this does not mean that we are not taking the outbreak seriously," WHO's director-general, Tedros, told reporters. "We will not rest until this outbreak is finished."[SEP]Congo's latest Ebola outbreak is the worst in the country's recorded history with 319 confirmed and probable cases, the health ministry said. The deadly virus has killed about 198 people since the outbreak was declared Aug. 1 in the volatile east, the ministry said. Those dead include 163 confirmed Ebola cases, with 35 probable deaths. Nearly 100 people have survived Ebola. This is Congo's 10th outbreak since 1976, when the hemorrhagic fever was first identified in Yambuku, in the Equateur province, the ministry said. Health Minister Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga said late Friday that the figures now exceed that outbreak. "No other epidemic in the world has been as complex as the one we are currently experiencing," Kalenga said. "Since their arrival in the region, the response teams have faced threats, physical assaults, repeated destruction of their equipment, and kidnapping. Two of our colleagues in the Rapid Response Medical Unit even lost their lives in an attack." This is the first time an Ebola outbreak has occurred in Congo's far northeast. The health ministry has said teams responding to the Ebola outbreak are attacked three or four times a week on average, a level of violence unseen in the country's nine previous outbreaks of the virus. Ebola is spread via the body fluids of infected people, including the dead.[SEP]KINSHASA, Congo — Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak is the worst in the country’s recorded history with 319 confirmed and probable cases, the health ministry said. The deadly virus has killed about 198 people since the outbreak was declared Aug. 1 in the volatile east, the ministry said. Those dead include 163 confirmed Ebola cases, with 35 probable deaths. Nearly 100 people have survived Ebola. This is Congo’s 10th outbreak since 1976, when the hemorrhagic fever was first identified in Yambuku, in the Equateur province, the ministry said. Health Minister Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga said late Friday that the figures now exceed that outbreak. “No other epidemic in the world has been as complex as the one we are currently experiencing,” Kalenga said. “Since their arrival in the region, the response teams have faced threats, physical assaults, repeated destruction of their equipment, and kidnapping. Two of our colleagues in the Rapid Response Medical Unit even lost their lives in an attack.” Armed groups vying for control of Congo’s mineral-rich east have staged regular attacks in Congo’s Ituri and North Kivu provinces, complicating the response by health officials who are also meeting community resistance. Health officials, however, have managed to vaccinate more than 27,000 high-risk contacts, of which at least half could have developed Ebola, the health minister said. “This epidemic remains dangerous and unpredictable, and we must not let our guard down. We must continue to pursue a very dynamic response that requires permanent readjustments and real ownership at the community level,” he said. The head of U.N. peacekeeping operations vowed this week to do more with Congo’s government to help improve security in the country’s east. This is the first time an Ebola outbreak has occurred in Congo’s far northeast. The health ministry has said teams responding to the Ebola outbreak are attacked three or four times a week on average, a level of violence unseen in the country’s nine previous outbreaks of the virus. Ebola is spread via the body fluids of infected people, including the dead.[SEP]KINSHASA, Congo — Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak is the worst in the country’s recorded history with 319 confirmed and probable cases, the health ministry said. The deadly virus has killed about 198 people since the outbreak was declared Aug. 1 in the volatile east, the ministry said. Those dead include 163 confirmed Ebola cases, with 35 probable deaths. Nearly 100 people have survived Ebola. This is Congo’s 10th outbreak since 1976, when the hemorrhagic fever was first identified in Yambuku, in the Equateur province, the ministry said. Health Minister Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga said late Friday that the figures now exceed that outbreak. “No other epidemic in the world has been as complex as the one we are currently experiencing,” Kalenga said. “Since their arrival in the region, the response teams have faced threats, physical assaults, repeated destruction of their equipment, and kidnapping. Two of our colleagues in the Rapid Response Medical Unit even lost their lives in an attack.” Armed groups vying for control of Congo’s mineral-rich east have staged regular attacks in Congo’s Ituri and North Kivu provinces, complicating the response by health officials who are also meeting community resistance. Health officials, however, have managed to vaccinate more than 27,000 high-risk contacts, of which at least half could have developed Ebola, the health minister said. “This epidemic remains dangerous and unpredictable, and we must not let our guard down. We must continue to pursue a very dynamic response that requires … real ownership at the community level,” he said. Ebola is spread via the body fluids of infected people, including the dead.[SEP]Harried doctors fighting the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) fear it may become the worst outbreak of the deadly disease in the region to date, as an ongoing insurgency slows treatment and accelerates contamination. “We are absolutely concerned about the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” a senior official with USAID said on Thursday. “It is occurring in an area of active conflict, so physical insecurity is a persistent challenge and complication to the ongoing response efforts.” On the positive side, the official said the outbreak is “not comparable at this point to the outbreak that occurred in West Africa in 2014,” meaning it does not threaten to spread across an “incredibly large geographic area.” Ebola cases have been mostly limited to two towns in the North Kivu province of the DRC, but the rate of new cases has accelerated during the past few weeks. USAID and the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) have deployed dozens of experts to work with the DRC Health Ministry since the outbreak began in August. On Friday, Sky News watched doctors don biohazard suits and struggle to handle the influx of patients to a “ramshackle hospital” made from “wooden huts and temporary tents” in the city of Beni. The hospital only has 60 beds, but Sky News correspondents counted 92 new patients admitted on the day of their visit, among them a pregnant woman and a three-year-old girl. Doctors reported 308 “confirmed” or “probable” cases of Ebola in the outbreak, approaching the highest total ever seen in the Congo. Thirty of them are children under ten years of age, suggesting the latest strain of Ebola is spreading faster among children than previous strains. So far, 191 patients have died. International aid workers said local residents are working more smoothly with doctors than some previous populations affected by Ebola, a disease that tends to spread panic and mistrust among its victims. Officials were especially optimistic about the success of “community surveillance” programs designed to track the movements of infected people and quickly identify others who may have been exposed to Ebola. More effective vaccinations were also credited with keeping the death toll down. The bad news is that CDC Director Robert Redfield warned on Monday the current outbreak may not be containable because it is spreading through an active war zone, making it harder to implement the procedures that have been helpful so far. The Washington Post augmented Redfield’s warning with some discouraging notes about the difficult situation faced by aid workers: Dozens of armed militias operate in the area, attacking government outposts and civilians, complicating the work of Ebola response teams and putting their security at risk. Violence has escalated in recent weeks, severely hampering the response. The daily rate of new Ebola cases more than doubled in early October. In addition, there is community resistance and deep mistrust of the government. Some sick people have refused to go to treatment centers, health-care workers are still being infected, and some people are dying of Ebola or spreading the virus to new areas. An estimated 60 to 80 percent of new confirmed cases have no known epidemiological link to prior cases, making it very difficult for responders to track cases and stop transmission. In late August, the United States withdrew some of the CDC’s most seasoned Ebola experts who had been stationed in Beni, the province’s urban epicenter, because of security risks. The outbreak is threatening to spread into much less isolated towns, such as the trading port of Butembo, introducing the risk of wider transmission chains that become even more difficult to trace. Angry rock-throwing mobs have confronted some medical teams when they attempt to secure the bodies of fatal Ebola victims. Experts on the local population explained they are sometimes terrified at the sight of medical teams in hazmat suits, driven by deep distrust of the DRC government, which they blame for keeping them in poverty and allowing armed rebel groups to prey upon them. Some locals apparently believe their government is fabricating Ebola warnings in a bid to frighten them away from their homes. The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on Tuesday demanding safer working conditions for medical teams in the outbreak zone, but concerned analysts said the international community has a poor track record of controlling insurgents in the Congo, even lacking reliable information about how many rebel groups are active in the area. Meanwhile, the DRC government has been criticized for abandoning rural areas and shifting its troops into the cities, where the government fears mass demonstrations could break out.[SEP]An outbreak of Ebola in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 200 people. Almost 300 Ebola cases have been confirmed since the outbreak began in August, authorities say. The health ministry said half of the cases were in Beni, a city of 800,000 people, in the North Kivu province. The outbreak is in a conflict zone where dozens of armed groups operate. Aid agencies have been forced to suspend or slow down their work on several occasions since the outbreak. Health Minister Oly Ilunga said his response teams "have faced threats, physical assaults, repeated destruction of their equipment and kidnapping." "Two of our colleagues in the Rapid Response Medical Unit have even lost their lives in an attack," Ilunga said. Ebola was detected in the DRC in 1976. The current outbreak is the tenth since it was first discovered. The World Health Organization has warned the virus could spread to nearby countries, including Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Medical workers have lots of experience dealing with Ebola outbreaks in the DRC. Fortunately, they have new tools to fight the deadly virus. A new vaccine has shown it can protect people who've come into contact with Ebola victims, and more people have learned techniques to keep the virus from spreading. However, old problems persist with every outbreak. Some people still refuse to believe Ebola exists and have hidden infected family members. Traditional burial practices also put people at risk.[SEP]KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo's health ministry says the latest Ebola outbreak has now become the worst in the country's recorded history with 319 confirmed and probable cases. The ministry said late Friday that the deadly virus has killed about 198 people since the outbreak was declared Aug. 1 in the volatile east. Those dead include 163 confirmed Ebola cases, with 35 probable deaths. This is Congo's 10th outbreak since 1976, when the hemorrhagic fever was first identified in Yambuku. Health Minister Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga said the figures now exceed that outbreak. He said no other epidemic has been as complex. Armed groups vying for control of Congo's mineral-rich east have staged regular attacks in Congo's Ituri and North Kivu provinces, complicating the response by health officials who are also meeting community resistance.

The death toll of the ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that started in August, rises to 200 people. This is the deadliest ebola outbreak in the history of the country.

Three-year-old boy among the 10 confirmed victims after city of Niterói hit by landslide This article is more than 9 months old This article is more than 9 months old Ten people were killed and 11 injured in a mudslide near Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, Brazilian authorities have said. Roberto Robadey, the head of Rio’s civil defence department, told the Globo TV network that the mudslide in the city of Niterói was caused by heavy downpours. He said people were killed and injured when a large boulder rolled on top of six houses in the Boa Esperança neighbourhood. “It rained a lot over the past two days and a state of alert was declared for Niterói,” he said. “People were advised of the situation and were recommended to move to safer locations.” But Claudio dos Santos, president of the Boa Esperança residents’ association, said several families “refused to leave”. Rescue workers were searching for victims and survivors trapped under the debris and mud. The Rio fire department said the dead included a three-year-old boy, two elderly women and a middle-aged man. It did not give any more information about the victims. Rosemary Caetano da Silva, a resident of Boa Esperança,said her eight-year-old granddaughter was buried underneath the rubble. She also said she managed to rescue her grandson, who was taken to a hospital.[SEP]Rescuers in Brazil are searching for survivors of a landslide which killed 10 people[SEP]According to rescuers, nine homes and a local business were affected by the landslide following days of heavy rain. 11 people have been rescued alive from the rubble, amongst them a baby. However, at least four people are still missing. Emergency workers were notified of the landslide at just after 4am (0600am GMT). Landslides are common in Rio de Janeiro. Many residents live in hilly areas of the state, often building homes without authorisation.[SEP]"I saw moments of desperation, with people crying," said this man. "This is the first time I have experienced something like this. I saw a group of people trying to save a person who was alive in the rubble. That’s what I saw. According to rescuers, nine homes and a local business were affected by the landslide following days of heavy rain. Volunteers are helping to clear the mud and debris. "I was able to rescue my grandson who is at the hospital," said another woman. "My two daughters are at the hospital and so is a couple that I know. My eight-month granddaughter is also there." Some areas of Brazil are prone to landslides after or during heavy rainfall. Many of the poorer residents live in hilly areas that are most at risk, often in makeshift dwellings that have not been authorised. One of the worst incidents was in 2011 when hundreds of people were killed in Rio state after several hillsides collapsed.[SEP]Authorities in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, say that at least 10 people have died after heavy rain triggered a landslide in a residential area.The landslide occurred on 10 November, 2018, in the Boa Esperança Community in Piratininga, Niterói, in metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. At least 6 houses were destroyed.The Fire Department reported that 11 people were rescued from the debris. It is feared the deaths could rise and rescue workers are continuing to searching for survivors.Civil defence in the city (Proteção e Defesa Civil da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro) received 135 calls for assistance between 07 and 09 November due to heavy rains in the city.[SEP]At least 10 people have been killed in Rio de Janeiro after a mudslide in the Niteroi area outside the city’s downtown on Saturday, officials said. The mudslide was caused by heavy downpours, Rio’s civil defence department head told local media. The Rio fire department said the dead included a three-year-old boy, two elderly women and a middle-aged man. It did not give any more information about the victims. According to rescuers, nine homes and a local business were affected by the landslide after days of heavy rain. Eleven people have been rescued from the rubble, including a baby, while at least four people are still missing. Pastor Pedro Paulo dos Santos called the scene in the Boa Esperanca neighbourhood “a scene of desperation, of crying”. Emergency workers were notified of the landslide at just after 06:00 GMT. Landslides are common in Rio de Janeiro. Many residents live in hilly areas of the state, often building homes without authorisation[SEP]The Niteroi municipality of the state of Rio de Janeiro has been hit by heavy rains for two days. The landslide occurred on Saturday leaving at least nine people dead and two more missing, according to the RCN radio broadcaster. “Some people still remain missing, we are working to find out whether they were in their houses [when the landslide occurred],” a representative of the civil defense service of the state of Rio de Janeiro said. According to the civil defense service, 11 people including three children have already been rescued. A total of 200 rescuers are working at the site with the search and rescue operation going to last for at least 48 hours. READ MORE: At Least 5 Killed, Dozens Missing After Landslide in N Philippines – Reports[SEP](BBC) — Rescuers are searching for survivors from a Brazilian landslide that killed 10 people, including at least one child. The incident happened in Rio de Janeiro state in the early hours of Saturday, following two days of heavy downpour. A boulder slid down a slope and hit a group of houses in the city of Niterói, according to the local fire service. Volunteers have joined firefighters and law enforcement, creating a bucket chain to clear mud and debris. The Globo news network said the group was working in silence so they could hear any victims that might be under the earth. Lighting towers were assembled so that the search could continue through Saturday night and into Sunday morning. Local media said at least 11 people have been rescued so far, including at least two children. The majority were reportedly found with the help of sniffer dogs. A number of homes and a pizzeria are said to have been hit by the landslide, local media reported. Landslides and floods are prone to happen in Brazil – the most deadly was in 2011, when whole hillsides collapsed after heavy rain, killing almost 1,000 people in Rio de Janeiro state.[SEP]At least 10 people died and 11 others were injured Saturday in a mudslide in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, official sources said. According to Rio firefighters, eleven people were rescued alive in Morro da Boa Esperança, in the municipality of Niteroi, though at least four others are still missing.[SEP]Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil’s presidential elections on Sunday, October 28, 2018. The U.S. ETF Investment Strategy team explains the implications of the outcome. Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro has decisively won Brazil’s presidential election, gaining popular support for his plans to push on with economic reforms and restore law and order in Latin America’s largest economy. Bolsonaro’s win reflects the rise of anti-establishment politics globally, and comes on the heels of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s victory in Mexico’s presidential election earlier in the year. The Brazilian economy remains in a fragile state despite recovering from a 2015-2016 recession. Brazilian risk assets had rallied since Bolsonaro’s polling prospects started improving ahead of the first round of the election. Yet, we see the decisive victory by Bolsonaro - widely perceived as more market-friendly than his left-wing opponent Fernando Haddad - as largely priced in by financial markets. Further gains in Brazilian assets will hinge on the new government’s success in pressing ahead with economic reforms, particularly of Brazil’s bloated pension system, in our view. Index performance is for illustrative purposes only. Index performance does not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. Indexes are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Index performance does not represent actual iShares Fund performance. For actual fund performance, please visit www.iShares.com or www.blackrock.com. Sources: Bloomberg as of October 24, 2018. Return depicted is that of the MSCI Brazil Net Total Return USD Index, MSCI Brazil Net Total Return Local Index and Brazilian Real / US Dollar Cross. Bolsonaro was a politically divisive figure during much of the campaign, but his economic team appears committed to building on the reform agenda put in place over the past two years. These reforms - which include spending curbs, privatizations and a loosening of labor market laws - have been seen as supporting a gradual economic recovery. Yet, if Bolsonaro were to act in ways that damaged institutions, as some fear, this could pose longer-term risks to Brazil’s growth. Bolsonaro has promised to tackle Brazil’s debt problem through pension reform, halving the number of government ministries and extending privatization of state enterprises. A Bolsonaro administration would need congressional support to tackle such a reform agenda. Gaining such support will be no easy task given the 35 parties in Brazil’s political system, but Bolsonaro's party had a stronger-than-expected showing in this election, becoming the second-largest party in the lower house. Cabinet appointments will be a key signpost of Bolsonaro’s economic vision, in addition to a new central bank president. The Central Bank of Brazil has been holding rates at a record low of 6.5%, with room to tighten in the face of any inflation scares. A growing debt burden, driven by massive social security obligations, is Brazil’s key challenge. We see broad support for reforming social security. The president of Brazil’s lower chamber has said he would bring a pension reform bill up for a vote if the new president-elect publicly supported it. A key focus for investors will be the net present value of fiscal savings from any future cuts to benefits. Bolsonaro represents the right-wing Social Liberal Party and was seen as the favorite leading into the first-round election, where he captured the largest share of the vote. The populist and former military captain has tapped into widespread discontent with the status quo, but faced high individual disapproval levels due to his often provocative views. Haddad was the vice presidential candidate of popular (but jailed) politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and replaced him on the round 1 ballot. U.S.-listed ETP flows into Brazilian equities turned negative in July as political uncertainty ahead of the election appeared to dent investor sentiment. This came after a series of strong net inflows in the first half of 2018 totaling over $900 million. Those inflows have been offset completely by over $1.2 billion of outflows since July, the largest chunk of which came in August - the most in the history of the category. Outflows continued but moderated significantly in September and October. (Source: Markit, calculated by BlackRock as of 10/24/18) Brazil’s longer-term prospects will depend on the new government’s progress in tackling the country’s debt dynamics. The conclusion of the Brazilian election marks the end of a string of contentious Latin American political matches. We remain risk-on and see the lifting of political clouds in emerging markets supporting the long-term case for EM assets. Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. 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A landslide leaves at least 10 people dead while eleven others are injured in Niterói, Brazil.

The Canadian Press SHERWOOD PARK, Alta. -- Police say only one of two explosions that rocked a parkade east of Edmonton earlier this week was deliberate, and they say the suspect who died after the incident shot himself. RCMP had already identified Kane Kosolowsky, 21, as the man who was discovered injured Tuesday evening in a vehicle at a complex in Sherwood Park that houses Strathcona County's civic offices, a library and a restaurant. For complete coverage, visit CTV Edmonton He died later in hospital. Investigators now say the initial explosion was intentional, and that the suspect returned to his vehicle and then suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They say the first explosion damaged a number of nearby vehicles, and that a second blast occurred when a gas tank in one of those vehicles caught fire. Police say they still don't have a motive, and they continue to say they aren't seeking any other suspects. "The RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit and Special Tactical Operations spent three days searching the buildings and surrounding area for additional threats to public safety. No additional threats were located," a police news release issued Saturday stated. The second blast happened after police arrived, but no one else was injured in the explosions. RCMP have said there's no indication Kosolowsky was connected with any group or ideology. The man's family said in a statement Thursday that what happened was out of character for him and they are shocked and devastated. Police said Saturday that the Kosolowsky family has cooperated fully with the investigation, and that their thoughts are with his loved ones as they also search for answers. The release said forensic examiners are working to determine the type of explosive that was used for the first blast, but that investigation is expected to take several weeks. An examination of the suspect's vehicle led to the seizure of multiple firearms, the release said, but no additional explosives were found in his vehicle or any other vehicles. About 600 employees work out of the county building, but the county's mayor, Rod Frank, said most of them had gone for the day when the blasts occurred. The library was open at the time and was safely evacuated.[SEP]Four days after a pair of explosions shook a community centre in the heart of Sherwood Park, Alta., RCMP said they can now confirm the initial blast was deliberately planned. “We can now confirm that Kane Kosolowsky purposely caused an explosion underneath a half-tonne truck on the lower level parkade using a substance that is yet to be determined,” Supt. Dave Kalist of the Strathcona County RCMP said at a news conference late Saturday morning. Kosolowsky, 21, was found seriously injured after the initial explosion Tuesday night and was taken to hospital where he later died from a gunshot wound. On Saturday, Kalist confirmed Kosolowsky shot himself. He is believed to have shot himself after he went back to his vehicle following the first detonation. A motive for the first detonation remains unknown, Kalist told reporters. “The Kosolowsky family has cooperated fully with the RCMP investigation and our thoughts are with them as they also search for answers,” police said in a news release issued on Saturday. READ MORE: Man, 21, dead after blast led police to car packed with explosives in Sherwood Park Watch below: Global News has learned a deadly explosion triggered a major police response in Sherwood Park, Alberta on Tuesday night. On Nov. 7, 2018, Mercedes Stephenson filed this report. Police said Saturday that the first explosion caused damage to several vehicles in the parkade. The gas tank of one of those vehicles caught fire, triggering the second blast. “Several items have been seized and a forensic examination to determine what type of explosive was used will be carried out,” police said. “RCMP will not speculate on what was used. This examination is expected to take several weeks. “An examination of the suspect vehicle led to the seizure of multiple firearms. No additional explosives were found in his vehicle or any other vehicles.” After three days of officers searching the surrounding buildings and areas near where the explosions occurred, police said “no additional threats were located.” “At this time, no specific motives have been identified and RCMP continue to investigate reasons as to why this event occurred. This act appears to have been carried out by one suspect and police are not currently seeking any additional suspects.” Police said Saturday that the RCMP Major Crime Unit has now returned control of the parkade to Strathcona County although officers remain on scene to help with security. READ MORE: Opening date for Strathcona County Community Centre still in flux after explosions Tuesday Watch below: It could be close to another week before the Strathcona County Community Complex reopens to the public after Tuesday’s blasts. Friday, county staff had an update. Fletcher Kent reports. On Friday, officials said there is still no firm date in place as to when the Strathcona County Community Centre will reopen to the public Rod Frank, the mayor of Strathcona County, is expected to speak to reporters on Saturday afternoon. Sherwood Park is a large community located just east of Edmonton.[SEP]The man suspected of setting off an explosion in a Sherwood Park community centre parkade had multiple firearms in his vehicle, RCMP said at a news conference Saturday morning. A motive for the explosion — and what 21-year-old Kane Kosolowsky intended to do with the firearms — remains unclear and might never be known, RCMP Supt. Dave Kalist said. Two explosions happened in the parkade of the Strathcona Community Centre the evening of Nov. 6. The first explosion was deliberate, RCMP said. It damaged nine other vehicles nearby and ignited the gas tank of one of them, causing a second explosion. After the first explosion, Kosolowsky returned to his vehicle and suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He later died in hospital. Police are not seeking any other suspects. • Man linked to Sherwood Park blasts died from gunshot wound, police say No one was injured in the explosions. More than five firearms were found in Kosolowsky's vehicle, Kalist confirmed Saturday morning. These included shotguns, hunting rifles and handguns. All were "properly" registered, Kalist said. No additional explosives were found in that vehicle, or any other vehicles. The RCMP's explosives and tactical teams spent three days searching the building and the surrounding areas for any additional threats to public safety, but none were found. New information about the explosions comes four days after the incident, because forensic examination of the blast site did not start until Friday afternoon, Kalist said. "As such, RCMP had very little information to share about the explosions until today," he said. Several items were seized from Kosolowsky's home and a forensic examination will be done to determine what type of explosive was used. This is expected to take several weeks, RCMP say. The suspect's family has "cooperated fully" with the investigation," RCMP said in a media release. Police remain on scene at the parkade to assist with security, but their on scene is complete. The community centre remains closed, but the parkade is back under control of Strathcona County. The county is working to get vehicles inside back to their owners, Mayor Rod Frank said in a statement Saturday. But first, structural and contamination assessments of the parkade have to be done.[SEP]SHERWOOD PARK—Police are still working to determine what substance or device was used in an explosion that was deliberately set underneath a half-tonne truck in a parkade at a Sherwood Park community centre on Tuesday. At a Saturday media availability, Strathcona County RCMP Supt. Dave Kalist said the suspect, 21-year-old Kane Kosolowsky, intentionally set the initial explosion under a truck on a lower level parkade sometime before 6:30 p.m. The truck was parked in a row of nine other vehicles, all of which were damaged extensively. The initial blast caused a secondary explosion after a vehicle’s gas tank ignited two stalls away at about 8:15 p.m. “This secondary explosion was not deliberately set, and no emergency personnel or bystanders were injured,” Kalist said. Police seized more than five firearms from Kosolowsky’s vehicle, including hunting rifles, a shotgun and handguns. All of the firearms were properly registered. “No additional explosives were found in Kosolowsky’s vehicle … Emergency personnel found Kosolowsky suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was evacuated to hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries,” Kalist said. The RCMP’s Explosives Disposal Unit and Special Tactical Operations teams stayed on the scene for three days to ensure there were no additional threats, after blocking off the community centre and county hall. Elk Island Public Schools closed two nearby schools at the request of RCMP. Police say forensic analysis of the debris at the scene could take weeks, and they will not speculate on the exact nature, mechanism or substance used to cause the explosion. Kalist said police are confident Kosolowsky was the only perpetrator and that there’s no further threat to the community. He added that county and forensic investigators have completed an initial examination of the community centre and county hall and said there’s no indication of any structural damage to the building, although they plan to carry out a more detailed examination. Police have not found any motive for the explosion. Investigators have talked to friends, co-workers and family members and have also combed through Kosolowsky’s social media, which provided no answers. “It may be that we will never fully know what his motives were for this incident,” Kalist said. No shots were fired from police in the incident. Kalist addressed community concerns that not enough information about the incident was released by police as the incident initially unfolded. “What I’d really like the public to understand was that until yesterday, when the search of the site was completed, we still had an active incident that we were managing,” he said. “We simply did not want to put out information that we could not confirm. We were dealing with an active incident,” he added. For safety reasons, police kept the area closed off because they didn’t know if there were any other incendiary devices that were a threat to police or the public. Police did not complete forensic examination of the explosion site didn’t start until Friday afternoon because they weren’t sure if the county hall area was safe until that time. RCMP returned control of the community hall parkade to Strathcona County on Friday evening at 10:45 p.m., although police remain on scene to provide help with security. In a statement, Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank said the county is working to get the damaged vehicles back to their owners. “Before that happens, we must complete an indoor contamination assessment of the parkade and vehicles to properly understand any health risks as a result of the explosion,” the statement said. “We must also complete a more detailed structural assessment.” Most of the vehicles appear to be in good enough shape to still be driveable. The county has more than 100 vehicles to remove from the parkade. Work is underway to repair any damage to the community centre. Councillors walked through the building yesterday and the mayor said he was relieved to see the damage was not more extensive. The county is expecting results from environmental testing of the site on Tuesday. Omar Mosleh is an Edmonton-based reporter covering inner-city issues, affordable housing and reconciliation. Follow him on Twitter: @OmarMosleh[SEP]RCMP provided an update Saturday morning surrounding the investigation into the explosions that rocked the Strathcona County Community Centre Tuesday night. Mounties now say that of the two explosions that occurred on the lower level of the Community Centre parkade, only the first one was deliberate. That initial explosion damaged multiple vehicles nearby, and as a result the gas tank of one of the vehicles caught fire and caused a second explosion. Following the first explosion, the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Kane Kosolowsky, returned to his vehicle and suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He later died in hospital. Inside the suspect’s vehicle, multiple firearms were seized. No additional explosives were found at the scene. Police have seized several items and a forensic examination that is expected to take place this month should determine what type of explosives were used. For the past three days, the RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit and Special Tactical Operations searched the buildings and surrounding area for additional threats to public safety. None were identified. At this time, no specific motives have been found and RCMP say the act appears to have been carried out by Kosolowsky alone. The parkade has since been turned over to Strathcona County. Police remain on scene providing assistance with security. The mayor is expected to provide another update to media on Saturday afternoon.[SEP]The explosion that rocked a community centre parkade in Sherwood Park earlier this week originated underneath a half ton truck and damaged nine cars parked in the same row, causing a second vehicle’s gas tank to explode two stalls away, police confirmed Saturday. Speaking to media at the Sherwood Park detachment on Saturday morning, RCMP Supt. Dave Kalist confirmed, for the first time, that “more than five” registered firearms — including hunting rifles, shotguns and handguns — were discovered in a vehicle belonging to Kane Kosolowsky, the deceased suspect. They also confirmed Kosolowsky died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police have not determined the material used to cause the first explosion, which they say Kosolowsky set purposefully, or how it was ignited. Nor have they found a motive, despite interviewing friends, family and coworkers and trawling through electronic devices found at the man’s home. Kalist said forensic analysis of the debris could take weeks. Police have not determined any motives for the crime. “At this time, we do not have any specific motive as to why Kosolowsky caused the explosion, or what his intentions were with the firearms in his possession.” “While we may never know the true motives of Kane Kosolowsky, I would personally like to thank the family for their continued cooperation in what must be a devastating time.” Kalist confirmed they are not seeking any additional suspects. They do not know whether Kosolowsky had a specific target. While Mounties have not identified any motive for the attack, the fact the RCMP major crimes unit is leading the investigation, rather than the force’s integrated national security enforcement team (INSET), offers some indication of law enforcement thinking. RCMP K Division spokesman Fraser Logan said earlier this week the major crimes unit is handling the investigation because “there is no indication that this incident is related to any group or ideology.” Emergency responders believe they were initially dealing with a fire when they were called to the Strathcona County Community Centre after 6 p.m. Tuesday. People were evacuated from other buildings in the city centre as RCMP with long guns scoured the area. The next afternoon, RCMP confirmed they were dealing with what they believed was a deliberately set explosion. They asked members of the public not to speculate about what happened, despite what some saw as unnecessary delays in the official response. In a statement issued through the RCMP Thursday, members of Kosolowsky’s family said they were shocked and devastated by what happened, and that the events were out of character. Kalist defended the RCMP’s communications timeline, saying that even as recently as Friday, they were dealing with an active crime scene and working to confirm there were no additional explosive devices. “We simply did not want to put out information we could not confirm. We were not able to even go into the investigative forensic examination phase until yesterday afternoon,” he said Saturday.[SEP]Kane Kosolowsky died of gunshot wounds after being found in the parkade east of Edmonton, police said RCMP released the name of the suspect in a set of explosions in Sherwood Park on Thursday as 21-year-old Kane Kosolowsky. Police first responded to reports of an explosion in a community centre parkade, east of Edmonton, on Tuesday evening. Kosolowsky was discovered suffering from gunshot wounds at about 6:30 p.m. He was taken to hospital where he later died, police said. It’s not clear if the injuries were self-inflicted. A second explosion had happened about two hours earlier, in the same parkade. No one was injured in either blast. In a statement issued through police, Kosolowsky’s family said they are “shocked and devastated by the unfortunate incident,” and are working the RCMP. “We are thankful that there were no other persons harmed in this unexpected incident. The events that occurred are totally out of character for Kane and we trust that the authorities will continue a thorough investigation to provide the answers we are all seeking,” the statement read. The family asked for privacy. Investigators are not looking for any other suspects and the public is in no danger. Schools and core buildings in the area remain closed. @ashwadhwani ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.caLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.[SEP]Strathcona County officials are set to outline their plans Friday afternoon to reopen the community centre, which has been closed since two explosions rocked the area Tuesday night. The community centre in Sherwood Park also houses the library and county hall. While police tape has come down and roads surrounding the complex have reopened, the community centre remained closed to the public on Friday. Fire investigators and police remained at the scene. EXCLUSIVE: Man, 21, dead after blast led police to car packed with explosives in Sherwood Park County officials said earlier this week the building’s structural integrity would need to be looked at to determine if and when it was safe to reopen. Emergency crews responded to the Strathcona County Community Centre east of Edmonton at around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to reports of a fire. On Wednesday, RCMP confirmed there were two explosions, one before police were called to the scene and another at around 8:15 p.m. READ MORE: Tannerite reportedly found at Sherwood Park explosion scene. What is it? The initial explosion led police to a car packed with explosives and a man with severe injuries, Global News learned. The 21-year-old man, who has been identified as Kane Kosolowsky, later died. An autopsy determined Kosolowsky died from a gunshot wound. Watch below: Ongoing Global News coverage of the explosions in Sherwood Park Tuesday night and the ongoing RCMP investigation Two schools in the area that were closed to students on Wednesday and Thursday were open on Friday. READ MORE: Sherwood park schools to reopen, community centre remains closed after explosions Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank and the director of emergency services Jeff Hutton will speak about the status of the community centre complex and plans to reopen the buildings at 3:45 p.m. MT Friday. Global News will live stream the media availability in this post.[SEP]Schools in Sherwood Park that were closed for two days after two explosions rocked the Strathcona County Community Centre Tuesday evening will reopen Friday. In a news release, the mayor said classes at area schools would resume Friday morning. St Theresa School and Salisbury Composite High School were closed Wednesday and Thursday. “We will have counsellors and school psychologists onsite as we welcome the students back.” Due to police-related investigative closures, parents driving their kids to school must use “the appropriate side/west area parent drop-off and avoid the front of the building.” Extra-curricular activities at St Theresa will be cancelled until after the long weekend. Watch: The suspect in Tuesday’s explosions in Sherwood Park has been identified as 21-year-old Kane Kosolowsky. Kendra Slugoski has more on what we know about the suspect so far. Mayor Rod Frank also said Festival Place would be open again on Friday. While the Community Centre – which houses the library, Vicky’s Bistro, and county hall – has been turned back over to the county, the parkade is still secured by police, Frank said. Anyone whose vehicle is in the parkade is asked to leave their name and contact information with county staff by calling 780-417-7100. On Thursday afternoon, RCMP identified the suspect in the blasts as 21-year-old Kane Kosolowsky. He was found by officers in a car in the parkade shortly after the first explosion. He had severe, life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital where he later died, RCMP said, adding his injuries “were not related to police interaction.” No other injuries were reported and no further suspects are being sought, RCMP said. READ MORE: Man, 21, dead after blast led police to car packed with explosives in Sherwood Park The mayor said a structural survey on the community complex has been done and plans are being made for any structural repairs and cleaning that may be needed. Frank said the County Hall is expected to open late next week. He couldn’t offer a date or timeline for when the Community Centre building might reopen. “Residents are encouraged to attend Remembrance Day services at Millennium Place rather than the County Hall cenotaph this year,” Frank added. READ MORE: Few details released as ‘fluid investigation’ at Sherwood Park community centre continues Updates would be posted on the county’s website, he said. “I am continually inspired by the commitment and cooperative spirit of our employees, and our community. I would like to thank everyone for their hard work and patience as we work through these challenging times,” Frank said. Watch: The mayor of Strathcona County was inside the community centre when the first explosion occurred. He speaks to media Wednesday afternoon. Rylee Johnson, a Salisbury student, said the last few days have been worrying. “It’s hard to know what’s true and what’s not true and what to believe because we haven’t heard any definitive statements,” he said Thursday. “It’s hard to study and keep positive thinking when there are all these rumours and speculation. Caleb Hesse, another Salisbury student, has been spending time at Millennium Place since school has been closed. “It’s a little scary. You don’t see stuff like this happening in Sherwood Park ever. A lot of this stuff — it just doesn’t happen. It’s a little worrying. It’s such a small town so you could know the people who got hurt and we were just worrying what’s going on.”[SEP]Life in Sherwood Park is returning to normal after “three harrowing days” following a pair of explosions in the parkade of the community centre and the death of a 21-year-old man, Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank said Friday. Frank said the RCMP had turned control of the community centre complex and town hall back over to the county but both will remain closed for an indeterminate period of time. The parkade at the centre of the explosions remains an active crime scene and will remain closed indefinitely. About 100 vehicles remain in the facility. Mounties have linked the two explosions Tuesday night to Kane Kosolowsky, a man who died as the result of a gunshot wound. He was found injured in the parkade and transported to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Frank said Kosolowksy had never been an employee of Strathcona County. “We’ve come through three harrowing days here. We don’t really expect to see explosions in Strathcona County let alone the country,” Frank said. “We are getting on with life here in Strathcona County. I’m very proud of how we have come together as a community during this challenging and difficult time.” As many as 600 staff have been displaced because of the explosions with the city’s recreation, parks and culture facility accommodating a large influx of those employees. Family and Community Services is offering counselling and other supports out of Millennium Place while library staff continue to run its mobile book service. Fire Chief Jeff Hutton said consultants from Merwin Engineering were brought in Thursday night to provide a visual inspection of the parkade. “The initial conclusion was positive,” he said. “What we know from the initial visual inspection is that there is no significant damage to the structural integrity of the parkade. Once the parkade is released to the county, there will be further structural, mechanical and electrical inspections and testing of the parkade.” Mounties have yet to confirm the type of explosive materials used. • Cause of two Sherwood Park explosions unknown, 21-year-old man dead

RCMP confirm one of two explosions at the Strathcona County Community Centre in Sherwood Park, Alberta on November 6th was deliberate, and the other was accidentally set off. They also disclose the suspect shot himself and later died from his wounds. No one else was hurt in the incident, and a motive for the incident is still under investigation.

The Florida secretary of state is ordering recounts in the U.S. Senate, commissioner of agriculture and governor races, an unprecedented review of three major races in the state that took five weeks to decide the 2000 presidential election. Secretary Ken Detzner issued the order on Saturday after the unofficial results of all three races fell within the margin that by law triggers a recount. The unofficial results show that Republican former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis led Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum by less than 0.5 percentage points, which will require a machine recount of ballots. In the Senate race, Republican Gov. Rick Scott's lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson is less than 0.25 percentage points, which will require a hand recount of ballots from tabulation machines that couldn't determine which candidate got the vote. The Florida agriculture commission race between Democratic candidate Nikki Fried and Republican candidate Matt Caldwell has flipped and is heading for a recount. The election was initially called for Caldwell, but according to the Florida Election Watch website, Fried moved ahead of Caldwell by 2,920 votes on Thursday. Previous: Florida governor, Senate and agriculture races could be headed for recounts Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[SEP]Ken Detzner, the secretary of state of Florida, a key swing US state, on Saturday ordered machine recounts for three razor-thin races for governor, US senator and the state’s agriculture commissioner. The results of the recounts are due by 3 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Thursday, said Detzner, Xinhua news agency reported. Florida’s Republican Governor Rick Scott has seen his lead narrow over incumbent Democratic US Senator Bill Nelson to about 12,500 votes, or 0.15 per cent, by Saturday afternoon, according to a CNBC report. In the race for governor between former Republican US House Representative Ron DeSantis and Democratic mayor of Tallahassee Andrew Gillum, DeSantis was leading by 0.41 percentage points. Gillum conceded to DeSantis on Tuesday night, but later said every vote should count. A third statewide race to be recounted is the agriculture commissioner race between Democrat Nikki Fried and Republican Matt Caldwell. Fried currently held only a 5,326-vote lead, a margin of 0.07 per cent. Florida law requires a machine recount when the leading candidate’s margin is 0.5 percentage points or less, and a hand recount if it’s 0.25 or less. Florida has been seen as a key swing state for decades and is expected to play a critical role in the 2020 US general elections.[SEP]The Florida secretary of state is ordering recounts in the U.S. Senate and governor races, an unprecedented review of two major races in the state that took five weeks to decide the 2000 presidential election. Secretary Ken Detzner issued the order on Saturday after the unofficial results in both races fell within the margin that by law triggers a recount. The unofficial results show that Republican former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis led Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum by less than 0.5 percentage points, which will require a machine recount of ballots. In the Senate race, Republican Gov. Rick Scott's lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson is less than 0.25 percentage points, which will require a hand recount of ballots from tabulation machines that couldn't determine which candidate got the vote[SEP]Florida secretary of state orders recounts in U.S. Senate, governor races TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida secretary of state orders recounts in U.S. Senate, governor races.[SEP]According to the New York Times, Florida officials announced Saturday that with the elections for senator, governor and agriculture commissioner deemed too close to call, that mandatory machine recounts are in order. Gov. Rick Scott, whose sizable lead has evaporated to less than 13,000 votes as ballots continue to be tallied, has cried foul. The target of his ire, Broward County elections supervisor Brenda Snipes, is under fire for not only admitting to tabulating roughly a dozen rejected ballots, but failing to confirm if she has finished counting them all. “Three days after Election Day, the vote tally continues to change and Supervisor Snipes still refuses to explain where and how the new votes came to light,” the campaign said in a statement. “The public deserves a clear and direct answer.” The deadline for the state’s 67 counties to hand in their unofficial results was today at noon. As such, three statewide races are legally required to go to a recount since they remain under a 0.5 percentage point margin: • The Senate race between Gov. Rick Scott (R) and Bill Nelson (D) • The governor’s race between Ron DeSantis (R) and Andrew Gillum (D) • The commissioner of agriculture race between Nikki Fried (D) and Matt Caldwell (R) The order to initiate the recount is expected this afternoon from Secretary of State Ken Detzner, an appointee of Mr. Scott. While tallies are expected to begin soon as well, starting with the larger Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Smaller counties are expected to begin tomorrow. Each county has until Thursday to run all of its ballots through counting machines again. While any race that remains within a margin of 0.25 of a percentage point or less will have until the 18th to conduct a manual recount. Of important note, the odds of Gillum emerging triumphant in a recount appear to be low, as he currently trails DeSantis by 33,600 votes—or 0.41 percentage points.[SEP]MIAMI — The race for Florida governor appears headed for a recount, as Democrat Andrew Gillum continues to gain on Republican Ron DeSantis during the tallying of the final uncounted ballots cast in the midterm elections. Gillum, the outgoing mayor of Tallahassee, conceded the race Tuesday night before 11 p.m. after results appeared to show him too far behind his opponent to make up the difference. DeSantis, a former congressman, gave his victory speech shortly after. But thousands of votes remained untallied. And over the next 36 hours, the margins gradually shrank. As of 9 a.m., DeSantis’ lead was just 42,948 votes out of 8,189,305 ballots cast — equal to 0.52 percent of the vote. Concession speech or no, Florida law requires an automatic machine recount in any race where the margin of victory is within one-half of 1 percentage point. By 2 p.m., Gillum gained on DeSantis by another 4,441 votes, and now trails by only 0.47 percent. Thousands of ballots still remain uncounted, so it’s too soon to say whether a recount will indeed happen in the race for governor. Florida’s 67 elections supervisors must send their unofficial numbers to the state by 1 p.m. Saturday, and campaign volunteers were scrambled around the state Thursday as supervisors prepared to examine provisional ballots cast by voters with unresolved issues at their polling places. Late Thursday morning, Gillum campaign spokeswoman Johanna Cervone said the campaign was prepared for a recount effort. “It has become clear there are many more uncounted ballots than was originally reported,” she said in a statement. “Our campaign, along with our attorney Barry Richard, is monitoring the situation closely and is ready for any outcome, including a state-mandated recount.” The race for Agriculture Commissioner and U.S. Senate also appear headed for recounts, although those races are closer and could force the state to conduct recounts by hand, which is required when the margins between two candidates are within a quarter of a percent. Voters have until 5 p.m. to address any outstanding problems with their provisional ballots. But all eyes were on Broward County, which according to information published by the Florida Division of Elections has yet to report all its early voting and absentee voting totals. Broward is a Democratic party stronghold.[SEP]Florida secretary of state orders recounts in U.S. Senate, governor races TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida secretary of state orders recounts in U.S. Senate, governor races.[SEP]Florida secretary of state orders recounts in U.S. Senate, governor races TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida secretary of state orders recounts in U.S. Senate, governor races.[SEP]Florida secretary of state orders recounts in U.S. Senate, governor races TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida secretary of state orders recounts in U.S. Senate, governor races.[SEP]TALLAHASSEE, Florida — The Florida secretary of state ordered recounts in the U.S. Senate and governor races on Saturday, an unprecedented review of two major races in the state that took five weeks to decide the 2000 presidential election. Secretary Ken Detzner issued the order after the unofficial results in both races fell within the margin that by law triggers a recount. His office was unaware of any other time either a governor race or U.S. Senate race required a recount, let alone both in the same election. The unofficial results show that Republican former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis led Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum by 0.41 percentage points. In the Senate race, Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson is 0.14 percentage points. Detzner ordered machine recounts in both races. Once completed, if the difference in the races are at 0.25 percentage points or below, a hand recount will be ordered, said Department of State spokeswoman Sarah Revell. Saturday’s development’s return Florida to the center of a major political drama 18 years after an infamous presidential recount left control of the White House undecided for more than a month. The latest recount underscores the deep divides plaguing one of the most critical states in American politics. Beyond determining the governorship, it will decide whether Nelson returns to Washington for a fourth term or whether Republicans will pad their majority in the Senate. Florida’s 67 counties will decide when to begin the recounts. They could start the moment Detzner issued his order, or elections officials can wait until Sunday or Monday. But they must finish the machine recounts by 3 p.m. Thursday. Gillum conceded to DeSantis on Tuesday night, but when the results began to narrow, he said that every vote should count and he’s not expected to block a recount. DeSantis has said little about the recount and is instead proceeding as if he won the election, appointing a transition team and preparing to take office in January. The battle for Nelson’s Senate seat has been much more heated, with both sides filing lawsuits. Scott has said Nelson is trying to steal the election, while Nelson is accusing Scott of trying to stop elections officials from counting every ballot. President Donald Trump has also weighed in on Florida’s close elections. Trump took Scott’s side on Friday, telling reporters that the federal government could get involved and adding: ‘’all of the sudden they are finding votes out of nowhere.” ‘’What’s going on in Florida is a disgrace,” he said. The scene was reminiscent of the 2000 presidential recount, when it took more than five weeks for Florida to declare George W. Bush the victor over Vice President Al Gore by 537 votes, and thus giving Bush the presidency. Florida was mocked for the way it handled the infamous 2000 recount, especially since there was no uniform process then on how to proceed. That has changed, with the Legislature passing a clear procedure on how a recount should be conducted. Florida is also conducting a recount in a third statewide race. Democrat Nikki Fried had a 0.07 percentage point lead lead over Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell in the race for agriculture commissioner, one of Florida’s three Cabinet seats.

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner orders machine recounts in the U.S. Senate race and the state's governor and agriculture commissioner races as required by law when the lead is less than 0.5 percent. Results are due by 3 p.m. EST Thursday. Should the results still be within 0.25 percentage points, a manual recount will be triggered, with results due on November 18.

Japan's Kashima Antlers have won the 2018 AFC Champions League after a 2-0 aggregate win over Iran's Persepolis in the two-legged final on Saturday. After winning the home leg 2-0, the Japanese team held Persepolis to a goalless stalemate in Iran to clinch their first-ever title in the tournament. Almost 100,000 supporters crammed the Azadi stadium in Tehran to see their team overturn the first half deficit but Kashima's sensational rear-guard action left most of them frustrated. Kashima defended stoutly right from the outset and limited the number of chances their Iranian counterparts could fashion. Persepolis striker Ali Alipour did get some opportunities to score but he was wasteful with his finishing and could not capitalise. He fired wide from inside the box on one occasion before heading tamely at the Kashima goalkeeper at the half-hour mark. A frustrated Persepolis saw Alipour miss another chance at the hour mark when he volleyed an effort well wide. Kashima's defence would stand strong to become the third club from Japan, after Gamba Osaka and Urawa Red Diamonds to win the AFC Champions League title.[SEP]Japanese-league club Kashima Antlers on Saturday claimed their maiden title in the AFC Champions League, Asia's premier club soccer tournament, by defeating Iranian side Persepolis 2-0 on aggregate. After winning the Nov. 3 first leg 2-0 in Kashima, the Antlers wrapped up the championship - and earned a FIFA Club World Cup berth - when the teams played to scoreless draw here at Azadi Stadium in front of roughly 100,000 people.[SEP]J. League outfit Kashima Antlers travel to Tehran’s formidable Azadi Stadium to face Persepolis FC in the second leg of the AFC Champions League 2018 final on Saturday. The Japanese club have one hand on the trophy having won the first leg in Kashima 2-0 and if they can preserve that advantage at Tehran over the 90 minutes, they will become the sixth club from Japan to lift the most coveted trophy in Asia’s club football scene. The triumph will guarantee that the AFC Champions League trophy returns to the Land of the Rising Sun for the second year in a row. It will also cement J. League’s position as the top domestic league in the continent ahead of the Chinese Super League and South Korea’s K League. So, we take a look at the Japanese clubs who have found success in the AFC Champions League over the years. They might be playing in Japan’s second division these days with a new monicker JEF United Chiba FC, but Furukawa were the first club to bring the trophy to the country in 1986 in the competition’s old form — the Asian Club Championship. The club owned by the East Japan Railway Company and electronics giants Furukawa Electric were a force to reckon with in their heydays between 1960s and 80s, but have gone on a downward spiral since the turn of the new decade. However, one of their most memorable year in their history was 1986 when they were crowned Asian champions. They played the qualifiers of the competition in Kuala Lumpur where they defeated both Selangor FC and Macau’s Hap Kuan to make the tournament mains in Saudi Arabia. They were joined by Al Hilal from the host nation, China’s Liaoning FC and Iraq’s Al Talaba in a round-robin league. But the Furukawa recorded emphatic win over all three opponents to give Japan a first taste of success in the continental contest. But it wasn’t long before they got hold of the trophy once again. In the very next year, Furukawa’s local rivals Yomiuri FC returned the trophy to Japan and were fortunate enough to do so even without playing a final! They made it out of the semifinal Group B featuring Malaysia’s Federal Territory, Kuwait’s Kazma SC and China’s August 1 Football Team, but did not have an opponent in the final to play against. Al Hilal, the Saudi Arabian opposition who were to challenge Yomiuri, could not field a full team as their players were called up to the Saudi national camp clashing with the date of the final. And the Japanese club were awarded a walkover! Yomirui are one of the most successful teams in Japanese football history having won 25 league titles, but these days, they are known as Tokyo Verdy and plies in the country’s second tier. Japan had to wait over a decade to win another Asian crown as it came in 1999 and this will be one victory that Kashima Antlers will look to take inspiration from ahead of their final against Persepolis. Jubilo Iwata were the club to bring a third Asian Club Championship title to Japan and to do it, they overcame Iran’s Esteghlal FC 2-1 in a final held at the Azadi Stadium! Jubilo also reached the final of the tournament in 2000 and 2001, but had to settle for runners-up spots both the times. The club owned by the Yamaha Motor Company are still going strong in Japan, unlike the first two Asian champions from the country. The 2002 J. League champions were relegated in 2013, but bounced back in 2016 and finished a creditable 6th last season. In 2007, Urawa Red Diamonds became the fourth team from Japan to win the Asian title and the first to do so in the AFC Champions League era. In the final of the rechristened tournament’s fifth edition, the Reds defeated Iran’s Sepahan 3-1 on aggregate to lift the gong. The victory also enabled them to qualify for the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup hosted by Japan where they finished third. On the 10th anniversary of that triumph, Urawa won their second AFC Champions League title and became the first club from Japan to become Asian champions on more than one occasion. In 2017 final, it was once again Saudi’s Al Hilal who were the opponents for the Japan club, but Brazilian Rafael Silva’s 88th minute goal in the second leg helped the Reds record a narrow 2-1 win on aggregate over the Saudis. Between Urawa’s two triumphs, Gamba Osaka won the AFC Champions League trophy in 2008 and they won it in grand fashion after thrashing A-League side Adelaide United 5-0 over two legs. Gamba killed the game in the first leg held at Osaka itself as they recorded a 3-0 victory but a brace from Brazilian Lucas Severino piled misery on the Australians! They also managed a third-place finish in the FIFA Club World Cup that year that was won by Manchester United. The club owned by multinational electronics giants Panasonic most recently won the J. League title in 2014 and were the runners-up the following year.[SEP]Kashima Antlers have won the AFC Champions League for the first time in their history after a 0-0 draw with Persepolis in Saturday’s second leg saw them win the final 2-0 on aggregate. Having claimed an impressive 2-0 win on home soil a week earlier, Kashima entered the return encounter at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran with one hand already on the trophy. However, they were coming up against a Persepolis that had not suffered a home defeat in the Champions League since May 2012 and were also buoyed by a boisterous home crowd, which should set a new tournament attendance record by comfortably bettering the previous highest tally of 63,763 set in the 2014 decider between Al Hilal and Western Sydney Wanderers. Surprisingly, the visitors opted against sitting back and defending their lead from the opening whistle and actually showed good initiative going forward in the early exchanges. They fired away their first warning shot in the 14th minute when Yuma Suzuki peeled away from his marker on the left and crossed to Shoma Doi, who flashed a shot dangerously across the face of goal. Meanwhile, while they enjoyed plenty of possession, Persepolis failed to really trouble a Kashima backline that was led supremely by centre-backs Gen Shoji and Jung Seung-hyun. It took until the 39th minute before they really gave their opponents a scare when Bashar Resan embarked on a terrific run straight at the heart of the Antlers defence, but could only fire straight at Kwoun Sun-tae having left himself with too acute an angle. Ahmad Nourollahi was next to threaten three minutes later with a 20-yard piledriver that stung the hands of Kwoun, before Ali Alipour pounced on a weak clearance on the edge of the box four minutes after the hour mark and instinctively fired away a snapshot that was not too far away. But, with Nigerian target man Godwin Mensha struggling to get into the contest and Alipour limited to half-chances, Persepolis never really gave the Japanese visitors anything to worry about. And, as the game entered its closing stages, Kashima were just able to tighten things up and see out the remainder of the contest to become champions of Asia and make it two Japanese winners in as many years following the success of Urawa Red Diamonds in 2017.[SEP]Kashima Antlers’ long wait for the elusive AFC Champions League trophy is finally over! The most successful side in J-League’s history beat FC Persepolis over two-legs to win the coveted title. However, there was a more personal achievement for one of the Antlers’ as Yuma Suzuki took home the MVP award for the tournament. The Antlers had to wait 16 years for their first AFC Champions League title. However, the moment finally arrived after they beat Persepolis 2-0 on aggregate. The J-League side took a two-goal advantage with them to Iran, courtesy of first-leg goals from Serginho and Leo Silva. They then held on for 90 minutes in Persepolis’ home ground to finally get a hold of the Champions League title. However, post-match, everyone’s eyes were on the MVP award, which was ultimately awarded to Kashima’s Yuma Suzuki. The 22-year-old striker may have had a night to forget during the second leg but his contributions throughout the tournament meant that he walked home with the MVP trophy. The young striker had just two goals to his name for this edition of the tournament but played a pivotal role in Kashima Antlers’ success. The Japanese forward follows compatriot Yosuke Kashigawa as the tournament MVP, who won the award last year.[SEP]With the AFC Champions League Final fast approaching, Persepolis have a difficult task at hand. The Iranian club are currently trailing Kashima Antlers 2-0, after suffering a defeat in the first leg. However, as history is the witness, all is not lost yet. It just so happens, that sometimes, a team snatches victory in the unlikeliest of circumstances. We take a look at three such instances. Bear in mind, that we are only included finals which were played over the course of two legs. Therefore, the following editions have been overlooked from the list: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Al Ittihad’s first title in the AFC Champions League was a memorable one. The Saudi Arabian team had fought hard to reach the final in the first place. After a 2-1 win in the semifinal first leg against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the ‘people’s club’ had found themselves trailing 2-0 in the second leg. However, two goals in the final 20 minutes of the match turned the tie in favour of Ittihad, who progressed to the Final. In the Final, they met South Korea’s Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. Playing at home, many expected Ittihad to win comfortably. However, it was their opponents who came out on top, beating them 3-1. With two away goals in their kitty, Seongnam were seemingly the favourites to win the title. However, Ittihad refused to throw in the towel and beat the South Korean side 5-0 in their own stadium! When the dust settled, Ittihad had overturned a two-goal deficit to win 6-3. A memorable title-win indeed! Jeonbuk Hyundai had come within a whisker of the final just two years prior. However, they were beaten by Al-Ittihad in a stunning manner, who came from two behind to win the match. In football, two years is a long time. And the Green Warriors were on the cusp of title glory yet again. What was remarkable about Jeonbuk’s 2006 title-run was that they had overturned a first-leg deficit in both the quarterfinals and the semifinals! They were now faced with one final challenge, in the form of Syria’s Al-Karamah. Playing the first leg of the final in Jeonju, the Green Warriors took an easy two-goal lead, an advantage they would carry with themselves to the away leg. However, Al-Karamah came flying out of the blocks in the second leg and levelled the match on aggregate. With time running out, Jeonbuk’s Ze Carlos stepped up and scored for his side in the 86th minute! Jeonbuk lost on the night 2-1 but won on aggregate by 3-2. The most recent edition of the AFC Champions League saw controversy from the start. Title holders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were expelled from the competition due to their involvement in a bribery scandal. Furthermore, their appeal for provisional measures was rejected as well. With the title holders out, the trophy was for anyone to grab. With much difficulty, Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds made it into the final of the competition. The Reds trailed by a two-goal margin in both the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals but somehow managed to progress on both the occasions. A narrow win further in the semifinals saw them come up against Al-Hilal in the final of the 2017 Champions League. The Reds visited Al-Hilal in the first leg and shared the spoils on the night with a 1-1 draw. The second leg was a dire affair as well, with neither team unable to break the deadlock till the 88th minute. That’s when Rafael Silva stepped up. He scored in the final moments of the game to gift Urawa the win on the night and on aggregate. Urawa’s final win might have been straightforward but their refusal to give up throughout the tournament made this victory even sweeter.[SEP]With the 2018 edition of the AFC Champions League finally coming to a close, we can finally take a look at all the individual achievements for the season. One such accomplishment is the top-scorer award, which was given to Al Sadd’s Algerian striker, Baghdad Bounedjah. Al Sadd’s brilliant run in the competition came to an abrupt end when they were beaten by Persepolis in the Semifinals. The Qatar club were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by the eventual finalists. However, there was still a silver lining for one of Al Sadd’s players – Baghdad Bounedjah – who finished the competition with 13 goals. The Algerian forward, who has been with Al Sadd since 2015, opened his account in their first game itself. He scored a brace in what would eventually be a 2-1 win over Al Wasl. Bounedjah’s superb run didn’t end there. In fact, the 26-year-old added yet another brace to his collection on matchday 2, a feat he would go on to repeat on three more occasions. He also scored in all of Al-Sadd’s knockout fixtures, adding six more goals to his tally. Ultimately, when Al Sadd exited, the Algerian striker had 13 goals to his name, four more than his closest competitor in the 2018 AFC Champions League. The free-scoring forward has been a star turn for the Qatari side and has scored 58 times in just 44 appearances across all competitions since 2015. Here’s another personal trophy for his collection![SEP]The 2018 AFC Champions League finally came to a close with Kashima Antlers finally lifting the coveted title. It was perhaps the most prominent title missing from the Kashima cabinet but Go Oiwa’s side made sure that they do not return home empty-handed. On a difficult night for both the teams, some player stepped up whilst some fell short. We take a look… With the home support behind him, all Beiranvand had to do was to make sure he didn’t concede a goal throughout the night. On his part, the Persepolis custodian did his job. Unfortunately, he was let down by his goal-shy teammates on the night. Defensively, Khaliizadeh was solid. For the most part, he stopped Kashima from approaching Beiranvand’s goal. However, he did get into a scuffle with the opposition manager during the final few minutes and was perhaps lucky to escape a booking. Hosseini kept things tight at the back as usual. However, the game was to be decided by Persepolis’ attacking instinct, which was severely lacking on the night. Ansari was the only casualty in the otherwise solid defence. The centre-back was sacrificed for Ehsan Alvanzadeh midway through the second half. Mosleh was part of the quartet who did their job perfectly, by keeping Kashima at bay. The full-back would be disappointed that his side couldn’t find that elusive goal tonight. Started as a creative midfielder, Kamyabinia was expected to drive at the Kashima defenders. However, neither could he find that perfect opening nor the perfect pass to help the Persepolis attack. Hemati looked good whilst on the pitch. Unfortunately, he was substituted in the 64th minute due to an injury. Starting in the centre of the midfield, Nourollahi was asked to man the channels between attack and defence and provide support for both. Defensively, Nourollahi was solid. But all he and Persepolis was lacking on the night was a good attacking instinct. Resan was perhaps the unluckiest player on the pitch and should’ve scored in this game. The midfielder put in a great shift put fell just short of the target. Much like the rest of the team. He did look promising whenever the ball was in his feet. A lot was asked of Alipour on the night. The forward was expected to lead Persepolis from the front and provide with some much-needed goals. However, his finishing let him down throughout the night, with several chances falling at his end. Persepolis had almost double the number of shots as Kashima. Unfortunately, none of them ended up in the back of the net. Mensha was asked to lead the line with Alipour but the Nigerian suffered a fate similar to his strike partner. Marshalled expertly by Gen Shoji and Seung-Hyun throughout the night and couldn’t find a decent opening. Rabiekhah came in place of Hemati with half an hour to go. He did look promising with the ball in his feet but lacked the end product. Alvanzadeh was called upon by the manager to replace Ansari in defence. He did his job well and stopped Kashima’s counters during the final minutes of the game. Sun-Tae was the reasons the Antlers didn’t fall behind in the first half. The South Korean veteran was fully aware of his surroundings and made some decent stops to keep Persepolis at bay. The full-back should’ve definitely done better dealing with Persepolis’ wide men. He was even booked into the final few minutes of the match. However, at the end of the day, Nishi and his defensive partners did their job and will return home with the title. Seung-Hyun was rock-solid in defence throughout the match and helped keep the pressure on the opposition attackers. The South Korean did let in the attackers on a few occasions but luckily they couldn’t convert. The best player of the match, Gen Shoji did his job on the night expertly. He had one task at hand- to stop Persepolis from scoring; which he did with quiet aplomb. The 25-year-old dealt with Mensha and Alipour quite easily. Yamamoto was solid on the night defensively. A case can be made of his attacing contribution but tonight was all about that Kashima defence. He helped keep the cleansheet which lead to Kashima winning the trophy. Kashima’s best chance of the match fell to Shoma Doi, who should’ve put the tie to bed. He couldn’t unfortunately and the Antlers had to deal with immense pressure late on. Misao provided the extra cover to the Kashima defenders and looked to play the attackers whenever the opportunity arose. The experienced Leo Silva was everywhere for the Antlers on the night. The 32-year-old was running the channels for the J-League side and did his job brilliantly. The bright spark in the Kashima side, Hiroki Abe had a fantastic game. The 19-year-old was absolutely everywhere in attack, dazzling with his skill. However, his biggest contribution was his work ethic as he raced up and down the flank throughout the night. Serginho has been an absolute revelation in the Kashima attack ever since he signed for them. The Brazilian wasn’t up to his usual antics in this game. Another Kashima forward who has been on fire in the AFC Champions League is Yuma Suzuki. The 22-year-old has been lethal in attack and was rightly awarded the MVP award for the tournament. However, he did suffer tonight with his side concentrating on their defensive duties. Anzai was thrown in the game by Oiwa to shake things up and he did his part. Nagaki entered the fray in place of Suzuki to try and find the crucial goal.[SEP]The second leg of the AFC Champions League 2018 final is here. After a stunning victory at home in the first leg, it is clear that Kashima Antlers are the team with a distinct advantage heading into the second leg in Iran. But it won’t be a straightforward and sure shot win for Kashima by any means. Persepolis have been exceptional at home, and haven’t lost a single game at the Azadi Stadium where they play tonight. While the Iranians will be well aware that even one goal by their opponents is capable of killing off any challenge they may have been able to mount, there still remains an air of confidence in the squad. That confidence in Persepolis comes from their manager Branko Ivankovic who has helped the side believe in their chances in this tournament and has brought the best out of his players. But whether that dedication and commitment will be enough for his team to overturn a two goal deficit in front of their home fans is another matter altogether. As mentioned earlier, the Iranians enter this game knowing that if Kashima score even one, they will then need to score four in order to win the AFC Champions League. But we could be in for an attacking display nonetheless from the Tehran giants, with scoring goals the primary target. Persepolis will be without the services of their midfield ace Siamak Nemati after he was sent off during injury time in the first leg. While his absence could shake up the system slightly, we do still think Ivankovic will stick with his trusted 4-4-2 formation: Kashima Antlers will be full of confidence heading into the game tonight, and know that this is their game to lose. A spirited display in the first leg at home took them to victory, and the Brazilian magic of Leo Silva and Serginho bore fruit yet again. Speaking of Serginho, the Brazilian has been in prolific form since joining the J-League giants, and his goals have been the primary reason that the Antlers look so comfortable in the tournament so far. Undoubtedly, he will be the man to look out for up front yet again. It is unlikely that Antlers’ boss Go Oiwa would want to change a winning formula, and with no suspensions or injuries to worry about as such, we think he will line up with the same side that played the first leg:[SEP]The last and final encounter of the AFC Champions League 2018 takes off tonight at the magnificent Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran. The second leg of the grand finale will take place between home side Persepolis FC and J-League heavyweights Kashima Antlers. Both teams have worked their magic on the way to the final, and are well-deserved finalists considering the immense competition in this year’s gruelling tournament. Persepolis have reached the final of the AFC Champions League for the first time in their history, and a historic moment awaits them if they can find a way past the perennial overachievers Kashima Antlers. The first leg of the final was an enthralling battle between the two Asian sides. However, it was the Antlers who emerged with a crucial 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Brazilian pair Leo Silva and Serginho. Heading into the second leg, the J-League side know they possess a distinct advantage. But nothing is clear as day in the game of football, and a partisan crowd awaits the two teams as they enter Azadi Stadium today, and with the Iranian giants desperate to impress at their ‘fortress’, anything is possible. Persepolis are unbeaten at their home in Tehran and know that a very different game from the one in Japan could ensue on this day. Kashima manager Go Oiwa would be smart not to tinker with a winning combination unless an unfortunate injury takes place, while Branko Ivankovic will be forced into a midfield change in his side owing to the injury time red card suffered by Siamak Nemati in the previous leg of the tie. Things didn’t go as planned for Persepolis on that particular evening, but could still end up being dramatically different on this occasion. As for the players to watch out for, Kashima Antlers have some real firepower up front, with Yuma Suzuki ready to run the channels and get into promising positions, but the main man will certainly be Serginho. The Brazilian scored in the first leg, just like he had in previous games for his team, and has proven lethal in front of goal. The forward is gifted in almost every department and adds some much needed South American flair to the Antlers’ style of play. Persepolis pose a threat of their own going forward, and in Ali Alipour, possess a genuine striker capable of coming up with the goods when needed the most. Whether Alipour will have the kind of service and support he needs to score at least two goals remains an unanswered question, but his industry and goal-scoring prowess will most definitely come in handy. After all is said and done tonight, there is no doubt that a contrast of emotions awaits us, and both teams will be hoping that they and their fans end up on the happier end of the spectrum.

Japanese side Kashima Antlers wins 2018 AFC Champions League after winning 2–0 on aggregate against Iranian Persepolis in the final.

Major Israeli operations occurred in the Gaza Strip in the night hours of Sunday during which Palestinian medical sources say at least 6 people have been killed in what was a daring Israeli elite forces raid that breached about 3 kilometers into Palestinian territory. Palestinian officials confirmed an Israeli special forces raid on a group of Hamas commanders in the city of Khan Younis, which the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) say killed suspected Hamas terrorists, including a senior commander in its military wing. Israeli media sources uploaded a military video of the brazen raid into Gaza: Hamas sources say the group returned fire upon Israeli soldiers, resulting in unconfirmed reports circulating that one IDF soldier was either nabbed or killed. Responding to the early reports, the IDF denied that one of its soldiers had either been killed or captured. Hamas meanwhile acknowledged that a top Qassam Brigades commander, Nour Baraka, was killed by Israeli special forces who entered the area by driving what it described as a “civilian vehicle”. Gaza's Interior Ministry reported at least one other Hamas commander killed in the shootout which began when the Israeli commandos ambushed the Hamas location in a drive-by shooting. The Israeli military confirmed that “an exchange of fire broke out during security activities by the IDF in the Gaza Strip region,” but did not elaborate further. Israeli warplanes and drones began striking the Gaza during the raid. Amazingly, after the shootout the Israeli special forces team managed to escape across the border fence as aircraft laid down cover fire, according to the Times of Israel. During the exchange of gunfire communities in southern Israel reported up to multiple rockets fired out of Gaza - one which hit an open field - and claimed further "interceptions by the Iron Dome," according to an Israeli spokesperson. Meanwhile the IDF spokesman took the unusual step of stating "contrary to reports, none of our soldiers were abducted during the operational activity that took place in Gaza" but refused to comment on further claims of casualties circulating after the raid. Currently, the region is on edge as some citizens in southern Israel told Haaretz the exchange of fire “sounded almost like a war.” Multiple rocket sirens were triggered in southern Israel — likely, sporadic fighting will continue to escalate in the aftermath of Sunday nights clashes.[SEP]Israel‘s army is warning of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip after a Hamas commander allegedly was killed in a Gaza raid that also left one Israeli officer dead. READ MORE: Israel allegedly kills Hamas commander, 5 others in planned Gaza raid IDF tweeted Sunday that an IDF officer was killed and an additional IDF officer was “moderately injured” after fire broke out in a special forces’ “operational activity.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cut his trip to Paris for World War I commemorations short to return to Israel after the violence erupted along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip, a spokesperson said. At least seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces on Sunday in the Gaza Strip, medics and sources within the enclave’s dominant Hamas group said. Four of them were militants, including Hamas commander Nour Baraka, according to Hamas. It was unclear if the other fatalities included gunmen. Hamas said the incident began when assailants in a passing car opened fire on a group of its armed men, killing one of its commanders. Hamas gunmen gave chase as the car sped back towards the border with Israel, Hamas said in a statement. During the pursuit, Israeli aircraft fired more than 40 missiles The Israeli military said in a statement that: “During an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Special Forces operational activity in the Gaza Strip, an exchange of fire evolved.” The military also said its defenses intercepted two missile launches from the Gaza Strip. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage on the Israeli side of the frontier. IDF has sent eight identical “Rocket Alerts” on Twitter for the area of Eshkol near the Gaza Strip with a population of 13,600. The alerts say “sirens sounded in the Eshkol Regional Council. Details to follow.” -More to come[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says an officer was killed and another was moderately wounded during an operation in southeast Gaza Strip, involving an exchange of gunfire. The early Monday statement followed a rare late-night burst of violence in which seven Palestinians were also killed. The flare-up came as Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers had appeared to be making progress toward ratcheting down months of border violence. Israel's military later said the operation had ended. Earlier, Hamas' armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said Israeli undercover forces in a civilian vehicle infiltrated 3 kilometers, about 2 miles, into Gaza on Sunday and fatally shot Nour el-Deen Baraka, its local commander in Khan Younis town. It said militants discovered the car and chased it down, prompting Israeli airstrikes that killed "a number of people."[SEP]Israeli forces killed seven Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in a clandestine raid targeting a Hamas commander and air attacks that provided cover for the commandos to escape back into Israel by car. The Israeli incursion and air attacks drew rocket fire from the Hamas-controlled enclave late on Sunday. A senior official of Hamas, the group administering the Gaza Strip, said the Israeli special forces team infiltrated an area near the southern city of Khan Younis in a civilian vehicle. Among those reported killed in the attack was Nour Baraka, a prominent commander of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. A ground operation inside the Gaza Strip is rare and it is likely to up tensions significantly. “We heard that a special Israeli unit went inside Khan Younis and assassinated Nour Baraka and another [commander],” Ghazi Hamad, senior Hamas official, told Al Jazeera. “After [that], the car which carried this special unit or some collaborators, they tried to escape … but they were followed by Hamas and the al-Qassam Brigades and after that Israel tried to cover this car through striking here in Gaza,” he added. “I expect this night in Gaza to not be easy, to not be calm.” Witnesses said during the chase Israeli aircraft fired more than 40 missiles in the area where the incident took place, killing at least four other people. Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, denounced what he called a “cowardly Israeli attack”. Exchange of fire An Israeli soldier was killed in an exchange of fire during the operation, the army said, as tensions rose with the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave. “During an [Israeli] special forces operational activity in the Gaza Strip, an exchange of fire evolved,” the army said in a statement. “At this incident, an IDF officer was killed and an additional officer was moderately injured,” it added, referring to the Israeli army. The army said its soldiers had returned. After the clash erupted, sirens were reported in southern Israel indicating rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Ten launches from Gaza towards Israel were identified and two were intercepted by Israeli missile defences, the army said. It was not immediately clear where the others landed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on an official visit to France, announced he was rushing back to Israel to deal with the crisis. A return by Israel to a policy of targeting individual Hamas commanders – tactics largely abandoned in recent years – could significantly raise tensions along the border. Israel and Palestinian fighters in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008, and recent months of unrest have raised fears of a fourth. Crippling blockade Violence has flared frequently on the frontier since Palestinians began weekly protests on March 30. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have demonstrated along the fence with Israel demanding their right to return to the homes and land their families were expelled from 70 years ago. They are also demanding an end to Israel’s crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of many basic commodities. Since the Great March of Return demonstrations began on March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more wounded by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the fence. Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations have been trying to broker a long-term ceasefire. Mouin Rabbani, a senior fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studies, told Al Jazeera it is clear Sunday’s covert operation was “a premeditated assassination”. “The question that arises is what Israel’s motivations were? Were they, as so often in the past, trying to give Hamas a bloody nose just to remind them that they’re in charge and that they will decide the terms of which any ceasefire is reached? “Are they perhaps by contrast trying to scuttle this ceasefire initiative and perhaps engage in a larger conflict as happened in 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014?” Rabbani said. “My sense is that Israel at this stage is probably more interested in giving Hamas a bloody nose and trying to remind people who is boss and it will be Israel that decides the extent to which the illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip is maintained.” Qatari cash On Friday, Palestinian civil servants began receiving payments after months of sporadic salary disbursements in cash-strapped Gaza, with $15m delivered into the enclave through Israel in suitcases by Qatar. Hamas responded by lowering the intensity of Friday’s border protest. Life under siege – Nafez Adayess: ‘People want to go back to their land’ A total of $90m will be distributed in six monthly instalments, Gaza authorities said, primarily to cover salaries of officials working for Hamas. Qatar has also said it would hand out $100 to each of 50,000 poor families, as well as larger sums to Palestinians wounded in clashes along the Gaza-Israel border. The Gulf emirate has also started buying additional fuel for Gaza’s sole power station, allowing outages to be reduced to their lowest level in years. The payments are part of what is expected to be a set of informal understandings between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu earlier on Sunday defended his decision to allow Qatar to transfer the cash to Gaza despite criticism from within his own government over the move, saying he wanted to avoid a war if it wasn’t necessary. In the occupied West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas angrily accused Israel and the United States of ganging up behind his back to entrench Hamas’ control over Gaza. He also accused Hamas of undermining his goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state that includes all of the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.[SEP]GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed seven Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Sunday in air strikes and an undercover raid that Hamas said targeted one of its commanders and the Israeli military said left one of its officers dead. The Israeli incursion and air attacks drew rocket fire from the Hamas-controlled enclave, with sirens sounding in Israeli communities along the border. The military said its defenses intercepted two of the launches. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage on the Israeli side of the frontier. The violence prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short a visit to Paris, where he had been gathering with world leaders for a World War One commemoration. Hamas said the incident began when assailants in a passing car opened fire on a group of its armed men, killing one of its commanders. Hamas gunmen gave chase as the car sped back towards the border with Israel, Hamas said in a statement. During the pursuit, Israeli aircraft fired more than 40 missiles in the area, according to witnesses. Medics and Hamas officials said at least seven people were killed, four of them militants, including Hamas commander Nour Baraka. It was unclear if the other fatalities included gunmen. The Israeli military said in a statement that: “During an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Special Forces operational activity in the Gaza Strip, an exchange of fire evolved.” One officer was killed and a second was wounded, it said. A return by Israel to a policy of targeting individual Hamas commanders - tactics largely abandoned in recent years - could significantly raise tensions along the border. Violence has flared frequently on the frontier since Palestinians began weekly protests on March 30. Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations have been trying to broker a long-term ceasefire.[SEP]Mourners chant Islamic slogans while carrying the body of Hamas militant commander Nour el-Deen Barakas, who was killed during an Israeli raid late Sunday, during his funeral, at his family house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. Thousands of mourners in the Gaza Strip buried seven Palestinians, including Barakas, killed after an Israeli incursion into the territory, which also killed one Israeli army officer. The cross-border fighting came just days after Israel and Hamas reached indirect deals, backed by Qatar and Egypt, to allow cash and fuel into Gaza. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (Adel Hana)[SEP]Israeli Defense Forces killed at least five civilians and a commander from the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in the illegally blockaded Gaza Strip on Sunday, Palestinian health officials said. Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said six Palestinians were killed. One of the dead was a local commander for Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, a local hospital reported. Six others were wounded. Palestinian security sources said the clash occurred east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. Gaza officials said a group of Hamas members was fired at from a passing car. Local witnesses also said Israeli planes fired over 20 missiles into open areas in the area where the incident took place. The Israeli military said in a brief statement that: "During IDF (Israel Defense Forces) operational activity in the Gaza Strip, an exchange of fire evolved." Sunday's exchange of fire came as Israel and Hamas appeared to be making progress toward an unofficial cease-fire. Israel last week allowed Qatar to deliver $15 million to civil servants working under Hamas, while Hamas scaled back weekly demonstrations along the Israeli border. It was not immediately clear what sparked Sunday's fighting. Shortly after the exchange of fire, air raid sirens sounded in southern Israel, indicating rocket fire from Gaza.[SEP]Jerusalem, Nov 12 (IANS) The Israeli authorities on Monday tightened security measures around the Gaza Strip following clashes that killed an Army official and wounded another, according to the Israeli military. The Gaza Health Ministry said an exchange of fire erupted on Sunday night when Israeli forces claimed they were carrying out a military operation near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, which resulted in the deaths of seven Palestinians aged between 19-37 and left seven others injured, Efe news reported. “During IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) special forces’ operational activity in Gaza, an exchange of fire broke out, during which an IDF officer was killed and an additional IDF officer was moderately injured,” the Israeli Army tweeted. A Hamas military commander was also killed in Israeli forces operation, reports say. Hamas identified the deceased military commander as 37-year-old Nour Baraka of the Qassam Brigades, according to CNN. The IDF said that after the gunfire, 17 missiles were fired from Gaza at the Israeli territory, three of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome. The Israeli authorities, in response, shut down the Israeli railway line from Ashkelon to Sderot as well as schools in the Israeli communities adjacent to Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in Paris along with other world leaders to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I, cut short his visit to return to Israel to assess the situation. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman held an assessment meeting with intelligence and military police officials in Tel Aviv’s IDF headquarters early Monday. Sunday’s escalation came just days after Qatar sent $15 million into Gaza in an attempt to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the coastal enclave and reduce tensions along the Gaza border, which has seen often violent clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters.[SEP]Mourners chant Islamic slogans while carrying the body of Hamas militant commander Nour el-Deen Barakas, who was killed during an Israeli raid late Sunday, during his funeral, at his family house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. Thousands of mourners in the Gaza Strip buried seven Palestinians, including Barakas, killed after an Israeli incursion into the territory, which also killed one Israeli army officer. The cross-border fighting came just days after Israel and Hamas reached indirect deals, backed by Qatar and Egypt, to allow cash and fuel into Gaza. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (Adel Hana)[SEP]Mourners chant Islamic slogans while carrying the body of Hamas militant commander Nour el-Deen Barakas, who was killed during an Israeli raid late Sunday, during his funeral, at his family house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. Thousands of mourners in the Gaza Strip buried seven Palestinians, including Barakas, killed after an Israeli incursion into the territory, which also killed one Israeli army officer. The cross-border fighting came just days after Israel and Hamas reached indirect deals, backed by Qatar and Egypt, to allow cash and fuel into Gaza. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (Adel Hana)

Seven Palestinians, including commander Nour Baraka and three other militants, are killed during a raid by the Israel Defense Forces in the southeastern Gaza Strip, that was supported by air attacks. One IDF officer was killed and another was injured. Over a dozen rockets were subsequently fired from Gaza, three of which were shot down.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron visit the World War I French-British memorial of Thiepval, France Friday. Ludovic Marin, Pool via Reuters PARIS - World leaders gathered in Paris will lead global commemorations on Sunday to mark 100 years since the end of World War I at a time of growing nationalism and diplomatic tensions. Around 70 leaders including US and Russian Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will mark the centenary of the 1918 Armistice in the French capital. British Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth will attend a separate event in London, while New Zealand and Australia are holding their own ceremonies. The Paris commemorations, centered on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe, are set to feature warnings about the modern-day danger of nationalism. "This day is not just about remembering, but should be about a call to action," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday after visiting the forest clearing in eastern France where the Armistice was signed. Merkel will give the opening address alongside UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at a conference called the Paris Peace Forum which will take place after a memorial service on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday morning. Conceived by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Forum is intended to highlight the importance of international institutions in helping resolve conflicts, avert wars and spread prosperity. TENSIONS LURK But despite the show of unity at the Arc de Triomphe, where school children will read out messages written by soldiers in eight languages, tensions are expected to lurk beneath the surface. US President Donald Trump, whose hardline nationalism has badly shaken the Western alliance, arrived in Paris on Friday criticizing host Macron for being "insulting." Trump took umbrage at a recent interview in which Macron talked about the need for a European army and listed the US along with Russia and China as a threat to national security. The "America First" leader, who faced criticism on Saturday for cancelling a trip to an American cemetery because of the rainy weather, will snub the Paris Peace Forum. Other attendees of the memorial service and Forum include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau and Israel's Benyamin Netanyahu, as well as Putin. With far-right nationalist politicians coming to power from Brazil to Italy to Austria, 40-year-old centrist Macron is set to invoke the war to make the case for international cooperation. "We want to make these commemorations a time to reflect on the present, not just the past, so that they have a meaning for us today," an aide to Macron said earlier this week. He will deliver a short speech during Sunday's ceremony, which organizers have made deliberately international and cross-cultural. The French-born Chinese-American cellist Yo-yo Ma will perform, as will West African singer Angelique Kidjo, and a European youth orchestra with a Russian conductor. Some 10,000 police have been drafted in to ensure maximum security in a city repeatedly targeted by jihadists since 2015. Macron is also set to speak later at UN cultural body UNESCO and at the Peace Forum. The Forum is part of the "fightback" against nationalism worldwide, chief organizer Justin Vaisse told AFP as he played down the significance of Trump's decision not to attend. "The aim of the forum is to show that there are lots of forces in the international system -- states, NGOs, foundations, intellectuals, companies -- who believe we need a world of rules, an open world and a multilateral world," he said. OTHER CEREMONIES About 70 current-day nations were involved in the conflict that had six empires and colonial powers at its heart: Austria-Hungary, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the Ottoman Empire. Around 10 million soldiers are generally estimated to have been killed during the fighting and more than double that number wounded overall. Between five and 10 million civilians are estimated to have been killed. In Britain, church bells are set to ring out across the country at 11 am, at the same time as a national remembrance service at the Cenotaph in London. In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will address crowds at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Sunday morning.[SEP]PARIS (AP) — World leaders with the power to make war but a duty to preserve the peace gathered by the dozens Sunday to mark the end of World War I's slaughter 100 years ago, turning Paris in the epicenter of global commemorations that drove home a powerful message: never again. Over 60 heads of state and government were taking part in a solemn ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the mute and powerful symbol of sacrifice to the millions who died from 1914-18. The Paris weather — grey and damp — seemed aptly fitting when remembering a war fought in mud and relentless horror. The commemorations started late, overshooting the centenary of the exact moment when, 100 years earlier at 11 a.m., the eerie silence of peace replaced the thunder of guns on the Western France. As bells marking the armistice hour started ringing out across Paris and in many nations hit by the four years of slaughter, French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders were still on their way to the centennial site at the Arc de Triomphe. Under a sea of black umbrellas, a line of leaders led by Macron and his wife, Brigitte, marched in a stony silence on the cobbles of the Champs-Elysees, after dismounting from their buses. Heads of states and world leaders attend ceremonies at the Arc de Triomphe Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 in Paris. U.S. President Donald Trump arrived separately, in a motorcade that drove past two topless protesters with anti-war slogans on their chests who somehow got through the rows of security and were quickly bundled away by police. The Femen group claimed responsibility. The motorcade of President Donald Trump drives up the Champs Elysees to an Armistice Day Centennial Commemoration at the Arc de Triomphe, Sunday Nov. 11, 2018, in Paris. Last to arrive was Russian President Vladimir Putin. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was positioned in pride of place between Trump and Macron, a powerful symbol of victors and vanquished now standing together, shoulder to shoulder. Overhead, fighter jets ripped through the sky, trailing red, white and blue smoke. French President's Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend ceremonies at the Arc de Triomphe Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 in Paris. The geographical spread of the leaders in attendance showed how the "war to end all wars" left few corners of the earth untouched but which, little more than two decades later, was followed so quickly and catastrophically by the even deadlier World War II. On the other side of the globe, Australia and New Zealand held ceremonies to recall how the war killed and wounded soldiers and civilians in unprecedented numbers and in gruesome new, mechanized ways. Those countries lost tens of thousands of soldiers far away in Europe and, most memorably in the brutal 1915 battle of Gallipoli, in Turkey. In Paris, the jewel that Germany sought to capture in 1914 but which the Allies fought successfully to defend, the armistice commemorations were being followed by the afternoon opening of a peace forum pushed by the host, French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump will be the most notable absentee at the forum, where Macron's defense of multilateralism will take center stage. Trump lives by an "America First" credo, and plans to visit the American cemetery at Suresnes on the outskirts of Paris before heading home. On Saturday, he was criticized for canceling a visit to the Belleau Wood battleground northeast of Paris because of rain. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, right, welcome German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 in Paris. In the four years of fighting, remembered for brutal trench warfare and the first use of gas, France, the British empire, Russia and the United States had the main armies opposing a German-led coalition that also included the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. Almost 10 million soldiers died, sometimes tens of thousands on a single day. The United States came late to the war, in April 1917, but over 1½ years it became a key player in the conflict and tipped the scales for the allies. When the war ended on Nov. 11, 1918, the U.S. armed forces was on the cusp of becoming the major military power in the world. Even though Germany was at the heart of provoking two world wars over the past century, the nation has become a beacon of European and international cooperation since. On Sunday, Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the head of the United Nations, born from the ashes of World War II, and the president of Serbia. It was a Serb teenager, Gavrilo Princip, who assassinated the Austro-Hungarian crown prince in Sarajevo in 1914 to set off events which led to the outbreak of war. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[SEP]Commemorations are underway around the world to mark the moment 100 years ago when the slaughter of World War I finally stopped. France, the epicenter of the first global conflict, was hosting the main international commemoration, pressing home the point that the world mustn't stumble into war again, as it did so quickly and catastrophically with World War II. The more than 60 world leaders scheduled to gather at precisely 11 a.m., a century after the cease-fire, included those with the power to destroy humanity if it ever stumbled into the folly of a World War III. The U.S. and Russian presidents were being joined by an array of leaders whose geographical spread showed how the "war to end all wars" left few corners of the earth untouched. On the other side of the globe, the first countries and territories to see the dawn kicked off the commemorations, pushing for peace with the simple act of recalling how the 1914-1918 war killed and wounded soldiers and civilians in unprecedented numbers and in gruesome new, mechanized ways. Australia and New Zealand lost tens of thousands of people on foreign fields far away in Europe and, most memorably in the brutal 1915 battle of Gallipoli in Turkey. Both commemorated their dead Sunday. In Paris, the jewel that Germany sought to capture in 1914 but which the Allies fought successfully to defend, commemorations were centered around the Arc de Triomphe, where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier represents the sacrifice of all those who gave their lives.[SEP]PARIS (AP) — Commemorations are underway around the world to mark the moment 100 years ago when the slaughter of World War I finally stopped. France, the epicenter of the first global conflict, was hosting the main international commemoration, pressing home the point that the world mustn't stumble into war again, as it did so quickly and catastrophically with World War II The more than 60 world leaders scheduled to gather at precisely 11 a.m., a century after the cease-fire, included those with the power to destroy humanity if it ever stumbled into the folly of a World War III. The U.S. and Russian presidents were being joined by an array of leaders whose geographical spread showed how the "war to end all wars" left few corners of the globe untouched.[SEP]PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron will be joined by some 70 world leaders on Sunday to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice that brought World War One to an end, and to honor the millions of soldiers who died in the conflict. It was at 11.00 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, that the guns fell silent across the western front, heralding the end of a four-year conflict that claimed the lives of 10 million combatants and millions of civilians. One hundred years later, Macron will pay tribute to those soldiers and their families in an address delivered at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe, built by Emperor Napoleon in 1806, where an unknown soldier killed in the Great War is buried. U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are among the dozens of monarchs, heads of state and government due to attend the ceremony, before lunch with Macron at the Elysee Palace. In a rare public display of emotion by the leaders of two world powers, Macron and Merkel held hands on Saturday during a poignant ceremony in the Compiegne Forest, north of Paris, where French and German delegations signed the Armistice that ended the war. Testimonies written by soldiers on Nov. 11, 1918, as the ceasefire took hold, will be read at Sunday’s event by high school students in French, English and German. The conflict was one of the bloodiest in history, reshaping Europe’s politics and demographics. Peace, however, was short-lived and two decades later Nazi Germany invaded its neighbors. On Sunday afternoon, Macron will host the inaugural Paris Peace Forum, which seeks to promote a multilateral approach to security and governance and ultimately avoid the errors that led to the outbreak of World War One. Merkel said in a statement the forum showed that “today there is a will, and I say this on behalf of Germany with full conviction, to do everything to bring a more peaceful order to the world, even though we know we still have much work to do.” Trump, who champions a nationalist ‘America first’ policy, will not attend the forum. The U.S. leader has said he will also not hold a bilateral meeting with Putin in Paris. Trump and Putin are expected to have formal talks later this month when both attend a G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. Should the two leaders chat briefly during Sunday’s events, their body language will be closely scrutinized. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is probing alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and any possible collusion with Trump’s campaign.[SEP]The commemorations started late, overshooting the centenary of the exact moment when, 100 years earlier at 11 a.m., the eerie silence of peace replaced the thunder of guns on the Western France. As bells marking the armistice hour started ringing out across Paris and in many nations hit by the four years of slaughter, French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders were still on their way to the centennial site at the Arc de Triomphe.[SEP]In London, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the first German head of state to place a wreath at the Cenotaph war memorial in central London. He arrived with Prince Charles, who laid the first wreath on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who looked on from a nearby balcony. The wreath that Steinmeier laid at the cenotaph bore the following handwritten message: "Honored to remember side by side/Grateful for reconciliation/Hopeful for a future in peace and friendship." Ahead of the ceremony, the British government said Steinmeier's wreath was laid "in a historic act of reconciliation." Some 70 world leaders gathered at the famous Arc de Triomphe in the French capital to mark 100 years since the end of World War I. Commemorations in Paris had been scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time (1000 UTC), the time that the Armistice signed by the Allies and the Germans on November 11, 1918, went into force. However, the proceedings were slightly delayed, with leaders arriving too late for the exact moment. The large number of countries represented in Paris reflects the widespread nature of a conflict in which an estimated 37 million people, including 10 million soldiers, lost their lives. The city of Paris itself was a key objective in the war, with the Allies fighting successfully against German efforts to capture it in 1914. The solemn ceremony, held in rainy conditions, featured schoolchildren reading moving messages written by soldiers in eight languages, as well as musical performances, including by French-born Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma and West African singer Angelique Kidjo. French President Emmanuel Macron held an address in which he described the joy at the end of the conflict, but also remembered the horrors and millions of dead and wounded. In his speech, he called the nationalism that underlay the war a betrayal of patriotism. He appealed for friendship and dialogue between the nations to create a peaceful future. "The old demons are rising again," Macron said. "We must reaffirm before our peoples our true and huge responsibility: that of passing on to our children the world that previous generations dreamed of." "Together, we can banish the specters of climate change, poverty, hunger, illness, all the inequalities and every ignorance," he added Read more: World War I: Europe and the politics of remembrance The Paris commemorations were preceded by ceremonies in New Zealand, Australia, India, Hong Kong and Myanmar, former British colonies that lost tens of thousands of people sent to fight in the war. Although Sunday's ceremonies celebrate an act that brought a short-lived peace to the world, they are taking place at a time of growing nationalism and international tensions. US President Donald Trump, one of the leaders attending the event, is seen by many as undermining the Western alliance and world bodies such as the UN with his self-declared nationalism. Trump will not be present at the Paris Peace Forum conceived by Macron to highlight the importance of international institutions for global peace and prosperity. The Forum is to be opened with a speech given by German Chancellor Angela Merkel alongside UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Some of those who participated in Sunday's commemorations had relatives who fought in what is often known as the "Great War," and had come a long way to be in Paris, as DW's Bernd Riegert reported. Other attendees of the memorial service and Forum included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump and Putin greeted each other and shook hands at the ceremony, Russian television showed. The gesture comes as relations between their two countries remain strained, among other things because of alleged Russian interference in recent US elections. The US president pointedly did not extend his hand to Trudeau. Earlier this year, Trump described the Canadian premier as "dishonest and weak" amid a dispute over what he alleges are Canada's "unfair" trade practices. As Trump's motorcade made its way up the Champs-Elysees, it was temporarily halted after two topless protesters approached it wearing slogans on their bodies. Police quickly overpowered the protesters, whom the feminist group Femen claimed as its own. Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.[SEP]PARIS (AP) — Traveling from across the world to battlefields where their soldiers fell 100 years ago, victors and vanquished alike marked those sacrifices ahead of Sunday’s Armistice Day and assessed alliances that have been dramatically redrawn since those dark days. A century ago, the entry of U.S. troops into World War I tipped the momentum toward its allies, including France and Britain. On Saturday, even as he began two days of remembrance of the 1914-18 war, U.S. President Donald Trump said his nation bears far too much of the burden to defend the West. A flurry of Armistice-related diplomacy once again turned Paris, the jewel that Germany sought to take in 1914 but which the Allies fought to defend, into the center of global attention Saturday, with dozens of world leaders arriving for solemn commemorations planned Sunday. After an awkward meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump cancelled a visit to the defining battleground of Belleau Wood because of bad weather. Macron set off to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. No separate meeting between Trump and Merkel was planned. Instead, Merkel was marking how her nation’s bloodstained history with France has become a close alliance that is now the driving force behind the European Union. She and Macron were to visit the site where the armistice was signed in a railway carriage in Compiegne, north of Paris. In four years of fighting, remembered for brutal trench warfare and the first use of gas, France, the British empire, Russia and the United States had the main armies opposing a German-led coalition that also included the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. Yet, despite a war that was supposed to end all wars, World War II pitted both sides against each other once again. Across the line that once marked the Western Front, leaders lauded the courage of soldiers who were killed during the unprecedented slaughter, before converging on Paris for a dinner. The armistice entered into force on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, and on Sunday 69 world leaders will mark the centennial of the event at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, underneath the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris. At dawn Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went to Vimy Ridge, the battlefield in northern France where Canada found its sense of self when it defeated German opposition against the odds. Standing amid the white headstones against an ashen sky, Trudeau addressed the fallen, saying what Canada has achieved in the past century has been “a history built on your sacrifice. You stand for the values on which Canada was built.” In southern Belgium’s Mons, Canadians were also lauding George Price, the last Commonwealth soldier to die in the war when he was shot by a German sniper two minutes before the armistice took effect. Trump was looking beyond the tragedy of death and destruction, asking in a tweet: “Is there anything better to celebrate than the end of a war, in particular that one, which was one of the bloodiest and worst of all time?” After his meeting with Macron, Trump had been scheduled to head to the battlefield of Belleau Wood, 90 kilometers (55 miles) northeast of the capital, where U.S. troops had their breakthrough battle by stopping a German push for Paris shortly after entering the war in 1917. The battle of Belleau Wood proved America’s mettle to allies and foes alike, and by the time the war ended U.S. forces were at least an equal to any of the other major armies, which were exhausted and depleted. However, Trump canceled his visit because of bad weather. For more information on World War I, go to The Associated Press' WWI hub.[SEP]PARIS — Travelling from across the world to monuments honouring soldiers who fell 100 years ago, victors and vanquished alike marked those sacrifices Saturday ahead of Armistice Day and assessed alliances that have been redrawn dramatically since the dark days of the First World War. The leaders of former enemies France and Germany, in an intimate gesture that underscored their countries’ current roles as guarantors of peace in Europe, held their heads together at the site north of Paris where the defeated Germans and the Allies signed the agreement that ended the 1914-18 war. After Chancellor Angela Merkel briefly snuggled her head into the neck of French President Emmanuel Macron, the two went inside a replica of the train car where the armistice was reached and put their names in a guestbook. Macron then took Merkel’s hand in his, again highlighting the changes on the continent where two world wars were fought in the 20th century. “Our Europe has been at peace for 73 years. There is no precedent for it, and it is at peace because we willed it and first and foremost, because Germany and France wanted it,” he said. Merkel was equally convinced of the power their friendship exudes. “The will is there, and I say this for Germany with full conviction, to do everything to achieve a more peaceful order in the world even though we know we have very, very much work still ahead of us,” she said. The open show of affection was a welcome antidote for Macron. Earlier Saturday, the French leader had a somewhat awkward meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. As Air Force One landed in Paris on Friday night, Trump wrote on Twitter he had been “very” insulted by comments Macron made in the days before that he considered anti-American. • Canada at its deadliest: The epic war-winning battle you’ve never heard of A century ago, the entry of U.S. troops into World War I tipped the momentum toward its allies, including France and Britain. Even as he embarked on two days of observances for the Nov. 11, 1918 armistice, Trump said the United States now bears far too much of the burden to defend the West. A flurry of Armistice-related diplomacy once again turned Paris, the jewel that Germany sought to take in 1914 but which the Allies successfully fought to defend, into the centre of global attention Saturday as dozens of world leaders arrived in the French capital on the eve of the solemn centennial commemorations. Merkel’s appearance in Compiegne marked how her nation’s bloodstained history with France has become a close alliance that is now the driving force behind the European Union. In the four years of fighting, remembered for brutal trench warfare and the first use of gas, France, the British empire, Russia and the U.S. had the main armies opposing a German-led coalition that also included the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. Yet, despite a war that was supposed to end all wars, the Second World War pitted both sides against each other once again in 1940. Across the line that once marked the Western Front, leaders lauded the courage of soldiers who were killed during the unprecedented slaughter, before converging on Paris for a dinner. The armistice entered into force on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, and on Sunday 69 world leaders will commemorate the centennial of the event at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, underneath the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris. At dawn Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went to Vimy Ridge, the battlefield in northern France where Canada found its sense of self when it defeated German opposition against the odds. Standing amid the white headstones against an ashen sky, Trudeau addressed the fallen, saying what Canada has achieved in the past century has been “a history built on your sacrifice. You stand for the values on which Canada was built.” In southern Belgium’s Mons, Canadians were also lauding George Price, the last Commonwealth soldier to die in the war when he was shot by a German sniper two minutes before the armistice took effect. Trump was looking beyond the tragedy of death and destruction, asking in a tweet: “Is there anything better to celebrate than the end of a war, in particular that one, which was one of the bloodiest and worst of all time?” After his meeting with Macron, Trump had been scheduled to head to the battlefield of Belleau Wood, 90 kilometres (55 miles) northeast of the capital, where U.S. troops had their breakthrough battle by stopping a German push for Paris shortly after entering the war in 1917. The battle of Belleau Wood proved America’s mettle to allies and foes alike, and by the time the war ended U.S. forces were at least an equal to any of the other major armies, which were exhausted and depleted. However, Trump cancelled his visit because of bad weather and immediately came in for criticism. “It’s incredible that a president would travel to France for this significant anniversary — and then remain in his hotel room watching TV rather than pay in person his respects to the Americans who gave their lives in France for the victory gained 100 years ago tomorrow,” David Frum, a speechwriter for former president George W. Bush, tweeted. The White House sent a delegation that included chief of staff John Kelly in Trump’s place. Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national security adviser in the Obama administration, said the White House should have had a fallback plan for the president. “There is always a rain option. Always,” Rhodes said. Trump is scheduled to visit a different U.S. cemetery close to Paris on Sunday.[SEP]A wall of world leaders walked somberly through the centre of Paris today, turning the annual Nov. 11 ceremony in the French capital into a global reminder of the horrors of the First World War and the efforts to prevent it from happening again. Holding black umbrellas, the leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wearing a poppy on his lapel, walked in a cold rain with stoic faces for a ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Church bells rang out as the hour turned to 11 a.m. local time, marking the moment the guns fell silent across Europe a century ago. The more than 60 leaders departed buses and walked a few steps on the Champs-Elysees before taking up their seats beneath the iconic Arc de Triomphe, under which is an eternal flame and tomb of the unknown soldier. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin each joined the group separately once everyone was in their place to start the commemoration of the end to the “War to End All Wars.” Some 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the First World War, and more than 66,000 of them lost their lives. About 172,000 more were injured. Others served behind the front lines, working with locals to aid the war effort. Kareen Rispal, France’s ambassador to Canada, said Trudeau’s appearance at the ceremony — he sat two seats to French President Emmanuel Macron’s right — is a reminder of Canada’s contributions during the First World War that aren’t always recognized. “We as French, we as Europeans — I think we don’t value enough the effort made by the Canadians,” Rispal said in an interview Friday. Macron used his speech Sunday to warn of how fragile peace can be in an age where the tensions that gave rise to four years of bloody battle, costing millions of lives, appear to be festering again. In his speech, he told the assembled masses that the “traces of this war never went away.” “We must reaffirm before our peoples our true and huge responsibility,” he said. Rispal said the theme of peace, and the price needed to keep it, were central not only to the commemoration, but a newly created summit French officials hope to make an annual event. Trudeau will take part in the Paris Peace Forum, as it is being called, on Sunday afternoon in Paris. On Saturday, Trudeau thanked Canadian soldiers past and present for their service when he visited the memorial at Vimy Ridge and walked among the tombstones in a cemetery, some of which had names, others marked with simply “a soldier of the great war.” Veterans and those in the military today carry the legacy of those who fought a century ago in the trenches of the First World War, Trudeau said, honouring the memory of all service members who have paid the ultimate price. “You stand for the values upon which Canada was built, values like democracy, equality, justice and liberty,” Trudeau said. “You risked it all to help the most vulnerable and free the oppressed. You chose to live your life in service of others driven by profound sense of duty and for that, Canadians can never thank you enough.” With files from the Associated Press

Around 70 world leaders in Paris mark the centenary of the 1918 Armistice which ended World War I.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption California wildfires continue to rage The death toll in wildfires sweeping California has risen to 31, with more than 200 people still missing, officials have said. Six more people were confirmed killed in the Camp Fire in the north of the state, taking the toll there to 29. That fire now equals the deadliest on record in California - the 1933 Griffith Park disaster in Los Angeles. In the south, the Woolsey Fire has claimed two lives as it damaged beach resorts including Malibu. An estimated 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to avoid three major blazes in the state. With strengthening winds threatening to spread the flames, California Governor Jerry Brown has urged President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster, a move that would harness more federal emergency funds. The appeal came a day after Mr Trump threatened to cut funding for California, blaming the fires on poor forest management. Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, called the president's comments "reckless and insulting". What is the latest on the Camp Fire? Emergency teams have been sifting through the remains of more than 6,700 homes and businesses burned down in the town of Paradise. The town and surrounding area bore the brunt of the inferno, which started in nearby forest on Thursday. At a news conference late on Sunday, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the bodies of five people had been found in their burned-out homes and a sixth was found inside a vehicle. He said that at least 228 people were still unaccounted for, adding that DNA testing equipment was being sent should it be required to help identify victims. The mayor of Paradise, Jody Jones, gave the BBC an update on the situation in the town. "Most of the residential [area] is gone. I would say 90%," she said. "I had an opportunity to go up there and take a look for myself. Just about everyone I know lost their home." The fire is the most destructive in the state's history and the joint deadliest. It has burned more than 111,000 acres (45,000 hectares) and is nearly 25% contained, fire officials said. "Containment" refers to a physical barrier around a fire that stops it spreading - such as a river, or a shallow, 10ft(3m)-wide trench dug by fire crews. If a fire is 100% contained, this means it has containment lines around its whole perimeter. However - the fire may still burn for days or weeks to follow. Police said suspected looters were arrested in Paradise on Saturday, and may have been trying to impersonate Forest Service workers. What about the Woolsey Fire? The blaze started on Thursday near Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64km) north-west of central Los Angeles. It has consumed at least 85,500 acres and destroyed at least 177 buildings, officials said. It is only 10% contained. The smaller Hill Fire, nearby, has scorched 4,530 acres and is 75% contained. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Fleeing through flames: "I'm so scared right now... so terrified" Looting was also reported in the southern fire area over the weekend. Luxury homes in Malibu and other beach communities are among the properties razed by the flames. Hollywood actor Gerard Butler shared a picture of a charred house on Twitter, writing: "Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California." He thanked firefighters for their "courage, spirit and sacrifice". Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, where the HBO series Westworld is filmed, was also destroyed. On Saturday, firefighters used a respite from strong winds to drop fire retardant in a bid to strengthen firebreaks. But officials warned that winds of up to 70mph (112km/h) are expected over the coming days, meaning fires could spread quickly and unexpectedly. "Winds are already blowing. They are going to blow for the next three days. Your house can be rebuilt but you can't bring your life back," said Los Angeles County fire chief Daryl Osby. Image copyright EPA Image caption Homes and vehicles left in Paradise, Butte County, were all but destroyed by the wildfires Image copyright Reuters Image caption Fire retardant is dropped on to the Woolsey Fire near Malibu Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Woolsey Fire is only 10% contained Image copyright AFP Image caption Luxury beachfront homes in Malibu have been claimed by the fire Why are the fires so bad? Historically, California's "wildfire season" started in summer and ran into early autumn. But experts have warned that the risk is now year-round. The current fires are being blamed on a combination of climate change and weather conditions. Low humidity, warm Santa Ana winds, and dry ground after a rain-free month have produced a prime fire-spreading environment. The state's 40-million-strong population also helps explain the fires' deadliness. That number is almost double what it was in the 1970s, and people are living closer to at-risk forest areas. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Population density has been growing in areas that used to be sparsely inhabited And then there's climate change. Recent years have produced record-breaking temperatures, earlier springs, and less reliable rainfall. Citing the role of a warming climate, Governor Brown declared: "This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal." Musician Neil Young made the same link, writing on his website: "I have lost my home before to a California wildfire, now another." "We are vulnerable because of climate change; the extreme weather events and our extended drought is part of it."[SEP]BUTTE COUNTY (KRON) - Authorities announced Saturday, that 14 additional bodies were recovered in the Camp Fire bringing the death toll to 23. The Butte County Sheriff's Office says investigators discovered 14 more sets of remains, three days after the fire broke out. Some of the victims were found in cars and in houses. The identities of the deceased won't be released until DNA testing is complete. The sheriff's office initially received more than 500 calls from citizens who were unable to reach their loved ones. Authorities confirmed that 70 people who were previously reported missing had been located. Ten of those people were staying in evacuation shelters. The department has reports of 110 people still missing, but the agency is hopeful that more of those missing people will be located and reconnected with loved ones. So far, the wildfire has burned more than 105,000 acres across Butte County with containment still at 20-percent. There are 4,050 fighters on the ground working diligently to save lives and put out the wildfire. The Camp Fire has become the third-deadliest in the state history. WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON: • INTERACTIVE MAP: WHERE IS THE CAMP FIRE BURNING • WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE GUNMAN IN THOUSAND OAKS MASSACRE[SEP]Death toll rises to 31 with 200 missing in California wildfires (BBC) — The death toll in wildfires sweeping California has risen to 31, with more than 200 people still unaccounted for, officials have said. Six more people were confirmed killed in the Camp Fire in the north of the state, taking the toll there to 29. It now equals the deadliest wildfire on record in California – the 1933 Griffith Park disaster in Los Angeles. In the south, the Woolsey Fire has claimed two lives as it damaged beach resorts including Malibu. An estimated 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to avoid three major blazes in the state. With strengthening winds threatening to spread the flames, state Governor Jerry Brown has urged President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster, a move that would harness more federal emergency funds. The appeal came a day after Mr Trump threatened to cut funding for California, blaming the fires on poor forest management. What is the latest on the Camp Fire? Emergency teams have been sifting through the remains of more than 6,700 homes and businesses burned down in the town of Paradise. The town and surrounding area bore the brunt of the inferno, which started in nearby forest on Thursday. At a news conference late on Sunday, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the bodies of five people had been found in their burned-out homes and a sixth was found inside a vehicle. He said that more than 200 people were still unaccounted for. The mayor of Paradise, Jody Jones, gave the BBC an update on the situation in the town. “Most of the residential [area] is gone. I would say 90%,” she said. “I had an opportunity to go up there and take a look for myself. Just about everyone I know lost their home.” The fire is the most destructive in the state’s history and the joint deadliest. It has burned more than 109,000 acres (44,000 hectares) and is nearly 25% contained, fire officials said. What about the Woolsey Fire? The blaze started on Thursday near Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64km) north-west of central Los Angeles. By Sunday it had consumed 83,000 acres and destroyed at least 177 buildings, officials said. It is only 10% contained. The smaller Hill Fire, nearby, has scorched 4,530 acres and is 75% contained. Some looting was reported in the southern fire area over the weekend and police said arrests had been made. Luxury homes in Malibu and other beach communities are among properties that have fallen victim to the flames. Firefighters used a respite from strong winds on Saturday to drop fire retardants to strengthen firebreaks. But officials warned against complacency, with winds of up to 70mph (112km/h) expected over the coming days. They said fires could spread quickly and unexpectedly. “Winds are already blowing. They are going to blow for the next three days. Your house can be rebuilt but you can’t bring your life back,” said Los Angeles County fire chief Daryl Osby. Meteorologist David Gomberg told the Los Angeles Times newspaper that fire tornadoes were possible. What do the politicians say? Governor Brown’s request to President Trump was aimed at bolstering the emergency response to what he called the “catastrophic” nature of the wildfires. “We’re putting everything we’ve got into the fight against these fires and this request ensures communities on the front lines get additional federal aid,” Mr Brown’s letter said. Mr Trump’s response to the fires has been criticised as unsympathetic and ill-informed. On Sunday, during a trip to France, he tweeted: “With proper Forest Management, we can stop the devastation constantly going on in California. Get Smart!” He has previously blamed Californian officials for wildfires and threatened to withhold federal funding. In a tweet on Saturday, he accused state authorities of “gross mismanagement” of forests.[SEP]At least 31 people have been killed in California's deadliest ever wildfires. Most of them were killed in the town of Paradise. More than 200 others are still missing - and thousands of homes have been destroyed.[SEP]LOS ANGELES - The death toll from wildfires ravaging on both ends of California has risen to at least 29, after remains of several more people have been found Sunday. The so-called "Camp Fire" leveled nearly the entire city of Paradise, scorching thousands of homes and leaving its business district in ruins. More than 200 people are still missing after the wildfire decimated the town of about 27,000.[SEP]Death Toll In California Wildfires Climbs To At Least 31 Wildfires continued to tear through Northern and Southern California on Sunday, where firefighters were at the mercy of parched air and increased winds fanning the deadly blazes. At least 31 people have died statewide. Authorities in Northern California said six more bodies were found in the scorched path of the so-called Camp Fire, which earlier was blamed for 23 deaths. Two people have been reported dead in a fire zone of Southern California. As of Sunday night, the Camp Fire was only 25 percent contained at 111,000 acres, the Butte County Fire Department and Cal Fire said in a joint press conference. About 500 miles south of the Camp Fire, the Woolsey fire that's driven at least is now 15 percent contained, according to Cal Fire data. The fire, fueled by whipping Santa Ana winds, has grown marginally to 85,000 acres. As NPR reported on Saturday, investigators in Malibu are looking into the deaths of two people after their bodies were found in"severely burned" inside a vehicle.[SEP]The number of victims due to wildfires sweeping California has risen to 31, while more than 200 people are still missing, according to state officials. Six more people were confirmed killed in the Camp Fire in the north of the state, reaching a death toll there of 29. The fire is now the deadliest in California history, reaching a grim record previously established by the 1933 Griffith Park disaster in Los Angeles. In the south, the Woolsey Fire has claimed two lives as it damaged beach resorts including Malibu. The BBC reports that an estimated 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. Meanwhile, California Governor Jerry Brown has urged President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster, a move that would harness more federal emergency funds. The appeal came a day after Trump argued that the fires were to blame on poor forest management and threatened to cut funding for California. Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Firghters, called the president’s comments “reckless and insulting”. Paradise, California has been the hardest-hit by Camp Fire, the most destructive in the state’s history. It has burned more than 111,000 acres and is nearly 25% contained, according to fire officials. At a news conference on Sunday, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the bodies of five people had been found in their burned-out homes and a sixth was found inside a vehicle. He added that at least 228 people were still unaccounted for. The mayor of Paradise, Jody Jones, told the BBC that nearly 90% of the residential area is gone. “I had an opportunity to go up there and take a look for myself. Just about everyone I know lost their home,” Jones said. According to experts, the current fires are due to a combination of climate change and weather conditions.[SEP]The death toll from the three raging wildfires in California has increased to 31, with more than 300,000 people forced to evacuate from their homes across the US state, according to authorities. Of the 31 victims, 29 died in Northern California’s Camp Fire and two in Southern California’s Woolsey Fire, reports CNN. The Camp fire — the most destructive blaze in the state’s history and largest of the three — has burned 111,000 acres across Northern California and was 25 per cent contained as of Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire. It has virtually burned the town of Paradise to the ground and destroyed an estimated 6,700 buildings, most of which were homes. Cal Fire said that at least 110 people were still missing and the toll could go higher. In Southern California, the Woolsey fire has spread to 83,275 acres and was 10 per cent contained, up from 5 per cent the night before. The smaller Hill Fire covered 4,531 acres and was 75 per cent contained. Together, responsible for the destruction of 179 structures, but another 57,000 were threatened, fire officials said. Firefighters on Sunday managed to contain flareups generated by high winds in Los Angeles County. But officials warned that the dry conditions feeding the fire are expected to continue into the week and gusts would peak at around 40 mph. “Sadly, with these winds, it’s not over yet,” Scott Jalbert, chief of Cal Fire’s San Luis Obispo Unit, said on Sunday. More than 300,000 people have been forced from their homes statewide. The majority of those residents were in Los Angeles County, where 170,000 were evacuated.[SEP]Authorities searched on Monday for more than 200 people unaccounted for in one of the wildfires rampaging through parts of California, voicing concern about a possible rising death toll, with gusty, dry winds expected to fan the flames. The so-called Camp Fire, California’s most destructive on record, had left at least 228 people missing as of early Monday, according to Kory Honea, sheriff of northern California’s Butte County, site of the fire. That fire and one in southern California have killed at least 31 people. Both fires have been whipped up by hot dry winds expected to continue through Tuesday evening, according to officials. The winds were expected to heighten the risk of fresh blazes ignited by scattered embers. More than 224,000 people have been displaced by the fires, officials said. The Camp Fire, 60km north of Sacramento, burned down more than 6,700 homes and businesses in the town of Paradise, more structures than any other wildfire recorded in California. The blaze has probably caused between $2 billion (€1.8 billion) and $4 billion in insured property damage, Morgan Stanley estimated in a report on Monday. The fire had scorched more than 113,000 acres and was 25 per cent contained, officials said on Monday. Its death toll of 29 equals that of the Griffith Park Fire in 1933, the deadliest wildfire on record in California. Speaking on CNN, Mr Honea said that while he held out hope that many people listed as missing would turn up safe, “given what we’ve dealt with so far with casualties as a result of this fire, I have concerns that it [the death toll] will rise”. In southern California, the Woolsey Fire had burned more than 91,000 acres and was 20 per cent contained, officials said. The fire had forced authorities to issue evacuation orders for a quarter of a million people in Ventura and Los Angeles counties and beachside communities including the Malibu beach colony. By Sunday night parts of the two counties were reopened. At least two people have died in the Woolsey Fire, according to officials from the statewide agency Cal Fire, which has more than 3,200 personnel fighting the blaze. The number of people missing in the Woolsey Fire was not immediately available. Many of those allowed to return were left without power or a mobile phone service, even if their homes were spared by the flames. A smaller blaze in southern California, the Hill Fire, was 75 per cent contained and had burned 4,531 acres, officials said. Wind gusts of up to 100km/h were expected in the mountains, valleys and canyons of southern California, raising the possibility of downed power lines and trees. This, in combination with low humidity, was expected to create the perfect conditions for fires to spread. Local residents were despondent over the fire damage. “It’s not the house, because you can rebuild. But it’s what is inside the house. It’s all gone,” Malibu resident Marcella Shirk (82) told KABC-TV. “And that’s what hurts, those kinds of things hurt, because you can’t replace that.” She and her husband lost their house of 41 years and its possessions. The house burned on his 92nd birthday. Governor Jerry Brown, a Democrat, has asked US president Donald Trump to declare a major disaster to bolster the emergency response and help residents recover. Mr Trump, a Republican who has often criticised Democrat-led California on a variety of issues including immigration enforcement, blamed the state government in Twitter comments during the weekend, criticising poor forest management by the state for the infernos. Brian Rice, president of the California Professional Firefighters, called Mr Trump’s statement “ill-timed” given the loss of life and ongoing search for missing people. “You can’t just make a blanket statement,” Mr Rice told MSNBC on Monday, adding that fires and forest management were complicated and that weather also was a major factor. “Right now, what is needed is, really, support,” Mr Rice said.– Reuters[SEP]CALIFORNIA — As deadly wildfires that have claimed at least 31 lives continue to scorch California, officials are trying to help people find hundreds of missing loved ones. Many of the missing are from Butte County, where the most destructive fire in state history is burning. Some 228 people remain unaccounted for in the Camp fire, county Sheriff and Coroner Kory Honea told reporters Sunday evening. Meanwhile, 107 people previously deemed missing have been found, some in shelters, he said. Honea said his office had received more than 550 calls from people looking for missing friends and relatives. The Camp fire—one of the state's deadliest—virtually obliterated the town of Paradise, home to more than 26,000 people. Twenty-nine people have died in the Northern California blaze. Further south, near Los Angeles, the Woolsey fire has claimed two lives. The National Weather Service warned early Monday that "dangerous fire weather" was expected to continue in California. "A tight pressure gradient will keep producing high winds, and very dry air is in place with low relative humidities. This plus the ongoing drought conditions will all create conditions favorable for fire weather," it said. Honea said 10 coroner search and recovery teams were helping with the search for Camp fire victims' remains. Near an evacuation center at the Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley, Sol Bechtold told CNN affiliate KRON that he was looking for his mother, Joanne Caddy, who had been missing since Thursday. Holding a poster of his mother in front of him, Bechtold said it had been a rough few days. "We learned her house was destroyed the other day so don't know what's happened to her -- she's kind of homebound, she doesn't have a car. I need to find my mom -- I'm not giving up hope she's out there," he said. CNN affiliate KTXL reported that many fire victims were still helping others. More than 30 Butte County Sheriff's deputies reported for duty despite losing their homes, the news station reported. Colusa Police Sgt. Jarrod Hughes told KTXL that his Paradise home had been destroyed in the blaze, but that he had donned his uniform and returned to work once he got his son to safety. Hughes has been looking for the missing and dead. "It's my community, it's where I grew up. It's something I absolutely had to do," Hughes said. "There was no question about it. It was get my family to safety so I can get in and get back up there and help everybody else." • Camp Fire: The largest of the trio, the Camp Fire has burned 111,000 acres across Northern California and is 25% contained as of Sunday night, according to Cal Fire. It has destroyed an estimated 6,700 buildings, most of which were homes. • Woolsey and Hill fires: In Southern California, the Woolsey fire had spread to 85,500 acres and was 15% contained Sunday night, up from 5% the night before. The smaller Hill Fire covered 4,531 acres and was 75% contained. Together, the fires are responsible for the destruction of 179 structures, but another 57,000 are threatened, according to fire officials. • Massive evacuations: More than 300,000 people have been forced from their homes statewide. The majority of those residents are in Los Angeles County, where 170,000 were evacuated. Among those to evacuate were some celebrities whose homes have been lost to the fires. The homes of Miley Cyrus, Neil Young, Robin Thicke and Gerard Butler are among those scorched in the Woolsey blaze. Butler posted a photo on Twitter of the charred remains of a Malibu home and thanked firefighters for their courage. Thicke posted a statement on Instagram thanking firefighters and volunteers who "risked their lives trying to save our home." In a post on his official website decrying the impact of climate change, Young said "I have lost my home before to a California wildfire, now another." California Gov. Jerry Brown also lamented the role of climate change in driving the fires. "This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal," Brown said. "The chickens are coming home to roost, this is real here." Resources, including dozens of fire trucks and thousands of firefighters, are pouring in from out of state. Firefighters on Sunday managed to contain flare-ups generated by high winds in canyons along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and Bell Canyon in Ventura County, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said. But officials warned that the dry conditions feeding the fire are expected to continue into the week and new flare-ups are possible. Though the state's drought has eased slightly, it's still abnormally dry, according to CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward. That leaves a lot of dry vegetation to feed fires. Osby urged those in mandatory evacuation zones to leave, warning that they can get in the way of firefighting efforts. "We must remain vigilant and not let our guard down," Osby said. Crews on the scenes of the fires are combing through blackened ruins of homes. The number of dead more than doubled late Saturday, and continued to rise on Sunday. So far, 29 bodies have been recovered in or near Paradise, a town of about 26,000 that's been all but leveled by the Camp fire. Of the six discovered Sunday, five were in homes and one was in a vehicle. On Sunday, officials confirmed that two deaths in Malibu were related to the Woolsey Fire, bringing the statewide death toll to 31. The painstaking process of finding the missing and identifying the dead is challenging, with some of the bodies recovered burned beyond recognition. "In some cases, the only remains we are able to recover are bones or bone fragments," Honea, the Butte County sheriff and coroner, told reporters. "I know that members of the community who are missing loved ones are anxious, and I know that the news of us recovering bodies has to be disconcerting." Many bodies recovered from the Camp Fire were found inside or near homes or in vehicles, officials said. Hours after the fire broke out, residents fleeing Paradise became trapped in gridlock traffic as the fire closed in. Some drivers abandoned their vehicles in the chaos and attempted to escape on foot.

The death toll in the Camp and Woolsey wildfires has risen to 31 with more than 200 people still missing.

U.S. President Donald Trump has suffered a significant bruising, if not a battering, as a result of the midterm elections. This damaging of Trump's brand holds considerable promise, even if not as much as many liberals had hoped for. Indubitably, his stature has been meaningfully diminished, especially with the Democrats controlling the House of Representatives. Of course, all of this is obvious, but for our purposes, the main question is how should the Democrats utilize their newfound powers? Strategically, they should constrain President Trump to modify his agenda on a variety of domestic and foreign policy fronts. To start, he should be compelled to alter his reckless Middle East policy by partnering with Turkey, more thoughtfully criticize Iran, and, most importantly, distance himself from Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who has been described widely as a "loose cannon," "wrecking ball" and "unreliable partner." More specifically, Democrats should use these election results to affect the ongoing investigation into the cruel, macabre and unspeakable murder of Jamal Khashoggi. By taking a Turkish cue, and slowly utilizing the "death by a thousand cuts" strategy, they should unravel Trump's America. In other words, start throwing jabs, even upper-cuts, while being aware there will be no knock-out punch. In this, there is a moment of truth. To begin, the Democrats should ask for the formation of a House committee, specifically to investigate the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. By doing so, a wide range of actions could be taken that would put tremendous pressure on President Trump to do more – as he is so accustomed to tell everyone else. In this regard it would be important to mention that President Trump has already acknowledged his frustration at the "worst cover-up ever" and the changed circumstances that he finds himself in and has responded accordingly. He has stated that a "stronger response" will be forthcoming in the coming days in regards to the Khashoggi murder. Still, that may be his attempt to circumvent the formation of a House committee. He should not be allowed to do that. Among the various pressures that can be applied through the House, it has the authority to call for testimony. Kindly recall that CIA Director Gina Haspel, it has now been unequivocally acknowledged, was privy to all the evidence that the Turks have. This includes every gory and gruesome detail of the purported dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi. In all likelihood, that includes both audio and video of what transpired inside. At the very least, as Bruce Riedel – a former CIA official who now works at the Brookings Institution – Gina Haspel listened to and watched the audio and video which "puts the ball firmly in Washington's court." Moreover, Riedel also mentioned that this could compel U.S. Congress to ask her to testify. "Not only will there be more pressure now from the media but Congress will say, 'Gina, we would love to have you come visit and you can tell us exactly what you heard.'" This, potentially, is earth-shattering and has not done before. Understandably so, since the Republicans previously controlled the House and as such could prevent the formation of any such committee. Now, they can't. And, once a committee is formed or Gina Haspel is asked to testify, under oath, to the exact nature of the evidence she heard and saw, then it all becomes official. That, thereby, compels President Trump to act and is the ultimate the masterstroke. This is a sobering time, and while certainly not a tsunami, it speaks volumes for the push-back against President Trump's divisive identity-politics, right-wing populism, anti-women, anti-immigration and Islamophobic agendas of Trump and his hard-core Republican base. All of that is tearing the U.S. apart, along with several institutional check and balances. Even now, considering the Republicans retain control of the upper chamber, there is still no guarantee that they will not challenge Trump's approach to the Middle East, especially when it comes to Saudi Arabia. Senators Rubio, Graham and Paul have all been demanding more from Trump Administration, especially in the aftermath of Jamal Khashoggi's murder. They have called for harsh measures to be taken against Saudi Arabia, which Trump hitherto has been reluctant to do. Now, his options are limited, and there have even been promptings that Republicans, even in Congress, could "break" with the White House on this issue. The sheer grotesqueness of Jamal Khashoggi's murder demands that an example be made. No one, not even MBS, if conclusively proven to be involved, should be absolved of responsibility. Our collective conscience, the very moral fabric of the international community, is at stake.[SEP]PARIS (Reuters) - Canadian intelligence officers have listened to Turkish recordings of what happened to Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday, adding that he was discussing with allies what next steps should be taken. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed at the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate by a team sent from Riyadh. Saudi authorities have acknowledged that the killing was premeditated, but his body has not been found. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said over the weekend that audio recordings of the killing had been given to the U.S., French, German and British governments. When asked on a visit to Paris whether Canadian intelligence had heard the Turkish recordings, Trudeau said: “Yes”, although he added that had not heard them personally. “Canada’s intelligence agencies have been working very closely on this issue with Turkish intelligence and Canada has been fully briefed on what Turkey had to share,” Trudeau told a news conference. He added that he had also spoken to Erdogan about the issue in Paris over the weekend. Canada is part of the so-called five eyes intelligence network which shares information along with the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Trudeau faces a dilemma as an election approaches over how to clamp down credibly on Riyadh over its human rights record while sparing a $13 billion arms deal with the kingdom. He is under pressure to freeze the contract for armored vehicles built in Canada by U.S.-based General Dynamics (GD.N), although the deal underpins 3,000 jobs in the small city of London, Ontario. Sidestepping a question on whether the recordings could change Ottawa’s relationship with Riyadh and have consequences, Trudeau said he was continuing to talk with allies about the investigation and accountability for those behind the murder. “We are in discussions with our like-minded allies as to the next steps with regard to Saudi Arabia,” Trudeau said. Earlier on Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Paris was not in possession of recordings related to Khashoggi’s killings, apparently contradicting Erdogan’s remarks. “The truth isn’t out yet. We want to know the truth, the circumstances of his death and the identity of the culprits. Then we will take the necessary actions,” Le Drian told France 2 television. “If the Turkish president has information to give us, he must give it to us. For now, I don’t know about it.”[SEP]PARIS — Canada’s spy chief travelled to Turkey at the request of the prime minister and heard a recording of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says. CSIS director David Vigneault “has listened to the audio tapes in question” and provided a briefing to Justin Trudeau and other Canadian officials upon his return, said John Townsend, a spokesman for the intelligence service. Trudeau said Monday in Paris he has not personally heard the recording that Turkish officials have also provided to allies such as the U.S. and Britain in recent days, though he said he had been told about its contents. “Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share,” Trudeau said during a press conference at the Canadian Embassy in Paris. The development is the latest piece of a gradually unfolding investigation into the death that has reverberated through the international community. Khashoggi’s killing last month at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul further strained an already difficult relationship with Canada and renewed public outrage over Ottawa’s $15-billion arms deal with the regime. Canada has joined other countries in applying pressure on Riyadh to provide better answers about what actually happened to the journalist. Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen but a resident of the United States who’s been critical of the Saudi monarchy, was last seen entering the consulate in Turkey on Oct. 2, where he’d gone to get papers to marry his fiancee. His killing has prompted widespread condemnation, including from Trudeau himself, but the prime minister did not say how the recordings have affected his thoughts on repercussions for the Saudis. “We continue to be engaged with our allies on the investigation into accountability for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and we are in discussion with our like-minded allies as to next steps towards Saudi Arabia,” Trudeau said. The shared audio is the latest move by Turkey to maintain international pressure on Saudi Arabia over the killing. Trudeau said he brought the subject up during a recent phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and briefly again when the two met on the weekend in Paris. Trudeau said he “thanked (Erdogan) for his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation.” Also Monday, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt was in Saudi Arabia, where he met King Salman and was expected to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The crown prince is widely suspected of at least having knowledge of the killing, which involved some members of his security entourage. Hunt — the first British minister to visit Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi was killed — said he would press the kingdom to fully co-operate with a Turkish investigation into the writer’s killing. “The international community remain united in horror and outrage at the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi one month ago. It is clearly unacceptable that the full circumstances behind his murder still remain unclear,” Hunt said in a statement ahead of landing in Riyadh. On Sunday U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with the Saudi crown prince on the telephone and “emphasized that the United States will hold all of those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable, and that Saudi Arabia must do the same.” Under mounting pressure, Saudi Arabia has changed its story about the death, first saying Khashoggi walked out of the consulate the day he disappeared but eventually acknowledging he died inside. Saudi Arabia has also recently acknowledged Turkish evidence that showed the slaying was premeditated. Turkey says a 15-member Saudi assassination squad strangled and dismembered Khashoggi at the consulate. Saudi officials characterize the killing as a rogue operation carried out by Saudi agents who exceeded their authority. — With files from The Associated Press[SEP]PARIS (Reuters) - Canadian intelligence officers have listened to Turkish recordings of what happened to Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday, adding that he was discussing with allies what next steps should be taken. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed at the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate by a team sent from Riyadh. Saudi authorities have acknowledged that the killing was premeditated, but his body has not been found. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said over the weekend that audio recordings of the killing had been given to the U.S., French, German and British governments. When asked on a visit to Paris whether Canadian intelligence had heard the Turkish recordings, Trudeau said: “Yes”, although he added that had not heard them personally. “Canada’s intelligence agencies have been working very closely on this issue with Turkish intelligence and Canada has been fully briefed on what Turkey had to share,” Trudeau told a news conference. He added that he had also spoken to Erdogan about the issue in Paris over the weekend. Canada is part of the so-called five eyes intelligence network which shares information along with the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Trudeau faces a dilemma as an election approaches over how to clamp down credibly on Riyadh over its human rights record while sparing a $13 billion arms deal with the kingdom. He is under pressure to freeze the contract for armoured vehicles built in Canada by U.S.-based General Dynamics, although the deal underpins 3,000 jobs in the small city of London, Ontario. Sidestepping a question on whether the recordings could change Ottawa’s relationship with Riyadh and have consequences, Trudeau said he was continuing to talk with allies about the investigation and accountability for those behind the murder. “We are in discussions with our like-minded allies as to the next steps with regard to Saudi Arabia,” Trudeau said. Earlier on Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Paris was not in possession of recordings related to Khashoggi’s killings, apparently contradicting Erdogan’s remarks. “The truth isn’t out yet. We want to know the truth, the circumstances of his death and the identity of the culprits. Then we will take the necessary actions,” Le Drian told France 2 television. “If the Turkish president has information to give us, he must give it to us. For now, I don’t know about it.”[SEP]Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) Recordings related to Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death have been passed on to Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday. Khashoggi was killed after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marriage. Speaking before his departure to Paris for World War I commemorations, Erdogan said: "We passed on the recordings. We gave them to Saudi Arabia, to America, to the Germans, French and the English -- we gave them all." He did not elaborate on what was on the recordings. US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sat next to each other at the dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron Saturday evening in Paris. Erdogan said the killer, or killers, would be known to the 18 suspects identified by Turkish authorities -- including 15 men who arrived from Saudi Arabia shortly before Khashoggi's death. Read More[SEP]Saudi leaders had discussed assassinating enemies of the state long before a Washington Post journalist was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, according to a report in The New York Times. The revelation comes days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey had shared recordings of Jamal Khashoggi's killing with the U.S. and other western nations. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that intelligence officials in his country have listened to the tapes, adding that he had not. "Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share," Trudeau said at a news conference in Paris. He declined to say what the impact of the tapes might be on relations with the kingdom. More: Jamal Khashoggi was strangled, body dismembered, prosecutor says More: Khashoggi’s fiancée asks Trump to ‘ensure justice be served’ The Times, citing three sources close to the discussions, said Saudi intelligence officials close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked a group of businessmen last year about the possibility of using private companies to assassinate Qassim Suleimani, the leader of the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps. The discussions indicate that top Saudi officials have considered assassinations since the beginning of Prince Mohammed’s ascent to power, the Times asserts. Khashoggi disappeared in early October after entering the consulate to obtain documents in preparation for his marriage. Video footage showed Khashoggi entering, but no video ever showed him leaving. For weeks Saudi Arabia denied any knowledge of Khashoggi's fate, saying he had left the consulate alive. His disappearance and subsequent reports that Khashoggi had been tortured and killed drew international outrage. The Saudis ultimately revised the story, saying Khashoggi died after a fight that broke out during his interrogation. The regime said 18 people had been arrested in the incident. Turkish authorities say Khashoggi was strangled to death and his body dismembered soon after he entered the Saudi consulate.[SEP]Saudi leaders had discussed assassinating enemies of the state long before a Washington Post journalist was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, according to a report in The New York Times. The revelation comes days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey had shared recordings of Jamal Khashoggi's killing with the U.S. and other western nations. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that intelligence officials in his country have listened to the tapes, adding that he had not. "Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share," Trudeau said at a news conference in Paris. He declined to say what the impact of the tapes might be on relations with the kingdom. More: Jamal Khashoggi was strangled, body dismembered, prosecutor says More: Khashoggi’s fiancée asks Trump to ‘ensure justice be served’ The Times, citing three sources close to the discussions, said Saudi intelligence officials close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked a group of businessmen last year about the possibility of using private companies to assassinate Qassim Suleimani, the leader of the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps. The discussions indicate that top Saudi officials have considered assassinations since the beginning of Prince Mohammed’s ascent to power, the Times asserts. Khashoggi disappeared in early October after entering the consulate to obtain documents in preparation for his marriage. Video footage showed Khashoggi entering, but no video ever showed him leaving. For weeks Saudi Arabia denied any knowledge of Khashoggi's fate, saying he had left the consulate alive. His disappearance and subsequent reports that Khashoggi had been tortured and killed drew international outrage. The Saudis ultimately revised the story, saying Khashoggi died after a fight that broke out during his interrogation. The regime said 18 people had been arrested in the incident. Turkish authorities say Khashoggi was strangled to death and his body dismembered soon after he entered the Saudi consulate.[SEP]Saudi Arabia has admitted Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Khashoggi - a Saudi writer, US resident and Washington Post columnist - entered the building on October 2 to obtain documentation certifying he had divorced his ex-wife so he could remarry. After weeks of repeated denials that it had anything to do with his disappearance, the kingdom eventually acknowledged that the murder was premeditated. The whereabouts of his body are still unknown. Here are the latest developments: Trump and Macron say Saudi must give details on Khashoggi killing - report US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, agreed on Saturday that Saudi Arabia needs to shed full light on the events surrounding Khashoggi's murder, Reuters news agency reported, citing a French presidency source. The two leaders also said the issue should not be allowed to cause further destabilisation in the Middle East and that it could create an opportunity to find a political resolution to the war in Yemen, the official said. Trump and Macron are in Paris to commemorate the end of World War I. Erdogan: Turkey shared Khashoggi tapes with Saudi, US and others Turkey has given recordings on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia, the United States, Germany, France and Britain, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday. Turkish sources have said previously that authorities have an audio recording purportedly documenting the murder. Speaking before his departure for France to attend commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, Erdogan said Saudi Arabia knows the killer of Jamal Khashoggi is among a group of 15 people who arrived in Turkey one day ahead of the October 2 killing. "We gave the tapes. We gave them to Saudi Arabia, to the United States, Germans, French and British, all of them. They have listened to all the conversations in them. They know,"Erdogan said. Turkish police are ending the search for the journalist's body, but the criminal investigation into the Saudi journalist's murder will continue, sources told Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera has learned on Friday that traces of acid were found at the Saudi consul-general's residence in Istanbul, where the body was believed to be disposed of with use of chemicals. The residence is at walking distance from the Saudi consulate, where Khashoggi was allegedly killed by a team of Saudi officers and officials. Istanbul's chief prosecutor said on October 31 that Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the consulate and that his body was dismembered, in the first official comments on the case. Norway announced on Friday that it was suspending new licenses for arms exports to Saudi Arabia following recent developments in the Gulf kingdom and the situation in Yemen. "We have decided that in the present situation, we will not give new licenses for the export of defence material or multipurpose goods for military use to Saudi Arabia," Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide said in a statement. While Khashoggi's murder was not mentioned, the statement said the decision had been taken following "a broad assessment of recent developments in Saudi Arabia and the unclear situation in Yemen". The announcement came a week after Norway's foreign minister summoned the Saudi ambassador to Oslo to protest Khashoggi's assassination. Germany said last month that it would halt its arms exports to Saudi Arabia until the killing of Khashoggi was explained. Khashoggi's fiancee shocked by reports his body was dissolved Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancee, has expressed "shock and sadness" over reports suggesting that his body may have been dissolved with chemicals. Cengiz said on Twitter late Thursday that Khashoggi's killers had deprived his loved ones of conducting funeral prayers and burying him in the holy city of Medina as he had wished. In a message to The Associated Press on Friday, Cengiz said she has not received any information from officials to confirm the reports. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told a group of American evangelical leaders earlier this month that those responsible for Khashoggi's killing would be punished. He also stressed that the crisis must not shift focus away from Iran's threat to the region and the world, according to the delegation's organiser. In an article posted on Axios, a news website, Barak Ravid of Israel's Channel 10 news quotes Joel Rosenberg as saying bin Salman accused his "enemies" of exploiting Khashoggi's murder, which he called a "heinous act". Axios: MBS met US evangelicals, said Khashoggi's killers would be punished Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told a group of American evangelical leaders on November 1 that those responsible for Khashoggi's killing would be punished but stressed that the crisis must not shift focus away from Iran's threat to the region and the world, according to the delegation's organiser. In an article posted on Axios, a news website, Barak Ravid of Israel's Channel 10 news quotes Joel Rosenberg as saying bin Salman accused his "enemies" of exploiting Khashoggi's murder, which he called a "heinous act". The meeting, which lasted some two hours, was scheduled before the Khashoggi crisis erupted. A source in the Turkish attorney general's office told Al Jazeera that the investigative team found traces of hydrofluoric acid and other chemicals inside a well at the Saudi consul general's home in Istanbul. The source said the killers dissolved the journalist's dismembered body in acid in one of the rooms at Consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi's residence. Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons, reporting from Istanbul, said the residence was searched by Turkish investigators two weeks after the killing. "It would appear, according to the source that during that two week period, acid was used to dispose of the dismembered body of Jamal Khashoggi." Israeli spyware technology may have been used to track down, kill Khashoggi: Snowden Software made by Israeli-based cybersecurity firm NSO Group Technologies may have been used to track down Khashoggi, fugitive US whistle-blower Edward Snowden told an Israeli audience via video conference. Snowden said the phone of one of Khashoggi's friends, Omar Abdulaziz - who lives in exile in Canada - had been infected with NSO's Pegasus spyware. The whistle-blower, who now lives in Russia, said the software allowed Saudis to collect information about Khashoggi through Abdulaziz. "The Saudis, of course, knew that Khashoggi was going to go to the consulate, as he got an appointment. But how did they know his intention and plans?" "[NSO Group] is the worst of the worst in selling these burglary tools, that are being actively used to violate the human rights of dissidents, opposition figures, activists, to some pretty bad players," Snowden said, "but they are not alone." US President Donald Trump has said he will have a "much stronger opinion" on the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi "over the next week". Trump said he is working with the US Congress, Turkey and Saudi Arabia on solving the October 2 killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. "I am forming a very strong opinion," the US president said during a press conference at the White House. Saudi Arabia's king has begun a domestic tour with a first stop in the conservative heartland of Qassim province, where he pardoned prisoners serving time on finance charges and announced 16bn riyals - about $4.27bn - in new projects. This is King Salman's first such tour since he ascended to the throne in 2015 and comes as the kingdom faces international pressure following the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last month. The state-run news agency reported on Wednesday that the government would pay debts of up to 1m riyals, or $267 000, on behalf of each of the pardoned prisoners. CIA chief has seen all evidence in relation to Khashoggi murder - source A Turkish security source has told Al Jazeera that CIA Director Gina Haspel has seen all the evidence related to Khashoggi's killing. The evidence proves the operation was carried out on orders from the highest level of leadership in Saudi Arabia, the source added. Haspel was in Turkey last week to review evidence before briefing US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC. Turkish sources also said that Saudi Arabia would pay "blood money" or compensation to Khashoggi's family and his fiancee. Turkish media have reported that staff at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul tried to dismantle security cameras to help cover up the murder of Khashoggi. The pro-government Sabah newspaper reported that the Saudis tried to rip out the camera inside the consulate on October 2, the day Khashoggi was murdered. They also tried to tamper with cameras at the police security booth outside the building. According to the report, at 01:00 on October 6, a consulate member staff went into the police security post outside the Saudi consulate to access the video system. Sabah reported that the staff member put a digital lock code into the system, which did not dismantle any cameras but rather was intended to prevent access to any videos showing movement at the entrance, including Khashoggi's arrival at the consulate. Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reporting from Istanbul said that their attempt was, in any case, irrelevant because the police had already deciphered the coding and accessed the system, retrieving a copy of the video well ahead of the attempt of tampering. "All of this demonstrates, according to Turkish officials, in terms of the ... whole set of procedures, that there was an effort by the Saudi Arabian consulate to once again tamper with evidence," Simmons said. "This follows a pattern of leaks which demonstrate beyond any doubt, according to the Turks, that the Saudis weren't out to investigate a murder, they were out to cover it up." Khashoggi's sons appeal for return of his body The sons of the slain Saudi journalist issued an appeal for the return of their father's body and said they wanted to return to Saudi Arabia to bury him. In an interview with CNN, Salah and Abdullah Khashoggi said without their father's body, their family is unable to grieve and deal with the emotional burden of their father's death. "It's not a normal situation, it's not a normal death at all. All what we want right now is to bury him in Al-Baqi [cemetery] in Medina [Saudi Arabia] with the rest of his family," Salah Khashoggi said. "I talked about that with the Saudi authorities and I just hope that it happens soon." Salah Khashoggi on October 24 met the crown prince and King Salman in Riyadh to receive condolences along with other Khashoggi family members. Salah departed for Washington a day later, and his CNN interview was his first public comment since then. He said King Salman assured him those involved in Khashoggi's murder would be brought to justice. "We just need to make sure that he rests in peace," Salah Khashoggi said of his father. "Until now, I still can't believe that he's dead. It's not sinking in with me emotionally," he said, adding there had been a lot of "misinformation" about the circumstances of the death. Salah said accusations that his father was a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood organisation were not true. Asked how Khashoggi should be remembered, Salah replied, "As a moderate man who has common values with everyone ... a man who loved his country, who believed so much in it and its potential." "Jamal was never a dissident. He believed in the monarchy, that it is the thing that is keeping the country together. And he believed in the transformation that it is going through." Countries gathered at the UN in Geneva to review Saudi Arabia's rights record as it faces a torrent of international condemnation over Khashoggi's murder. Monday's so-called Universal Periodic Review - which all 193 UN member states must undergo every four years - is likely to also focus on Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen's brutal civil war. Washington, which has long backed the Saudi-led coalition, called last week for an end to air attacks in the country. The Saudi delegation in Geneva will be headed by Bandar Al Aiban, who serves as the head of the country's Human Rights Commission. The delegation will present a report over the country's efforts to live up to its international human rights obligations and will respond to questions and comments from countries around the world on its record. Activists are urging countries not to hold back. "UN member states must end their deafening silence on Saudi Arabia and do their duty of scrutinising the cruelty in the kingdom in order to prevent further outrageous human rights violations in the country and in Yemen," Samah Hadid, Amnesty International's Middle East director of campaigns, said in a statement. "The Saudi government's long-standing repression of critics, exemplified by the extrajudicial execution of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month, has until recently been wilfully ignored by UN member states." A number of countries have already submitted lists of detailed questions for the review, including direct questions from Britain, Austria and Switzerland on the Khashoggi case. Sweden, meanwhile, is planning to ask: "What measures will be taken to improve the respect for the freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?" Click here for all previous updates[SEP]Officials from Saudi Arabia, the United States, Germany, France and Britain have listened to audio recordings related to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey’s president said. In the first public acknowledgement of the existence of tapes of the killing, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also told reporters that Saudi Arabia had to “act fairly” and disclose those responsible for the October 2 killing of The Washington Post journalist to rid itself of “suspicion”. “We gave them the tapes. We gave them to Saudi Arabia, to America, to the Germans, the French, to the British, to all of them,” Mr Erdogan said before departing for Paris to attend ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. “They (Saudi officials) also listened to the conversations and they know. There is no need to distort this. They know for certain who among the 15 is the killer or are the killers,” he said. He was referring to an alleged 15-member assassination squad that Turkey believes was sent to kill Mr Khashoggi at the consulate where he had arrived to obtain papers to marry his Turkish fiancee. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saudi Arabia had to ‘act fairly’ (Ian Langsdon/Pool Photo via AP) CIA director Gina Haspel, who visited Turkey last month for information on the investigation, is reported to have heard the audio recordings of the killing. The existence of the recordings was leaked to the media but never openly confirmed until now. Turkey says Mr Khashoggi, who was critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was strangled and dismembered at the consulate as part of a premeditated killing. Media reports have suggested that his body could have been chemically dissolved. Turkey is seeking the extradition of 18 suspects who have been detained in Saudi Arabia, so they can be put on trial in Turkey. They include the 15 members of the alleged assassination squad. Saudi Arabia had insisted for weeks after Mr Khashoggi disappeared that he had walked out of the consulate, before changing its account to say he died in a brawl. Last month, Saudi Arabia acknowledged that Turkish evidence indicates that Mr Khashoggi’s killing was premeditated, shifting its explanation in an apparent effort to ease international outrage over the death. Saudi officials characterise the killing as a rogue operation carried out by Saudi agents who exceeded their authority. Yet some of those implicated in the killing are close to the crown prince, including a member of the prince’s entourage on foreign trips who was seen at the consulate before Mr Khashoggi’s slaying. Mr Erdogan accused Saudi Arabia’s chief prosecutor, who was sent to Istanbul last month as part of a joint probe, of employing “delaying tactics”. “Saudi Arabia needs to accept that (the killer) is among the 18 and needs to get rid of the suspicion by responding to Turkey’s good will and acting fairly,” Mr Erdogan said.[SEP]Mr Hunt will fly to the Gulf State today to meet King Salman and the Crown Prince - the first minister to do so since Mr Khashoggi’s death - and will urge the Saudi leaders to cooperate with the international investigation into the journalist’s death. The Foreign Secretary commented on the case ahead of his arrival, saying: “The international community remain united in horror and outrage at the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi one month ago. “It is clearly unacceptable that the full circumstances behind his murder still remain unclear. “We encourage the Saudi authorities to cooperate fully with the Turkish investigation into his death, so that we deliver justice for his family and the watching world.” Mr Hunt previously stated that Saudi Arabia’s claims Mr Khashoggi died in a fist fight were “not credible”, and vowed to “act accordingly” in response to the murder. Mr Khasoggi disappeared on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to retrieve official divorce papers which would allow him to marry his fiancée - who was waiting outside the consulate building on the day he went missing. Turkey has since claimed it has recordings of the brutal “ISIS-style” attack which implicate Saudi officials in the journalist’s murder. The recordings were subsequently leaked to Turkish media, shortly before Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said they had also been shared with the US, UK, France and Germany. Mr Erdogan said: “We gave the tapes. We gave them to Saudi Arabia, to the United States, Germans, French and British, all of them.” Mr Hunt is also expected to tackle the issue of the war in Yemen with the Saudi leaders, after the UK has come under increasing pressure to act over the conflict. The Foreign Secretary described the conflict as “incalculable”, and warned that millions of citizens in Yemen face famine and displacement. Commenting on the crisis, he said: “The only solution is now a political decision to set aside arms and pursue peace. “Britain has a unique position, both as pen-holder at the UN Security Council and as a key influencer in the region, so today I am travelling to the Gulf to demand that all sides committee to this process. “We are witnessing a man-made humanitarian catastrophe on our watch: now is the window to make a difference, and to get behind both the UN peace process and current UK efforts in the Security Council.” Mr Hunt will conclude his visit to the Middle East by visiting the United Arab Emirates, where he will bring up the ongoing case of Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old Briton who has been detained in the country since May on accusations of espionage.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that recordings related to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi were issued to Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

BUCHAREST, Romania — Emergency officials in Romania say a 20-year-old stabbed another man and then drove a car into people on a road and at a shopping mall, injuring 10 in total. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening. Braila County Police spokeswoman Laura Dan said the stabbing allegedly happened following an altercation over ownership of the vehicle. Dan says the suspect drove off and allegedly struck two people on a ring road, then later rammed the doors of a shopping mall in the city of Braila. Seven people were injured at the mall, including two children ages 11 and 13. Braila Emergency Hospital spokeswoman Alina Neacsu said the stabbing victim had chest and stomach wounds and underwent surgery. Dan says the suspect had a blood alcohol level of 0.37 mg and was uninjured. Drinking any amount of alcohol and then driving is illegal in Romania.[SEP]Emergency services raced to Bucharest after a 20-year-old man knifed a another man Emergency services raced to Bralia after a 20-year-old man knifed a another man and then drive into people on a street and outside a shopping mall in the city. None of the injuries are life-threatening, police in Romania have confirmed. A police spokeswoman said the stabbing happened following a spat over the ownership of the vehicle. Seven people were injured at the mall, including two children She also said the suspect drove off and struck two people first and then rammed the car into the doors of a shopping mall. Seven people were injured t the mall, including two children aged 11 and 13. Braila Emergency Hospital spokeswoman Alina Neacsu said the victim of the knife attack had wounds to his chest and stomach and underwent surgery.[SEP]BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Emergency officials in Romania say a 20-year-old stabbed another man and then drove a car into people on a road and at a shopping mall, injuring 10 in total. None of… BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Emergency officials in Romania say a 20-year-old stabbed another man and then drove a car into people on a road and at a shopping mall, injuring 10 in total. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening. Braila County Police spokeswoman Laura Dan said the stabbing allegedly happened following an altercation over ownership of the vehicle. Dan says the suspect drove off and allegedly struck two people on a ring road, then later rammed the doors of a shopping mall in the city of Braila. Seven people were injured at the mall, including two children ages 11 and 13. Braila Emergency Hospital spokeswoman Alina Neacsu said the stabbing victim had chest and stomach wounds and underwent surgery. Dan says the suspect had a blood alcohol level of 0.37 mg and was uninjured. Drinking any amount of alcohol and then driving is illegal in Romania. Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.[SEP]BUCHAREST - A Romanian man crashed his car into the front doors of a shopping mall in the Danube river city of Braila on Sunday, injuring seven people including two children, police said. The 20-year-old man from Braila was immobilized by shoppers and arrested within minutes by the local police. The mall's entrance lies on a pedestrian alleyway. All the injured have been admitted to the hospital, with one in severe condition, police said. "He tested so far positive for alcohol, 0.37 milligrams per liter. We are testing him as well for banned substances," Laura Dan, spokeswoman for the Braila county police told Reuters by telephone. Dan said that prior to the shopping mall incident, the man stabbed a villager from a nearby locality after the two had argued over a car deal and consequently he injured another two people on the city's ring road on his way to Braila.[SEP]A man caused panic in the Eastern Romania city of Braila on Sunday afternoon as he drove his car into a group of people in the parking lot of a mall. Everything apparently started from a quarrel the 20-year old man had with another person over a car purchase, according to Digi24.ro. He stabbed the car seller after they didn’t agree on the price and stole the car. He then ran into two pedestrians walking on Braila’s ring road and went into the parking lot of a mall, where he drove into a group of people and then crashed into the mall’s entrance. Ten people were injured in total, including two children. The young man was immobilized by people at the mall as he was incoherently shouting that “blood must be spilled in Romania”. The police arrested him. The breath alcohol test showed the man had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.37 mg per liter. The man was taken to a hospital for blood and urine tests.[SEP]Dan says the suspect drove off and allegedly struck two people on a ring road, then later rammed the doors of a shopping mall in the city of Braila Emergency officials in Romania say a 20-year-old stabbed another man and then drove a car into people on a road and at a shopping mall, injuring 10 in total.' None of the injuries are considered life-threatening. Braila County Police spokeswoman Laura Dan said the stabbing allegedly happened following an altercation over ownership of the vehicle. Dan says the suspect drove off and allegedly struck two people on a ring road, then later rammed the doors of a shopping mall in the city of Braila. Seven people were injured at the mall, including two children ages 11 and 13. Braila Emergency Hospital spokeswoman Alina Neacsu said the stabbing victim had chest and stomach wounds and underwent surgery. Dan says the suspect had a blood alcohol level of 0.37 mg and was uninjured. Drinking any amount of alcohol and then driving is illegal in Romania. Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever[SEP]"He tested so far positive for alcohol, 0.37 milligrammes per litre. We are testing him as well for banned substances," Laura Dan told Reuters. According to emergency service officials, a 20-year-old man stabbed a local resident, took his car, hit at least two people on the ring road, and then rammed the doors of a shopping mall in the Romanian city of Braila, injuring seven people, including two children. The suspect was immobilised by shoppers and a few minutes later arrested by the local police officers. The stabbing victim had chest and stomach wounds and underwent surgery in Braila Emergency Hospital.

Ten people are injured after a man steals a car by stabbing its owner and drives into pedestrians on a sidewalk and at a shopping mall in Brăila, Romania.

Image copyright EPA Image caption The strawberry scare spread across Australia, where supermarkets soon pulled the fruit off shelves A woman has been arrested in Queensland in connection with the "strawberry scare" where sewing needles were found hidden inside fruit. Police said the 50-year-old was arrested on Sunday "following a complex... and extensive investigation". The woman is expected to face unspecified charges on Sunday evening. A nationwide investigation was launched after shocked shoppers first reported the contamination in September. There were over 100 reports of needles being found in strawberries, though many were suspected to be copycat cases or social media stunts. Farmers were forced to dump tonnes of berries, and supermarkets pulled the fruit off sale. The first cases emerged in Queensland, where a man was taken to hospital with stomach pains after eating strawberries. The scare spread to every Australian state and later to New Zealand, raising public alarm. In response, Australia's government raised the maximum prison term for fruit tampering from 10 to 15 years. Prime Minister Scott Morrison vowed to "throw the book" at anyone responsible, saying: "It's not funny, putting the livelihoods of hard-working Australians at risk, and you are scaring children. And you are a coward and a grub." In Queensland, where the strawberry industry is worth A$130m (£72m; $93m) a year, the local government pledged A$1m to support the state's stricken farmers. An A$100,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of perpetrators. The arrested woman, who has not been named, is set to appear in a Brisbane court on Monday.[SEP]A former strawberry farm supervisor retaliated over a workplace grievance by putting needles into the fruit, sparking recalls that devastated the industry in Australia, a court has heard. Magistrate Christine Roney said that while prosecutors were alleging My Ut Trinh was “motivated by spite or revenge” she would not consider granting bail for the woman until the reasons for her actions became clearer. While no injuries were reported from the needles, the crisis escalated to six states and neighbouring New Zealand. Australia’s multimillion-pound strawberry industry suffered major financial losses, with fruit recalled from supermarket shelves and destroyed. Major food distributors in New Zealand removed Australian strawberries from stores. Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker, Drug and Serious Crime Group, is speaking to media this morning following the arrest of a 50-year-old woman in relation to the contamination of strawberries in September of this year – https://t.co/cx1ftWV5tS — Queensland Police (@QldPolice) November 11, 2018 State Crime Command Superintendent Jon Wacker told reporters before the court hearing that 230 incidents were reported nationwide, impacting 68 strawberry brands. The scare was concentrated in Queensland state, where 77 incidents were reported, with 15 of them believed to be hoaxes or false complaints. Trinh, 50, was the first person arrested and has been charged with seven counts of contamination of goods with intent to cause economic loss, and would face up to 10 years in jail if convicted. A Vietnamese refugee who arrived by boat two decades ago and became an Australian citizen, Trinh was working as a supervisor of fruit pickers at the Berrylicious strawberry farm near Caboolture, north of Brisbane, when she allegedly inserted needles into the fruit between September 2 and 5, the court was told. Prosecutor Cheryl Tesch said it would be alleged in court that DNA matching Trinh’s was found on one of the needles discovered in a strawberry. Trinh’s lawyer Michael Cridland withdrew a bail application, but said his client was not an unacceptable flight risk. She was remanded in custody until November 22. A police investigation into the broader crisis is continuing.[SEP]A former strawberry farm supervisor was accused in court Monday of retaliating over a workplace grievance by putting needles into the fruit, sparking recalls that devastated the Australian industry. Magistrate Christine Roney said she would not consider granting bail for the woman until the reasons for her actions became clearer. Prosecutors alleged that My Ut Trinh was "motivated by spite or revenge." While no injuries were reported from the needles, the crisis escalated to six states and neighbouring New Zealand. Australia's multimillion-dollar strawberry industry suffered major financial losses, with fruit recalled from supermarket shelves and destroyed. Major food distributors in New Zealand removed Australian strawberries from stores. Jon Wacker, State Crime Command superintendent, told reporters before the court hearing that 230 incidents were reported across Australia, affecting 68 strawberry brands. The scare was concentrated in Queensland state, where 77 incidents were reported, 15 of which were believed to be hoaxes or false complaints. Trinh, 50, was the first person arrested and has been charged with seven counts of contamination of goods with intent to cause economic loss. She could face up to 10 years in jail if convicted. A Vietnamese refugee who arrived by boat two decades ago and became an Australian citizen, Trinh was working as a supervisor of fruit pickers at the Berrylicious strawberry farm near Caboolture, north of Brisbane, when she allegedly inserted needles into the fruit between Sept. 2 and 5, the court was told. Prosecutor Cheryl Tesch said it would be alleged in court that DNA matching Trinh's was found on one of the needles discovered in a strawberry. Trinh's lawyer, Michael Cridland, withdrew a bail application, but said his client was not an unacceptable flight risk. She was remanded in custody until Nov. 22. Walker said the police investigation into the broader crisis was continuing.[SEP]Police investigating a major Australian strawberry needle contamination scare that sparked nationwide panic on Monday identified a former farm supervisor as their main suspect. Pins and needles were found stuck into the fruit in September, leading supermarkets to pull boxes from shelves across Australia and New Zealand and forcing farmers to dump crops. The sabotage and a rash of suspected hoaxes and copycat attacks also prompted the national government to raise criminal penalties for fruit tampering. My Ut Trinh, 50, who worked at one of the strawberry farms where the tampered produce was grown, was arrested and charged with seven counts of contaminating goods by Queensland state police on Sunday. She faced court on Monday and bail was denied after prosecutors said she could suffer retribution for her alleged actions, The Australian reported. The court was told she was motivated by spite and revenge when she allegedly inserted the needles into the berries in early September, the newspaper added. Earlier, police spoke of the challenges investigators faced as they tried to figure out the source of the contamination. "This has probably been one of the most trying investigations that I've been part of," Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker told reporters in Brisbane. Read: Australia's needles in strawberries crisis has reportedly spread to two more countries Wacker said Trinh, an Australian citizen, "was a supervisor at a farm", with Queensland's Courier Mail identifying her employer as the Berrylicious and Berry Obsession farm - one of the growers at the heart of the scare. He said police collected 230 reports nationwide of strawberry contamination affecting 68 brands, most within his state, with the majority involving sewing needles. Some cases were also found to be "a hoax or a false complaint", Wacker added. Police had earlier questioned at least two minors over suspected hoaxes. The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association welcomed the arrest, but noted the high number of unresolved cases, adding that the seven counts in Trinh's chargesheet suggested that most of the 230 reports were either copycat actions or hoaxes. "It was a crisis driven by social media and the only real victims were the strawberry growers, and to some extent other Australian fruit growers and exporters," the association said in a statement.[SEP]SYDNEY • An Australian court has ordered a 50-year-old farm supervisor charged in a strawberry needle contamination case, which sparked a major food scare, to stay in custody until she next appears in court. The strawberry industry, worth A$160 million (S$159 million), was rocked in September after pins and needles were found to have been stuck into the fruit. Supermarkets pulled boxes from shelves across Australia and New Zealand, forcing farmers to dump crops amid warnings of widespread bankruptcies. Yesterday, police said they had charged the woman, identified as My Ut Trinh in court lists, with seven cases of contamination, the first charges laid in the case. "This has probably been one of the most trying investigations that I have been part of," Mr Jon Wacker, a police official in the largest strawberry-producing region of Queensland, where the crisis was first reported, told reporters. Police said the woman, an Australian citizen, was a former supervisor at a berry farm of one of the brands affected, but did not say which one. Prosecutor Cheryl Tesch opposed bail, citing concerns of witness interference and public retribution, broadcaster ABC said. Trinh's legal representative withdrew a bail application, the Brisbane Magistrates' Court told Reuters. She is to remain in custody before her next appearance on Nov 22, court officials said. She faces jail of up to 10 years in jail if found guilty, after the conservative government toughened sentencing in a bid to contain the crisis. Australia also criminalised hoax claims. Queensland's Courier Mail identified Trinh's employer as the Berry-licious and Berry Obsession farm. The newspaper added that the suspect was believed to have grievances against her employer, and the police case involved discussions she allegedly had with others about seeking revenge. Mr Wacker would not comment on what Trinh's motives may have been, but said investigators had strong evidence, including DNA. He said police collected 230 reports nationwide of strawberry contamination affecting 68 brands, most within his state. Police had earlier questioned at least two minors over suspected hoaxes. Strawberry growers welcomed the charges, but blamed social media for the crisis. "It was a crisis driven by social media and the only real victims were the strawberry growers, and to some extent other Australian fruit growers and exporters," the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association said in a statement. It also noted the high number of unresolved cases, adding that the seven counts in Trinh's charge sheet suggested that most of the 230 reports were either copycat actions or hoaxes. Queensland will set aside A$1 million to help farmers make it through the season, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said.[SEP]My Ut Trinh being driven by police to a secure location. SYDNEY A former farm supervisor has been identified by Queensland state police as the main suspect behind the strawberry needle contamination scare that sparked nationwide panic in Australia. My Ut Trinh, 50, who worked at one of the strawberry farms where the tampered produce was grown, was arrested on Sunday and charged with seven counts of contaminating goods. Pins and needles were found stuck into the fruit in September, leading supermarkets to pull boxes from shelves across Australia and New Zealand and forcing farmers to dump crops. The sabotage and a rash of suspected hoaxes and copycat attacks also prompted the national government to raise criminal penalties for fruit tampering. Trinh was denied bail yesterday after prosecutors said she could suffer retribution for her alleged actions, The Australian reported. The court was told she was motivated by spite and revenge when she allegedly inserted the needles into the berries in early September. Earlier, police spoke of the challenges investigators faced as they tried to figure out the source of the contamination. "This has probably been one of the most trying investigations that I've been part of," Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker told reporters in Brisbane. Supt Wacker said Trinh, an Australian citizen, "was a supervisor at a farm" which Australian papers identified as one of those at the heart of the scare. He said police collected 230 reports nationwide of strawberry contamination affecting 68 brands. Some cases were also found to be hoaxes or false complaints, he added. The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association welcomed the arrest and noted the hoaxes. "It was a crisis driven by social media and the only real victims were the strawberry growers..." the association said in a statement.[SEP]A 50-year-old farm supervisor has been accused of intentionally planting needles in Australian strawberries, and could spend up to 10 years in prison if convicted. In September, the repeated discovery of needles stuck inside grocery store strawberries prompted widespread alarm, caused farmers to dump massive quantities and triggered a nationwide investigation. A spokeswoman for the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association told Australia's ABC broadcaster that police put more than 100 officers on the case. Intelligence agencies also assisted in the "complex investigation," local police say. Now, a woman named My Ut Trinh has been charged with seven counts of contaminating goods. Because the alleged crime was "aggravated," authorities say, the offense carries a possible 10-year prison term instead of the typical maximum of three years. The BBC reports that in total, 186 strawberries with needles were found across the country, including 15 hoaxes; it's not yet clear how many the accused woman was responsible for. One man was hospitalized after swallowing half of a needle. At least two children encountered needles in strawberries but were unharmed. My Ut Trinh is being held without bail. "Ms Trinh worked as a supervisor at the Berry Licious farm, but her lawyer said she did not work picking strawberries or in the packing sheds," ABC reports. "The court heard the woman was allegedly acting out of spite and that it was an act of sabotage." But Trinh's defense attorney argued that the prosecution had not described a specific motive for the contamination. The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association has welcomed the arrest, and called for the alleged strawberry saboteur to be "brought to account to the full extent of the law." But the group also noted that many reports of needles appear to have been copycats or false reports, and said that people making false claims to seek attention or financial reward should also face criminal charges. The needle crisis was financially damaging to the country's strawberry farmers. The industry urged consumers to ensure their safety by cutting up strawberries before eating them, rather than avoid buying them altogether. As ABC notes, some strawberry supporters and farmer fans started a social media campaign — #SmashAStrawb — to share recipes calling for sliced or smushed strawberries, which could be safely consumed.[SEP]Police investigating a major Australian strawberry needle contamination scare that sparked nationwide panic on Monday identified a former farm supervisor as their main suspect. Pins and needles were found stuck into the fruit in September, leading supermarkets to pull boxes from shelves across Australia and New Zealand and forcing farmers to dump crops. The sabotage and a rash of suspected hoaxes and copycat attacks also prompted the national government to raise criminal penalties for fruit tampering. My Ut Trinh, 50, who worked at one of the strawberry farms where the tampered produce was grown, was arrested and charged with seven counts of contaminating goods by Queensland state police on Sunday. "This has probably been one of the most trying investigations that I've been part of," Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker told reporters in Brisbane. Wacker said Trinh, an Australian citizen, "was a supervisor at a farm", with Queensland's Courier Mail identifying her employer as the Berrylicious and Berry Obsession farm - one of the growers at the heart of the scare. The newspaper added that the suspect was believed to have grievances about her employer, and the police case involved discussions she allegedly had with others about seeking revenge. Wacker would not comment on what Trinh's motives may have been, but said investigators had "strong evidence" including DNA. He said police collected 230 reports nationwide of strawberry contamination affecting 68 brands, most within his state, with the majority involving sewing needles. Some cases were also found to be "a hoax or a false complaint", Wacker added. Police had earlier questioned at least two minors over suspected hoaxes. The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association welcomed the arrest, but noted the high number of unresolved cases, adding that the seven counts in Trinh's chargesheet suggested that most of the 230 reports were either copycat actions or hoaxes. "It was a crisis driven by social media and the only real victims were the strawberry growers, and to some extent other Australian fruit growers and exporters," the association said in a statement. A woman has been arrested after a "complex" investigation into an Australian strawberry scare where needles were found stuck into the fruit, police said Sunday, in a crisis that sparked nationwide panic. Queensland state authorities offered a large reward and the national government raised jail terms for such crimes after sewing needles were found in plastic boxes of the fruit sold in supermarkets in September. Since the first case came to light when a man was taken to hospital with stomach pains after consuming strawberries, more than 100 alleged incidents of pins and needles found in fruit, mostly strawberries, were reported in September around the country. One incident was also reported in New Zealand. Police said a 50-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday afternoon "following a complex... and extensive investigation" into the contamination case. "The Queensland Police Service coordinated a national investigative response with multiple government, law enforcement and intelligence agencies," they added in a statement. The woman was set to be charged Sunday evening and appear in court in Brisbane on Monday. Police did not reveal any further details, including what the charges would be or the reasons and motives behind her alleged involvement. The sabotage crisis led supermarkets to pull the fruit from the shelves and saw farmers dump tonnes of the unwanted berry. The government raised the maximum prison sentence for fruit tampering from 10 to 15 years.[SEP]SYDNEY, Australia — Police have made their first arrest in the cases of strawberry sabotage in Australia, in which sewing needles were found in fruit sold in six states. Police in Queensland state say they’ve arrested 50-year-old My Ut Trinh and charged her with seven counts of goods contamination. Detective John Walker of the State Crime Command said she worked in the strawberry industry near the town of Caboolture, north of Brisbane. Brisbane’s Courier Mail newspaper reported she worked as a supervisor of fruit pickers at a strawberry farm. She was due to appear in court Monday. Each count against her carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. No injuries were reported throughout the scare, but Australia’s multimillion-dollar strawberry industry was devastated after recalls of the fruit were ordered. It also spread to New Zealand, where major food distributors took Australian strawberries off supermarket shelves. Walker said 230 incidents were reported nationwide, impacting 68 strawberry brands. The scare was concentrated in Queensland state where 77 incidents were reported, with 15 of them believed to be hoaxes or false complaints. Walker said the investigation was continuing. “This has probably been one of the most trying investigations that I’ve been part of. It’s a fairly unique,” he said.[SEP]SYDNEY: A former farm supervisor was charged in court on Monday (Nov 12) for contaminating strawberries with needles, an episode that spurred one of Australia's biggest food scares. Australia's strawberry industry, worth A$160 million (US$116 million), was rocked in September after nearly 200 complaints were made of sewing needles found in strawberries and other fruits. Several major supermarkets withdrew the fruit as shoppers abandoned purchases, forcing some growers to dump fruit amid warnings of widespread bankruptcies. My Ut Trinh, an Australian citizen who worked at one of the strawberry farms where the tampered produce was grown, was arrested and charged with seven counts of contaminating goods. Local media identified her employer as the Berrylicious and Berry Obsession farm - one of the growers at the heart of the scare. The court was told she was motivated by spite and revenge when she allegedly inserted the needles into the berries in early September, the Australian newspaper reported. She was denied bail after prosecutors said she could suffer retribution for her alleged actions, the report added. "This has probably been one of the most trying investigations that I've been part of," Mr Wacker told reporters in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland state where the contamination crisis was first reported. READ: Woman finds needle in apple following strawberry scare in Australia Trinh faces up to 10 years in jail if found guilty after Australia's conservative government toughened sentencing in a bid to contain the crisis. Mr Wacker said police received 186 complaints of fruit contamination, of which 15 had been found to be hoaxes. Strawberry growers welcomed the charges but blamed social media for the crisis. "It was a crisis driven by social media and the only real victims were the strawberry growers, and to some extent other Australian fruit growers and exporters," the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association said in a statement. READ: Australians urged to #SmashAStrawb in support of local farmers amid needle scandal Queensland, Australia's largest strawberry-producing region, is particularly vulnerable to a sustained downturn in the market. State premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Tuesday her government would set aside A$1 million to help farmers make it through the season.

A 50-year-old former strawberry farm supervisor is arrested in Queensland in connection with 230 reports of sewing needles found hidden in strawberries. The "strawberry scare" spread throughout the country and to New Zealand, and devastated Australia’s multimillion-dollar strawberry industry.

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Congo’s opposition coalition picked businessman and lawmaker Martin Fayulu to be its candidate in a December presidential election, it said in a statement. Fayulu will face President Joseph Kabila’s preferred successor for the ruling party, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadari, in Democratic Republic of Congo’s election on Dec. 23. In power since his father died in 2001, Kabila and the ruling party are unpopular across Congo, especially in the west and the capital Kinshasa, but a weak and divided opposition has so far failed to capitalise on the Congolese’ resentments. Picking a unified candidate at least gives the opposition someone to rally around. Kabila surprised a lot of Congolese when he agreed to step aside in August, which would make December’s election, if it goes ahead, Congo’s first peaceful change of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. An opinion poll in July, before Kabila came out to back Ramazani, showed opposition leaders were favored by about 70 percent of voters, but the ruling party enjoys significant financial and institutional advantages. Several prominent opposition leaders, including former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba and millionaire businessman Moise Katumbi, were barred by authorities from running, decisions the opposition accused of being politically motivated.[SEP]Geneva (AFP) - Seven opposition leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday picked little known lawmaker Martin Fayulu as their joint candidate for key and long delayed presidential elections at the end of December when Joseph Kabila stands down after ruling the country for 18 years. Fayulu, the leader of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development party, will stand against Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a hardline former interior minister backed by Kabila in the December 23 vote, a statement said after three days of gruelling talks in Geneva. The opposition leaders meeting in the Swiss city included two heavyweights in former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba and ex-provincial governor Moise Katumbi. Both have been barred from standing in the election. Three others besides the 61-year-old Fayulu had been authorised to contest the poll: Felix Tshisekedi, head of the long-standing UDPS opposition party; Vital Kamerhe, a former National Assembly speaker; and former finance minister Freddy Matungulu. "I'm sure we will succeed in making our country democratic, free and independent," Fayulu told a news conference after the vote. "I am only a spokesman for the fight for freedom and democracy," he said. The choice was a surprise development with Tshisekedi widely regarded as the front runner before the announcement. The elections are critical for the future of the DRC, a sprawling, mineral-rich country that has never experienced a peaceful transition of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Kabila, 47, has been in power since 2001 at the helm of a regime with a reputation for corruption, incompetence and human rights abuses. His second and final elected term in office ended nearly two years ago, but he stayed in office thanks to a caretaker clause in the constitution. Months of speculation over his intentions, marked by protests that were repressed at a cost of dozens of lives, ended in August when he threw his weight behind Ramazani Shadary. On October 25, opposition parties agreed in Johannesburg to name a joint candidate by November 15. Story continues One of the issues dividing the opposition is the introduction of South Korean electronic voting machines which some say will be used to rig the vote. Fayulu had said he would not contest if these machines were used, in contrast to Tshisekedi who had said he was willing to take part in the vote even if they were. After Sunday's announcement Fayulu -- when questioned about this -- said the opposition would "work relentlessly to seek the scrapping" of the machines. "The battle continues, we want an election without voting machines," he said. The opposition said a rally would be organised soon in Kinshasa to present their candidate.[SEP]Main opposition parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, have chosen Martin Fayulu as their candidate for the long-delayed December 23 elections. The agreement was reached after talks in Geneva under the auspices of the Kofi Annan Foundation. The new coalition is called Lamuka and had seven signatories. Fayulu and four others are among the twenty-one passed to contest in the elections. The two others are banned former vice-president, Jean Pierre Bemba, and former governor of Katanga Province, Moise Katumbi. The other members of the coalition are: Vital Kamerhe (UNC), Freddy Matungulu Mbuyamu (CONGO NAS BISO/SYENCO), Adolphe MUZITO (NOUVEL ELAN) and Felix Tshisekedi (UPDS). “In order to bring this political struggle to a successful conclusion, the Lamuka coalition voted to select Mr. Martin Fayulu Madidi as the common candidate for the presidential election on 23 December 2018,” Freddy Matungulu, a coalition member told reporters after the declaration. Fayulu, who turns 62 on 21 November, is the president of the opposition party Commitment for Citizenship and Development. His appointment, greeted by applause and shouts of joy from some of the Congolese present. Others expressed surprised because Félix Tshisekedi, president of the historic opposition party (UDPS) seemed to be the likely candidate. Fayulu becomes the main opposition candidate to face the ruling party’s candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a former interior minister. He was picked in August after outgoing president Joseph Kabila confirmed that he was not going to seek a third term.[SEP]It is surprise and surprise in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as seven opposition leaders on Sunday picked little known lawmaker Martin Fayulu as their joint candidate for the country’s long delayed presidential elections which would be held in December. The opposition leaders meeting in the Swiss city of Geneva in fact included two top figures Jean-Pierre Bemba and ex-provincial governor Moise Katumbi. But both have been barred from standing in the election. So, who is Martin Fayulu and what led to his emergence as the opposition’s joint candidate? Africanews Nyasha Mutizwa and Brice Kinhou tell us in this report.[SEP]KINSHASA: Congo's opposition coalition picked businessman and lawmaker Martin Fayulu to be its candidate in a December presidential election, it said in a statement. Fayulu will face off against President Joseph Kabila's preferred successor for the ruling party, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadari, in Democratic Republic of Congo's election on Dec. 23.[SEP]KINSHASA (Reuters) - Congo's opposition coalition picked businessman and lawmaker Martin Fayulu to be its candidate in a December presidential election, it said in a statement. Fayulu will face off against President Joseph Kabila's preferred successor for the ruling party, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadari, in Democratic Republic of Congo's election on Dec. 23. This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.[SEP]KINSHASA, Congo — Members of two of Congo's leading opposition parties say they do not back a presidential candidate who was chosen by a coalition. Opposition leaders gathering in Geneva had chosen Martin Fayulu Madidi to face off against the candidate chosen by longtime President Joseph Kabila's party. However, the UDPS and UNC parties said Monday they rejected Fayulu as their standard bearer. The statement called the Geneva talks "a joke" and the UDPS called on their president Felix Tshisekedi to withdraw his signature. Tshisekedi, who was among the four candidates considered, is the son of Congo's late opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi. The opposition parties have said they would back a single candidate to try to defeat ruling party presidential candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. Kabila, in power since 2001, is not running.[SEP]Seven opposition leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday picked little known lawmaker Martin Fayulu as their joint candidate for key and long delayed presidential elections at the end of December when longstanding ruler Joseph Kabila stands down. Fayulu, the leader of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development party, will stand against Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a hardline former interior minister backed by Kabila in the December 23 vote, a statement said after three days of gruelling talks in Geneva. The opposition leaders meeting in the Swiss city included two heavyweights in former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba and ex-provincial governor Moise Katumbi. Both have been barred from standing in the election. Three others besides the 61-year-old Fayulu had been authorised to contest the poll: Felix Tshisekedi, head of the long-standing UDPS opposition party; Vital Kamerhe, a former National Assembly speaker; and former finance minister Freddy Matungulu. "I'm sure we will succeed in making our country democratic, free and independent," Fayulu told a news conference after the vote. The elections are critical for the future of the DRC, a sprawling, mineral-rich country that has never experienced a peaceful transition of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Kabila, 47, has been in power since 2001 at the helm of a regime with a reputation for corruption, incompetence and human rights abuses. His second and final elected term in office ended nearly two years ago, but he stayed in office thanks to a caretaker clause in the constitution. Months of speculation over his intentions, marked by protests that were repressed at a cost of dozens of lives, ended in August when he threw his weight behind Ramazani Shadary. On October 25, opposition parties agreed in Johannesburg to name a joint candidate by November 15.[SEP]A Congolese lawmaker Martin Fayulu has been announced as the sole opposition candidate for the December 23 presidential election in the country. This is the choice of the seven main leaders of the opposition after three days of negotiations in Geneva, facilitated by the Kofi Annan Foundation. We spoke with Tshitenge Lubabu a Congolese political analyst to hear some perspectives on the choice of a little known lawmaker as the candidate of the opposition.[SEP]The Democratic Republic of Congo's ruling party on Monday acknowledged the opposition's choice of a little-known lawmaker to run for next month's key presidential elections but wondered if he would have enough time to prepare. Following three days of talks in Geneva to bridge rifts, seven opposition leaders on Sunday picked Martin Fayulu as their joint candidate for the December 23 ballot to replace President Joseph Kabila after 18 years. "President Kabila's majority takes note of the nomination of MP Martin Fayulu as the joint candidate by a fringe group of the opposition," said Tunda ya Kasende, deputy secretary general of the ruling PPRD. "I wonder if they will have time to prepare to face our candidate who has a team which has been working for many months," he remarked, saying the PPRD was "not worried" by the choice of Fayulu. The elections are critical for the future of DRC, a sprawling, mineral-rich country that has never experienced a peaceful transition of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Fayulu was one of four opposition candidates who had been authorised by the country's election body to run in the elections but the various opposition groups had decided to try and pool their efforts by agreeing on one candidate. The choice was a surprise as Felix Tshisekedi, who heads the UDPS which for years has been the main opposition party, had widely been seen as the front-runner. UDPS secretary general Jean-Marc Kabund said he would address the party about the issue later on Monday. Fayulu will run at the head of a new opposition coalition called "Lamuka" -- which means "wake up" in both Lingala and Swahili. He will stand against Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a hardliner and former interior minister who is backed by Kabila. The 61-year-old MP, whose Engagement for Citizenship and Development party holds just three seats in the National Assembly, has been at the forefront protest marches opposing Kabila's efforts to remain in power beyond his constitutional term. A former oil executive who was educated in the United States and France, Fayulu has also emerged as a strident critic of voting machines -- one of the issues dividing the opposition, with critics saying they would leave the ballot open to fraud. He has threatened to pull out of the race if the South Korean-made electronic devices are brought in for the vote, while Tshisekedi had said he would run whether the machines are used or not. The issue may have tilted the selection in Fayulu's favour. Following Sunday's announcement, he vowed to "work relentlessly" for them to be scrapped.

The opposition coalition chooses lawmaker Martin Fayulu, leader of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development party, as its joint presidential candidate.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas says it will fire rockets at Israeli towns of Beersheba, Ashdod if Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continue.[SEP]Qatar pays Gaza salaries to ease tensions; Israel says money not for Hamas GAZA: A $15 million Qatari cash infusion was paid out to impoverished Palestinian civil servants in the Gaza Strip on Friday, offering Hamas a potential domestic reprieve though Israel said the money would not go to the dominant Islamist group. Hamas’s political rival based in the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has slashed Gaza budgets, beggaring tens of thousands of government employees. That has helped stoke a half-year of bloody protests and occasional shelling exchanges across the border of Gaza, which Israel keeps under blockade. Palestinian sources said the Qatari payout, received on Thursday, was the first of a total of $90 million that would come into Gaza over the next six months with Israeli approval. Israel had previously agreed to the gas-rich Gulf Arab state donating materials for civilian construction projects or fuel, worried that more fungible cash donations could reach Hamas, against which it has fought three wars in a decade. “One day, I have no money to get food or medicine for my children - and now I will buy them food, medicine and clothes,” said Wael Abu Assi, a traffic policeman, outside a Gaza City post office where people queued to draw their salaries. Branded a terrorist group in the West, Hamas has been under years of embargo by Israel and neighboring Egypt. Hamas leaders said in the past they had received funds from other countries including Iran. Observers for Qatar were present at all 12 post offices across Gaza to monitor the salary disbursements. Employees had to present their identity card and be finger-printed. Doha’s donations, as well as U.N.-Egyptian truce mediation and winter rains, have tamped down the violence at the border, where Gaza medics say Israeli army fire has killed more than 220 Palestinians since the protests began on March 30 to demand rights to lands lost to Israel in the 1948 war of its creation. Israel, which says its lethal force prevents armed infiltrations, has had a soldier killed by a Gaza sniper and tracts of forest and farmland burned in brushfires set by incendiary material flown over on kites or helium balloons. On Friday, the Israeli army shot dead a Palestinian and wounded 37 other on the border, Gaza medics said. The military said troops faced some 10,000 Palestinians protesters, some of whom threw grenades. Earlier, Qatar’s point-man for Gaza relief efforts, Mohammed Al-Emadi, visited a site near the border fence. “Long live Qatar!” shouted some of the Palestinian youths there. “Long live Gaza!” he replied. But as the diplomat’s convoy departed, some youths threw stones that smashed a window on his bodyguards’ car - suggesting not all Palestinians were pleased with Qatar’s intervention. Al-Emadi’s car was unscathed. “They told me they don’t have money for me,” one employee told Reuters on condition that he would not be named. “Maybe Israel vetoed my name?” Officials from Hamas, Qatar and Israel have been largely silent about the details of the Gaza payouts arrangement. But a member of right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet played down their significance. “This is not money that is going to Hamas activities. It is money that is going to the salaries of civil servants, in an orderly, organized manner,” Environment Minister Zeev Elkin told Tel Aviv radio station 102 FM. Prince Charles says he won’t be a meddling king Elkin accused Abbas, whose peace talks with Netanyahu stalled in 2014 and who is boycotting the United States because of its pro-Israel policies, of cutting salaries to “inflame Gaza, because he has not been successful on other fronts”. “The Qataris came along and said: ‘We are willing to pay this instead of Abu Mazen (Abbas), in order to calm Gaza down’. What does it matter who pays it?” Elkin said. Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the executive committee of the Abbas-led Palestine Liberation Organization, criticized the move. “Arrangements through Qatar and elsewhere prolong the crisis of Palestinian division,” Abu Youssef told Reuters.[SEP]Gaza-based Hamas terrorists sent 300 rockets into Israel Monday, bringing about a major Israeli Defense Forces strike in Gaza. Hamas “has crossed a red line,” said Israeli Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rukun, who said Israel would “continue to respond with an iron fist against all terrorist activity or rocket fire.” Israel said it intercepted 70 of the rockets. TRENDING: Here Are 12 Potential Trump Nominees for the Newly Vacated Attorney General Position The full extent of Israeli casualties was unclear early Tuesday. The Jerusalem Post indicated in a running summary of the attacks and the Israeli response that at least one man was killed and close to 100 were wounded, many from the community of Ashkelon. Other accounts put the overall total number of injured between 10 and 20. In what appeared to be a separate attack, a mortar shell hit a bus in which Israel Defense Force personnel had been riding. Six people were injured, including a 19-year-old who was listed in critical condition, Fox News reported. The latest round of violence was triggered Sunday when a firefight broke out in Gaza between Israeli soldiers and Hamas fighters. “The aim of the operation was not to abduct or to kill a Hamas operative,” said IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus. He said that once the Israeli force met trouble, it “acted swiftly, professionally, was able to defend itself, exfiltrate in a very professional manner, making sure that all soldiers got back to Israel, that none were left behind.” Hamas, however, claimed that Israeli undercover troops slipped two miles into Gaza killed and killed Nour el-Deen Baraka, a commander of the group’s military wing. Five Hamas soldiers and one Israeli solder were killed Sunday. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks, which began at sunset local time on Monday. RELATED: Israeli Ambassador Sets the Record Straight When CNN Pulls Trump into Pittsburgh Shooting In retaliation, Israel hit a wide range of targets, including the Al-Aqsa TV station. The BBC reported that three Palestinians were killed. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the attack on the station an act of “barbaric aggression,” according to The New York Times. “It contributes to Hamas’ military actions, including by providing operational messaging to militants, directing and explicitly calling for terror activities against Israel, and providing guidance on how to carry out such terror activities,” the IDF said in a statement. Israeli Cabinet minister Michael Oren said Israel “will do whatever it takes” to defend itself, according to U.S. News and World Report. “We expect the world to stand with us,” he said. The EU’s ambassador to Israel, Emanuele Giaufret, begged for an end to “indiscriminate” rocket fire targeting civilians. “Everyone must step back from the brink,” he said. Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, called for the world body to condemn Hamas. “After a day of rocket barrages, there is no room for any other definition of Hamas except that of terrorist organization. To the world it presents its civilians as victims, but then uses them as human shields,” Danon wrote. “Israel cooperated with all international bodies, including the UN, but the aggressive escalation from Gaza indicates that there are elements pushing for another round of violence that will cause destruction and losses within the Gaza Strip,” he wrote. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.[SEP]Israel's military said it was carrying out air strikes "throughout the Gaza Strip" on Monday after rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave towards its territory. A number of rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, AFP journalists said, while Israel's army said an Israeli bus was hit by fire from the Palestinian enclave. It was not clear if there were injuries. The flare-up follows a clash that erupted during an Israeli special forces operation in the Gaza Strip late Sunday that killed eight people. Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, had vowed revenge.[SEP]GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian militants on Monday carried out their most intensive shelling of Israel since the 2014 Gaza war in retaliation for a botched cross-border commando raid, drawing Israeli air strikes against Hamas’ television station and other targets. The flare-up, in which three Palestinian gunmen and a civilian in Israel were killed, threatened to derail efforts by the United Nations, Egypt and Qatar to broker a long-term truce and head off another major conflict in the impoverished enclave. Hamas, Gaza’s dominant Islamist movement, and other armed factions launched more than 300 rockets or mortar bombs across the border after carrying out a surprise guided-missile attack on a bus that wounded an Israeli soldier, the military said. Sirens in southern Israeli towns and the port of Ashkelon sent residents rushing to bomb shelters. Several homes were hit. Israel responded with dozens of air strikes against Gaza buildings including a Hamas intelligence compound and the Al-Aqsa Television studios, whose employees had received advance warnings from the military to evacuate. Egypt urged Israel to back down. The United States, whose peace mediation has been stalled since 2014, condemned Hamas. “The escalation in the past 24 hours is EXTREMELY dangerous and reckless,” tweeted Nickolay Mladenov, a U.N. Middle East envoy. “Rockets must STOP, restraint must be shown by all!” Violence has simmered since Palestinians launched weekly border protests on March 30 to demand the easing of a blockade on Gaza and rights to lands lost in the 1948 war of Israel’s founding. Israeli troops have killed more that 220 Palestinians during the confrontations, which have included border breaches. A Qatari cash infusion of $15 million last week appeared to dampen Gazan anger. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped to reach an “arrangement” to avoid another Gaza war and ease Palestinian economic hardship. But hours later, a botched incursion by undercover Israeli troops in Gaza led to fighting that killed a Hamas commander, six other Palestinian militants and an Israeli colonel. “In response to yesterday’s crime, the joint command of Palestinian factions announce the beginning of bombardment of the enemy’s settlements with scores of rockets,” Hamas said in a statement on Monday. In an apparent attempt to defuse tensions, Israel’s military spokesman said the special forces had not been dispatched to assassinate Hamas commanders, a tactic that led to wider conflict in the past and which has largely been abandoned. Israeli media reports suggested the raid was mounted to gather intelligence. Hamas, which is branded a terrorist group in the West, and Israel have fought three wars in the last decade and neither side appeared keen to precipitate another full-on conflict. On Monday, Palestinian factions placed the onus on Israel to cease fire, saying they were prepared to increase the range of rocket fire for as long as the air barrage on Gaza persisted. But the Israelis, jarred by dozens of civilian casualties in their border communities, appeared set on deterring Hamas. Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis, Israel’s military spokesman, said Hamas was “leading Gaza to ruin” and that Israeli attacks on it would “intensify to the degree required”.[SEP]The latest on a fresh wave of fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip (all times local): Hamas' militant wing says undercover Israeli forces drove a civilian vehicle into the Gaza Strip and shot dead one of the group's commanders. Hamas was providing details on a sudden, late-night burst of violence between Israel and Gaza militants Sunday that came just as the sides were taking steps that appeared to be toning down months of fighting. In a statement late Sunday, Hamas says militants chased the car down, which prompted Israeli airstrikes that led to the deaths of at least five militants. The Israeli military said only that there had been an exchange of fire during operational activity. It said that its rocket defense system intercepted two launches from the Gaza Strip and that air raid sirens were sounding in southern Israel. A spokesman for Israel's Airport's Authority says some flight landings and departures have been changed at the country's international airport amid a new spasm of violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Ofer Lefler said Sunday that the runway changes were made after the fighting began. He says they would not affect the flight schedule. It was not immediately clear what sparked Sunday's fighting. Shortly after the exchange of fire, air raid sirens sounded in southern Israel, indicating rocket fire from Gaza. Gaza militants have rockets capable of reaching into the Israeli heartland, where Ben-Gurion International Airport is located. Sunday's exchange of fire came as Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers appeared to be making progress toward an unofficial cease-fire. Palestinian health officials in the Gaza Strip say six militants have been killed and six have been wounded by Israeli fire in a sudden, late-night burst of fighting. Sunday's exchange of fire came as Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers appeared to be making progress toward an unofficial cease-fire. Israel last week allowed Qatar to deliver $15 million to Hamas, while Hamas scaled back its weekly demonstration along the Israeli border. It was not immediately clear what sparked Sunday's fighting. Shortly after the exchange of fire, air raid sirens sounded in southern Israel, indicating rocket fire from Gaza.[SEP]ASHKELON, Israel — Loren Amar was watching TV with her father around midnight when an air-raid siren warning of incoming rocket fire blared through their working-class neighborhood in southern Israel. Their old apartment had no in-house shelter, so they huddled in the stairway just before a rocket from Gaza slammed into the building next-door, sending shrapnel and debris flying into their bedrooms — and the 29-year-old Amar to the hospital with shock symptoms. "The walls shook and the hallway filled with white smoke. It felt like an earthquake," she recalled Tuesday, a hospital identity tag still wrapped around her wrist. "The electricity went out and we didn't know whether to go up or down. I was hysterical." It was the first lethal rocket attack from Gaza in years, and yet the only fatality was a Palestinian laborer from the West Bank. Two Israeli women were critically wounded. In just 24 hours, Gaza militants fired more than 450 rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel, the most serious escalation since a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2014. Israel responded with a wave of airstrikes it said targeted militants. Residents angrily demanded the government restore calm for good, even if that means another war. Yet many people wearily expressed a sense of helplessness, as successive governments fail to come up with an effective policy to bring quiet to the Israel-Gaza frontier. Hamas militants seized Gaza in 2007, triggering an Israeli-Egyptian border blockade that has choked the territory of 2 million people. Israel refuses to lift the blockade unless Hamas disarms, a demand the militants refuse. The volatile standoff has produced repeated rounds of violence, including indiscriminate Gaza rocket fire at Israeli border towns. Word late Tuesday that Gaza militants agreed to a cease-fire was unlikely to sway people's minds that there is no long-term solution to the Gaza conundrum. "I don't know how you stop this thing. Nothing helps. Whatever you do it always comes back," said Shlomit Hayat, 38. She noted that the deadly violence came just days after Israel allowed Qatar to deliver $15 million in cash to Gaza to alleviate its economic hardship and after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he'd do everything he can to prevent an "unnecessary" war. The latest fighting was triggered by a botched Israeli raid into Gaza on Sunday that set off clashes resulting in the deaths of seven Palestinian militants, including a local Hamas commander, and a senior Israeli military officer. Palestinian militant groups said the rocket barrage was a message to Israel that such incursions have a cost. Gazans have similar fears when fighting breaks out. While Israel says it has confined its airstrikes to military targets, hundreds of Palestinian civilians have been killed in the three previous wars. For many in Gaza, the latest outbreak of fighting brought back fears that no place is truly safe in the densely populated territory. On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike destroyed a six-story residential building in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City that housed a kindergarten on its ground floor. Israel said the building was used by Hamas for military purposes — a charge denied by residents. "All the people here are civilians, children and families," said Mamdouh al-Shurafa, a building resident. "When we are bombed in the middle of the city, where can we go?" Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the group seized Gaza from the internationally-backed Palestinian Authority in 2007. In the most recent war, over 2,200 Palestinians were killed, more than half of them civilians, and tens of thousands were left homeless. Seventy-three people, most of them soldiers, were killed on the Israeli side. Israel's Iron Dome rocket-defense system and advanced warning networks have provided a large degree of protection from the rockets, which killed some 30 civilians in the decade prior to the 2014 war. Casualties have dropped considerably since then and a proliferation of rocket-proof safe rooms in newer buildings has allowed many Israelis to feel much safer in their own homes. But this week's onslaught showed the system is not foolproof. The overnight rocket that slipped through penetrated the roof of a four-story apartment building, leaving the entire structure pockmarked, its windows blown out and the balcony shutters hanging limply. Emergency forces evacuated a critically wounded woman to hospital. Only an hour later, a neighbor sifting through the rubble discovered the other wounded woman and the dead man. "I heard a murmur and then I saw a hand reach out," said Shlomi Lankry. Relatives in the West Bank town of Halhoul identified the dead man as 48-year-old Mahmoud Abu Asbeh. A married father of six, he would typically sleep in Ashkelon during the week and return home for weekends. "The rockets don't have eyes to see, they hit randomly, and this happened randomly, it was unintentional," said his father, Abdel Hamid Abu Asbeh. "Last night he told me the rockets are falling like rain. He said: 'May God protect us,' as if he expected something." Those around the building were at a loss to describe the shock of a rocket landing in the heart of their neighborhood. "It's like Russian Roulette," said Elie Mozes, 57. "It just comes out of nowhere." Back at home after her stint in the hospital, Amar said she was at a loss to prescribe a solution. With glass strewn across her bed and holes blown through her hanging laundry, she said all she knew was that something had to be done. "If anyone still lives in a fairytale that there will be peace here they need to snap out of it," she said.[SEP]JERUSALEM -- Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel early on Tuesday, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip. The cross-border attacks, which were triggered by a botched Israeli undercover raid into Hamas-ruled Gaza late Sunday, marked the most serious escalation since an Israel-Hamas war in 2014. International mediators appealed for restraint, hoping to avert another war. The Israeli military said some 400 rockets and mortars have been launched from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon, with about 100 of them intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence system. Israel has hit more than 100 targets it says are linked to militants in Gaza, including a strike that destroyed the TV station of Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. On Tuesday, Gaza's health ministry said two Palestinians in their 20s were killed in separate airstrikes, raising the number killed since the Israeli offensive began Monday to six, including four militants. At least 25 people have been wounded. Israeli medical officials said a 48-year-old man was found early Tuesday under the rubble of a building hit by a rocket in the southern city of Ashkelon. Relatives in the West Bank town of Halhoul identified the man as Mahmoud Abu Usbeh, a Palestinian labourer who had been working in Israel. He left a wife and six children behind. "Everyone in town is sad. It's God's will and there nothing we can do about it," said his cousin, Jihad Abu Usbeh. At least 20 people have also been wounded in Israel, three critically, according to medical officials. The military said jets struck several "key strategic" Hamas targets, including military compounds, rocket launching posts and part of its vast underground tunnel network. Also targeted was a Gaza City building serving Hamas' military and intelligence forces that houses a munition warehouse. The armed wing of Hamas threatened to step up its attacks and fire rockets further north toward the Israeli cities of Ashdod and Beersheba if Israel continued its airstrikes. The spokesman for the Hamas military wing, identified only as Abu Obeida, said the deadly attack on the coastal city of Ashkelon showed the city "has entered the range of fire as a response to the bombing of buildings in Gaza." He said Ashdod and Beersheba "are the next targets if the enemy continues bombing civilian buildings." School has been cancelled in large parts of southern Israel and a local election has been postponed because of the threat of further attacks. Over the past few months, the sides have come close to a major escalation several times, only to step back in favour of giving a chance to a long-term Egyptian mediated truce. However, the current level of escalation and angry rhetoric, including Hamas' warnings to strike deeper inside Israel, might make it more difficult to restore calm. The Israeli security Cabinet began meeting to discuss the next steps, as the United Nations appealed for calm and said it was trying to broker a cease-fire. The eruption of fighting cast doubt over recent understandings brokered by Egypt and U.N. officials to reduce tensions. Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had defended those understandings, saying he was doing everything possible to avoid another war. But he will now be under intense pressure to retaliate, given Hamas' unrelenting rocket barrages. The rocket fire was triggered by a botched Israeli military raid in Gaza on Sunday. Undercover troops, apparently on a reconnaissance mission, were discovered inside Gaza, setting off a battle that left seven militants, including a Hamas commander, and a senior Israeli military officer dead. Hamas then fired a guided missile that struck a bus from which soldiers had just disembarked, an upgrade over its typical inaccurate projectiles. The strike set the bus on fire, sending a large plume of black smoke over the area. A 19-year-old soldier was critically wounded and rocket attacks and Israeli retaliation fire quickly ensued. The airstrikes and rocket barrages resumed at dawn Tuesday after nearly two hours of calm. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said Israeli warplanes, tanks and naval vessels were involved in strikes against military compounds, observation posts and weapons facilities belonging to the two main Gaza militant groups behind the attacks -- Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. He said the Israeli military has enhanced its deployment along the border but had yet to mobilize its reserves. He said Gaza militant groups were believed to have an arsenal in excess of 20,000 rockets and mortars of different calibre and range. In Gaza, schools and public institutions were closed as people ventured outside to inspect the damage after a long night of aerial raids. Near the destroyed TV station, residents salvaged papers and belongings from their damaged houses. Debris was strewn across the streets and shattered window glass crunched under people's feet. In Gaza City's Rimal neighbourhood, a six-story residential building that also housed a kindergarten on its ground floor was destroyed. "All the people here are civilians, children and families. We took our children and fled from here. When we returned, we found great destruction," said Mamdouh al-Shurafa, a resident of the building. "When we are bombed in the middle of the city, where we can go?" Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza from the internationally-backed Palestinian Authority in 2007. In the most recent war, over 2,200 Palestinians were killed, more than half of them civilians, and tens of thousands were left homeless. Seventy-three people, most of them soldiers, were killed on the Israeli side. Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade on Gaza since the Hamas takeover, a blockade that has devastated Gaza's economy. In recent weeks, Egyptian and U.N. mediators had appeared to make progress in brokering informal understandings aimed at quieting the situation. Last week, Israel allowed Qatar to deliver $15 million to Gaza to allow cash-strapped Hamas to pay the salaries of thousands of government workers. At the same time, Hamas has lowered the intensity of its border protests in recent weeks. Netanyahu cut short a visit to Paris because of the flare-up and returned to Israel on Monday for consultations with top security officials.[SEP]Israel has hit more than 100 targets it says are linked to militants in Gaza, including a strike that destroyed the TV station of Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. Palestinian officials say at least three people, including two militants, have been killed. In Israel, at least 20 people have been wounded, several seriously.[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) — The latest round of fighting in Gaza is rooted in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and comes after Israel and the territory's Hamas rulers have fought three wars in the past decade. The fighting in recent years has killed thousands of Palestinians and scores of Israelis, but has yet to dislodge the Islamic militant group or resolve any of the other underlying disputes between the two sides. Here is a look at some key events in the Israel-Hamas conflict: Israel withdraws all settlements and military personnel from the Gaza Strip, marking the end of its 38-year occupation of the territory. The Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas wins an overwhelming victory in parliamentary elections, sparking a struggle for primacy with its rival, the Fatah movement of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas militants capture Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in a cross-border raid, triggering heavy fighting with Israel. Schalit is released five years later following a lopsided prisoner exchange. Hamas violently ousts Fatah forces from the Gaza Strip and solidifies its control of the territory. Israel and Egypt tighten their blockade of Gaza, which will devastate Gaza's economy over the next decade. Two rival governments emerge, Hamas in Gaza and the Abbas' Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. In response to heavy rocket fire from Gaza, Israel launches a major three-week offensive. After a 22-day war that kills 1,200 Palestinians and 13 Israelis, the two sides announce a cease-fire. Israel targets and kills Hamas military chief Ahmad Jabari, sparking eight days of militant rocket fire and an Israeli air campaign. Egyptian mediators secure a cease-fire after some 150 Palestinians and six Israelis are killed. Following the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers by Hamas members, Israel conducts a sweep against Hamas in the West Bank, prompting rocket attacks from Gaza and Israeli air raids in response. The seven-week conflict that ensues results in more than 2,200 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, more than half of them civilians. In Israel, 67 soldiers and 6 civilians are killed. Israel comes under heavy international criticism for its use of what the United Nations calls disproportionate force. Palestinian protesters, led by Hamas, stage massive demonstrations along the perimeter fence against the blockade. Although mostly unarmed, many protesters burn tires, throw rocks and grenades at Israeli troops and damage the perimeter fence. Israeli troops kill more than 170 protesters over a period of several months. Israel says it is defending its border but is accused of using excessive force. Israel and Hamas engage in a number of rounds of intense but brief fighting during this time. Violence flares up after a botched Israeli undercover raid into Gaza that killed seven Palestinian militants and a senior Israeli army officer, marking the most serious escalation since the war in 2014. Gaza militants fire hundreds of rockets at Israel in response, killing a Palestinian laborer in southern Israel. At least seven Palestinians, among them five militants, are killed in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas exchange missile fire with 300 rockets being launched from Gaza within the span of three hours.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike hit Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. The station went off the air after the airstrike. Minutes earlier, it had halted its programming and been broadcasting a still image of its logo after the building was hit by a warning missile. Shortly after, three loud explosions were heard and the screen turned black. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (Hatem Moussa)[SEP]By AFP - Nov 13,2018 - Last updated at Nov 13,2018 A bus set ablaze after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, at the Israel-Gaza border near the kibbutz of Kfar Aza, on Monday (AFP photo) GAZA — Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip killed three Palestinians on Monday after a barrage of rocket fire towards its territory from the enclave, as renewed violence threatened to derail efforts to restore calm. Israel said it had so far struck more than 20 sites in response to some 80 launches from the Hamas-run territory, reportedly rockets and mortars. Missile defences had intercepted a number of the rockets, the military said. The forces said an Israeli bus was hit by fire from the Gaza Strip. Medics reported one person severely wounded. Medics also said six people from the southern Israeli city of Sderot were lightly wounded. Israeli forces said a rocket hit a house in Netivot, another southern Israeli town. Gaza's health ministry said three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine group said two were of its members. Hamas, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire on behalf of all Palestinian groups in Gaza, saying it was in revenge for a deadly Israeli military operation late Sunday. On Sunday, a clash erupted during an Israeli special forces operation in the Gaza Strip that killed seven Palestinians, including a local commander for Hamas' armed wing, and an Israeli police officer. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a trip to Paris and rushed home as tensions rose, and on Monday convened a meeting of security chiefs. Israel had stressed its covert operation on Sunday was an intelligence-gathering mission and "not an assassination or abduction", but Hamas strongly denounced it and vowed revenge. Israel signalled that Sunday’s mission did not go as planned and resulted in the clash, which Palestinian officials said included Israeli air strikes. In the immediate aftermath of the clash, Israel said it identified 17 launches — likely rockets or mortars — towards its territory from Gaza, with three intercepted by missile defences. No injuries were reported. Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, said the Israeli special forces team had infiltrated near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip in a civilian car. Al Qassam agents stopped it and wanted to search it, realised it was an Israeli operation and confronted them, it said in a statement. An exchange of fire followed in which local Al Qassam commander Nour Baraka was killed along with another member, it said. The car then attempted to flee and Israeli aircraft provided covering fire. An Israeli helicopter landed near the fence and took away the special forces troops, according to Al Qassam. Israeli forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus declined to comment on Al Qassam account “because of the sensitive nature of the operation”. Israel provided few details on Sunday’s operation, saying it was carried out by special forces and resulted in an “exchange of fire”. A funeral was held for the seven Palestinians on Monday attended by thousands, including masked Al Qassam members carrying rifles, some firing into the air. On the Israeli side of the border, residents said they had stayed close to shelters throughout the night. “I was sitting in my living room and around 10pm or 11pm, I suddenly heard the sound of helicopter gunships firing,” said Gadi Yarkoni, head of a regional council in the area and a resident of Nirim Kibbutz. “It was right above the village I’m living in. It was very unpleasant.” The clashes came after months of deadly unrest along the Gaza-Israel border had appeared to be calming. Recent weeks have seen Israel allow Qatar to provide the Gaza Strip with millions of dollars in aid for salaries as well as fuel to help ease an electricity crisis. Before the flare-up, Netanyahu had defended his decision to allow Qatar to transfer the cash to Gaza despite criticism from within his own government over the move, saying he wanted to avoid a war if it was not necessary. Naftali Bennett, Netanyahu’s education minister and right-wing rival, compared the cash flow to “protection money paid to criminals”. Israel and Palestinians in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008, and recent months have raised fears of a fourth. Deadly clashes have accompanied major protests along the Gaza-Israel border that began on March 30. At least 230 Palestinians have since been killed by Israeli fire, the majority shot during protests and clashes, while others died in tank fire or air strikes. Two Israeli forces personelle have been killed in that time. Egyptian and UN officials have been mediating between Israel and Hamas in an effort to reach a long-term truce deal.[SEP]GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinians in Gaza fired scores of rockets and mortar bombs into southern Israel on Monday and Israel launched retaliatory air strikes, a day after an Israeli incursion prompted deadly fighting in the enclave. Three Palestinian gunmen were killed in the air attacks, their factions said. Warplanes also destroyed the premises of Hamas’s Al-Aqsa Television, the Israeli military said. On the Israeli side of the border, a guided missile wrecked a bus, wounding a soldier, and shelling struck several homes as residents fled to shelters, authorities said. The flare-up cast a new cloud over efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations to broker a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the dominant Islamist group in Gaza. The enemies have fought three wars in the past decade. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped to reach an “arrangement” to avoid another conflict and ease Israeli-blockaded Gaza’s economic hardships. The United States, whose attempt to seal a wider Israeli-Palestinian peace stalled in 2014, condemned Hamas. “We stand with Israel as it defends itself against these attacks,” U.S. envoy Jason Greenblatt tweeted. “This violence prevents any real help for the people of Gaza.” In southern Israel, interceptor missiles streaked through the sky and sirens sounded during what the military said were around 300 rocket and mortar launches from Gaza. Israeli medics said at least 10 people were hurt. In Gaza, medics said three people were wounded. Al-Aqsa TV’s employees had evacuated their office in advance after phoned-in warnings from the Israeli military, and broadcasts resumed after a brief outage. The frontier had been quiet earlier in the day after a botched Israeli undercover operation in Gaza led to fighting that killed a Hamas commander, six other Palestinian militants and an Israeli colonel. “In response to yesterday’s crime, the joint command of Palestinian factions announce the beginning of bombardment of the enemy’s settlements with scores of rockets,” Hamas said in a statement. Late on Sunday, Palestinians shelled Israel in response to the Israeli incursion and air strikes, which Hamas said were intended to cover the retreat of the Israeli commandos’ car. The military said a lieutenant-colonel had been killed in the raid and another officer wounded. Violence has flared regularly along the Israel-Gaza border since Palestinians began protests on March 30 to demand rights to land lost to Israel in the 1948 war of its creation. Israeli gunfire has killed more than 220 Palestinians since the start of the demonstrations, which have included breaches of the border fence. In an apparent attempt to defuse tensions, Israel’s military spokesman said the special forces had not been dispatched to assassinate Hamas commanders, a tactic that led to wider conflict in the past and which has largely been abandoned. Israeli media reports suggested the raid was mounted to gather intelligence.[SEP]An explosion is seen during an Israeli air strike on Hamas's television station, in Gaza City November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli warplanes bombed the studios of Hamas’s television station in the Gaza Strip on Monday during a surge in cross-border fighting, Palestinian officials and witnesses said. There was no immediate word of casualties in the air strike on Al-Aqsa Television, which destroyed the premises in Gaza City and damaged nearby buildings. Many local residents had fled after Israel phoned in calls to evacuate and launched at least five non-exploding missiles nearby as warnings, witnesses said. Al-Aqsa Television - named after a major mosque Jerusalem - said it would resume broadcasts soon.[SEP]GAZA, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Israeli warplanes bombed the studios of Hamas's television station in the Gaza Strip on Monday during a surge in cross-border fighting, Palestinian officials and witnesses said. There was no immediate word of casualties in the air strike on Al-Aqsa Television, which destroyed the premises in Gaza City and damaged nearby buildings. Many local residents had fled after Israel phoned in calls to evacuate and launched at least five non-exploding missiles nearby as warnings, witnesses said. Al-Aqsa Television - named after a major mosque Jerusalem - said it would resume broadcasts soon. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Editing by William Maclean)[SEP]Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike hit Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. The station went off the air after the airstrike. Minutes earlier, it had halted its programming and been broadcasting a still image of its logo after the building was hit by a warning missile. Shortly after, three loud explosions were heard and the screen turned black. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (Hatem Moussa)[SEP]An Israeli air strike destroyed Hamas's Al-Aqsa TV building in the Gaza Strip on Monday after a series of warning shots, AFP journalists reported, drawing threats of a harsh response from Palestinian militants. The strike came as violence again flared between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. Hamas confirmed that the building in Gaza City was destroyed, while Islamic Jihad vowed to respond to Israel's action. No injuries were immediately reported and workers were believed to have evacuated after the warning shots. The station began broadcasting again a short while after the strike from an undisclosed location. Israel's military acknowledged hitting the building, saying in a statement "it contributes to Hamas's military actions, including by providing operational messaging to militants, directing and explicitly calling for terror activities against Israel, and providing guidance on how to carry out such terror activities". It said the station is "owned and operated by Hamas". Earlier Monday, Israel's aircraft struck Gaza, killing three Palestinians and wounding nine after a barrage of rocket fire into its territory from the enclave. The flare-up came after a deadly Israeli special forces operation in the Gaza Strip on Sunday that left Hamas vowing revenge. The army said an Israeli bus was hit by an anti-tank missile from the Gaza Strip, causing several injuries. A soldier was severely wounded, it said. Medics reported at least six other Israelis wounded with a number of houses and civilian buildings struck by rockets. Joint statements from Palestinian militant groups in Gaza, including Hamas, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire and the missile attack on the bus, which it said was being used by Israeli soldiers. They said the rocket fire was in revenge for the deadly Israeli operation late Sunday.[SEP]Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike hit Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. The station went off the air after the airstrike. Minutes earlier, it had halted its programming and been broadcasting a still image of its logo after the building was hit by a warning missile. Shortly after, three loud explosions were heard and the screen turned black. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (Hatem Moussa)[SEP]The Israeli military has bombed the studios of the Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television station, Palestinian officials and witnesses have confirmed. Footage of a huge blast has appeared online.A video posted on Twitter shows huge flames erupting over the Al-Aqsa TV station. Screams can also be heard in the background."The military occupation forces bomb and destroy the Al-Aqsa satellite headquarters in Gaza."The station was targeted as part of a series of airstrikes on Gaza by Israel on Monday. Those strikes were in response to a barrage of rockets launched from Gaza, and follow several days of tense cross-border flare-ups."The maximum space building after its destruction by shelling the occupation."Al-Aqsa is the official Hamas-run television channel. Its programming includes news promoting Hamas, as well as children's programming and religiously inspired entertainment.The bombing happened after the Israeli military launched at least five non-exploding missiles nearby, warning Palestinians to evacuate, according to sources cited by Reuters.[SEP]The Israeli military said some 300 rockets were fired by the Palestinian militants throughout Monday into Israel’s southern territories. In response to the Palestinian shelling, the Israeli military attacked over 70 militant targets in the Gaza Strip from the ground and the air. According to local doctors, three Gaza Strip residents died in Israeli strikes. One of the Israeli airstrikes specifically targeted the Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV station. “The Foreign Ministry of Lebanon condemns the aggression to which the Gaza Strip and innocent civilians are exposed. The ministry calls on the international community to take immediate action to stop air raids and the horrendous bombardments of residential areas. The Ministry expresses its condolences to the families of the innocent victims of this aggression, ” the ministry’s said in a statement, obtained by Sputnik, late on Monday, READ MORE: IDF Planes Launch Strikes in Gaza After Israeli Bus Hit by Mortar Fire (VIDEO) Last week, Israel carried out an undercover raid targeting a Hamas commander in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis, leaving at least seven Palestinians dead, according to reports. The relations between the Israelis and the Palestinians near the Gaza border have been increasingly tense since 2005. The Gaza Strip is one of the two parts of the partially recognized State of Palestine, which until 2005 was Israeli territory. Palestinian protesters continue regular clashes with the Israeli troops on the border, while the Israeli side accuses Gaza of ongoing shelling.

The Israeli Air Force bombs Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV's headquarters in Gaza City.

JERUSALEM — Israeli medical services say a man has been killed by a rocket that hit an apartment building in southern Israel and a woman was critically wounded. Magen David Adom says the two were trapped in an apartment in Ashkelon that was struck by a rocket from Gaza early on Tuesday. It's the first casualty in Israel from the most intensive wave of attacks since the 2014 Gaza war. Gaza militants pummeled Israel overnight with dozens of rockets and the Israeli military responded with strikes against militant targets in Gaza. The military says there were some 370 launches from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon. About 100 of them were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Israel has struck more than 100 militant targets in Gaza.[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli medical services say a man has been killed by a rocket that hit an apartment building in southern Israel and a woman was critically wounded. Magen David Adom says the two were trapped in an apartment in Ashkelon that was struck by a rocket from Gaza early on Tuesday. It's the first casualty in Israel from the most intensive wave of attacks since the 2014 Gaza war. Gaza militants pummeled Israel overnight with dozens of rockets and the Israeli military responded with strikes against militant targets in Gaza. The military says there were some 370 launches from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon. About 100 of them were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Israel has struck more than 100 militant targets in Gaza.[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli medical services say a man has been killed by a rocket that hit an apartment building in southern Israel and a woman was critically wounded. Magen David Adom says the two were trapped in an apartment in Ashkelon that was struck by a rocket from Gaza early on Tuesday. It's the first casualty in Israel from the most intensive wave of attacks since the 2014 Gaza war. Gaza militants pummeled Israel overnight with dozens of rockets and the Israeli military responded with strikes against militant targets in Gaza. The military says there were some 370 launches from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon. About 100 of them were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Israel has struck more than 100 militant targets in Gaza.[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli medical services say a man has been killed by a rocket that hit an apartment building in southern Israel and a woman was critically wounded. Magen David Adom says the two were trapped in an apartment in Ashkelon that was struck by a rocket from Gaza early on Tuesday. It's the first casualty in Israel from the most intensive wave of attacks since the 2014 Gaza war. Gaza militants pummeled Israel overnight with dozens of rockets and the Israeli military responded with strikes against militant targets in Gaza. The military says there were some 370 launches from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon. About 100 of them were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Israel has struck more than 100 militant targets in Gaza. An Israeli soldier walks by a house damaged by a missile fired from the Gaza Strip in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. Palestinian militants bombarded Israel with dozens of rockets and mortar shells Monday, while Israeli warplanes struck targets throughout the Gaza Strip in what appeared to be the most intense exchange of fire since a 2014 war. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike hit Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. The station went off the air after the airstrike. Minutes earlier, it had halted its programming and been broadcasting a still image of its logo after the building was hit by a warning missile. Shortly after, three loud explosions were heard and the screen turned black. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) An Israeli soldier stands near a burning bus after it was hit by a mortar shell fired from Gaza near the Israel Gaza border, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. Israel's military says it is prepared to step up its efforts against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip if rocket fire at Israel continues. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) Flares fired from Israeli forces light up the night sky in Gaza City, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, as the Israeli military launched fighter jets to strike "terror targets" throughout the Gaza Strip. Palestinian militants on Monday fired dozens of rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel, critically wounding an Israeli teen, in an intense barrage aimed at seeking revenge for a deadly Israeli military incursion late Sunday. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli medical services say a man has been killed by a rocket that hit an apartment building in southern Israel and a woman was critically wounded. Magen David Adom says the two were trapped in an apartment in Ashkelon that was struck by a rocket from Gaza early on Tuesday. It's the first casualty in Israel from the most intensive wave of attacks since the 2014 Gaza war. Gaza militants pummeled Israel overnight with dozens of rockets and the Israeli military responded with strikes against militant targets in Gaza. The military says there were some 370 launches from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon. About 100 of them were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Israel has struck more than 100 militant targets in Gaza.[SEP]The Israel Defense Forces have released a video showing an injured woman being pulled from the rubble of a house following a rocket attack by Palestinian militants on Tuesday. The video shows Israeli first responders arriving at the house to find the bleeding woman lying in the rubble near what appears to be the body of a man. “Check if there’s a baby,” rescuers are heard saying frantically. It’s not clear whether there was a baby in the house, located in the coastal city of Ashkelon some 13 kilometres north of the Gaza border. READ MORE: Ceasefire between Hamas, Israel ends 2 days of intense fighting “Last night, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired a barrage of rockets into Israel. One of the rockets struck this house in Ashkelon,” the IDF said in a tweet accompanying the video. “This was the scene when Israeli first-responders entered. It is graphic, but it’s important we show it. Hamas sees all of Israel as a target.” Several missiles were launched from Gaza into Ashkelon on Tuesday. Seth Frantzman, a journalist with the Jerusalem Post, took this video showing rockets lighting up the sky above Ashkelon as some residents scrambled to find safety: WATCH: Israeli man records moment rocket attack begins in the city of Ashkelon Shortly after the video was released, Hamas and other militant groups said they had signed on to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire to end two days of intense fighting with Israel. The region had been paralyzed by hundreds of Palestinian rocket attacks in southern Israel and scores of Israeli airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip. Israeli man records moment rocket attack begins in the city of Ashkelon Israeli man records moment rocket attack begins in the city of Ashkelon Aftermath of Israeli airstrike on Hamas state TV station in Gaza City Since Monday, Israeli air strikes had killed seven Palestinians, at least five of them gunmen, and destroyed several buildings used by Gaza‘s ruling Hamas Islamists. Rocket attacks from Gaza sent residents of southern Israel to shelters, wounding dozens and killing a Palestinian laborer from the occupied West Bank. The flare-up in violence was prompted by a botched Israeli undercover operation in Gaza, which led to fighting that killed a Hamas commander, six other Palestinian militants and an Israeli colonel. — With files from Reuters and the Associated Press[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli medical services say a man has been killed by a rocket that hit an apartment building in southern Israel and a woman was critically wounded. Magen David Adom says the two were trapped in an apartment in Ashkelon that was struck by a rocket from Gaza early on Tuesday. It’s the first casualty in Israel from the most intensive wave of attacks since the 2014 Gaza war. Gaza militants pummeled Israel overnight with dozens of rockets and the Israeli military responded with strikes against militant targets in Gaza. The military says there were some 370 launches from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon. About 100 of them were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. Israel has struck more than 100 militant targets in Gaza.[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli medical services say a man has been killed by a rocket that hit an apartment building in southern Israel and a woman was critically wounded. Magen David Adom says the two were trapped in an apartment in Ashkelon that was struck by a rocket from Gaza early on Tuesday. It's the first casualty in Israel from the most intensive wave of attacks since the 2014 Gaza war. Gaza militants pummeled Israel overnight with dozens of rockets and the Israeli military responded with strikes against militant targets in Gaza. The military says there were some 370 launches from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon. About 100 of them were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Israel has struck more than 100 militant targets in Gaza.[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli medical services say a man has been killed by a rocket that hit an apartment building in southern Israel and a woman was critically wounded. Magen David Adom says the two were trapped in an apartment in Ashkelon that was struck by a rocket from Gaza early on Tuesday. It's the first casualty in Israel from the most intensive wave of attacks since the 2014 Gaza war. Gaza militants pummeled Israel overnight with dozens of rockets and the Israeli military responded with strikes against militant targets in Gaza. The military says there were some 370 launches from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon. About 100 of them were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Israel has struck more than 100 militant targets in Gaza.[SEP]JERUSALEM — Israeli medical services say a man has been killed by a rocket that hit an apartment building in southern Israel and a woman was critically wounded. Magen David Adom says the two were trapped in an apartment in Ashkelon that was struck by a rocket from Gaza early on Tuesday. It’s the first casualty in Israel from the most intensive wave of attacks since the 2014 Gaza war. Gaza militants pummeled Israel overnight with dozens of rockets and the Israeli military responded with strikes against militant targets in Gaza. The military says there were some 370 launches from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon. About 100 of them were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defence system. Israel has struck more than 100 militant targets in Gaza.

A rocket fired from Gaza strikes an apartment building in Ashkelon, killing a man and injuring two others. The victim was a middle aged Palestinian illegal immigrant from Hebron. This is the first person killed on Israeli soil due to Palestinian rocket fire since 2014.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Aung San Suu Kyi, seen here at a business summit in Singapore on Monday Amnesty International is stripping Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour, the Ambassador of Conscience Award. The politician and Nobel peace prize winner received the honour in 2009, when she was living under house arrest. The rights group said it was profoundly dismayed at her failure to speak out for the Rohingya minority, some 700,000 of whom have fled a military crackdown. This is the latest honour in a string of awards Ms Suu Kyi, 73, has lost. "We are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights," Amnesty's Secretary General Kumi Naidoo wrote in a letter to the Myanmar leader. "[Her] denial of the gravity and scale of the atrocities [against the Rohingya] means there is little prospect of the situation improving," Mr Naidoo said. The organisation, which once feted her as a beacon for democracy, announced its decision on the eighth anniversary of Ms Suu Kyi's release from house arrest. Revoked one by one Nick Beake, BBC Myanmar correspondent Aung San Suu Kyi's unswerving pursuit of democracy for Myanmar in the face of a brutal military dictatorship brought her nearly 15 years of house arrest. It also spurred a succession of governments, cities and human rights groups around the world to bestow their honours upon her. As far back as 1989, Amnesty International declared Ms Suu Kyi a "prisoner of conscience" and 20 years later awarded her its most prestigious award. Nelson Mandela had been a previous recipient. Now, Amnesty International has written to Ms Suu Kyi saying it's withdrawing its prize because - as they put it - "we can no longer justify her status as an Ambassador of Conscience". United Nations investigators concluded that, while she was not complicit in the alleged genocide last year, she had failed to use her moral authority to help prevent the murder and rape of thousands of Rohingyas by the still-dominant army. One by one, the freedoms, fellowships and even an honorary citizenship have been revoked for a civilian leader who stubbornly denies crimes against humanity have taken place on her watch. Ms Suu Kyi came to power as the de facto head of Buddhist-majority Myanmar's civilian administration in 2016. She has since faced international pressure, including from Amnesty International, to condemn the army's alleged brutality against the Rohingya. However she has refused to do so. She has also defended the jailing of two Reuters journalists investigating the killing of Rohingya Muslims. The last time Ms Suu Kyi spoke to the BBC in April 2017, she said: "I think ethnic cleansing is too strong an expression to use for what is happening." Her government claims it will begin to welcome back the first groups of refugees later this week as part of a deal with Bangladesh, which has alarmed the UN and aid agencies. The UN refugee agency wants Rohingya families to be able to return to their former villages and decide for themselves if they feel they are able to live there safely and with dignity.[SEP]SINGAPORE (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed has sharply criticized Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi for her handling of an ethnic crisis that led to mass killings and the exodus of more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims from her country. Mahathir said Tuesday that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi is "trying to defend the indefensible" in justifying violence by Myanmar security forces against Rohingya in Rakhine state. He said that as a former political prisoner, Suu Kyi should understand suffering. Mahathir was asked about the issue at a news conference on the sidelines of a regional summit in Singapore. Suu Kyi became an icon for democracy after spending about 15 years under house arrest for opposing Myanmar's earlier military dictatorship. She has been severely criticized for her handling of the Rohingya.[SEP]Aung San Suu Kyi was globally hailed as a freedom fighter who stood up to her country's feared military junta while spending 15 years under house arrest. (Photo: File) London: Amnesty International on Monday stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour over the de facto Myanmar leader's "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the military against Rohingya Muslims. It was the latest in a string of awards the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner lost since Myanmar's military drove 720,000 Rohingya out of the Buddhist majority country in what the United Nations has called an act of genocide. The London-based global human rights organisation said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Suu Kyi in 2009 while she was still under house arrest. "Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights," Amnesty International chief Kumi Naidoo said in a letter to Suu Kyi released by the group. "Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you." Amnesty said it informed the 73-year-old of the decision on Sunday. She has so far issued no public response. Suu Kyi was globally hailed as a freedom fighter who stood up to her country's feared military junta while spending 15 years under house arrest. Her plight received added attention when she was visited by Hillary Clinton when the two-time US presidential candidate was still Secretary of State in 2011. Suu Kyi then reaffirmed her commitment to working with the United States to bring democracy to her country of around 50 million people. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to power in a 2015 landslide that brought hope of Myanmar correcting injustices inflicted over 50 years of brutal military rule. But her tenure has been marred by a failure to speak up for Rohingya Muslims. Her government is also fighting an uphill struggle against corruption and local conflicts. Amnesty said it believes thousands of Rohingyas were killed in Myanmar's western Rakhine province since the campaign began August 2017. Many more are thought to have been either tortured and raped. Myanmar has justified the military's actions as necessary to combat terrorism. Amnesty conceded that the civilian government Suu Kyi informally heads does not directly control the powerful security services. But it accused her of standing up for the crimes and "obstructing international investigations into abuses". It added that human rights campaigners and journalists continued to be detained and intimidated by the government since her party's victory. Suu Kyi was stripped of her honourary Canadian citizenship over her failure to speak up for the Rohingyas last month. She has also lost numerous smaller awards from individual universities and local and regional governments.[SEP]Amnesty International has stripped the former human-rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi of its most important award, accusing the Myanmar leader of perpetuating human rights abuses. Amnesty accusesd Suu Kyi of standing by and not condemning the violence and genocidal campaign conducted by the Myanmar security forces against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Once hailed as a champion in the fight for democracy, Suu Kyi has been stripped of a series of international honours over a Rohingya exodus that began in August 2017. Amnesty International's Secretary General Kumi Naidoo wrote to Aung San Suu Kyi to inform her the organization is revoking the 2009 award. Eight years after her release from house arrest, Naidoo expressed Amnesty's disappointment that she had not used her political and moral authority to safeguard human rights, justice or equality in Myanmar, citing her apparent indifference to atrocities committed by the Myanmar military and increasing intolerance of freedom of expression. "As an Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience, our expectation was that you would continue to use your moral authority to speak out against injustice wherever you saw it, not least within Myanmar itself," wrote Naidoo. Suu Kyi's once iconic image as an upholder of human rights, and as a protector of her country has been decimated by the Rohingya crisis. "Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights. Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you." The international human rights group named Suu Kyi as its 2009 Ambassador of Conscience Award recipient when she was still under house arrest as the de facto leader of opposition to Myanmar's oppressive military junta led by the country's powerful generals. In the eight years since she was released, Suu Kyi led her party to election victory in 2015 and set up a government the following year, but she has had to share power with generals and has no oversight and no appetite to rein in military forces. Amnesty International said in a statement on Tuesday Suu Kyi had failed to speak out and had "shielded the security forces from accountability." Amnesty called Suu Kyi's failure to stand against the violence against the Rohingya, a "shameful betrayal of the values she once stood for." Aung San Suu Kyi greets Burmese immigrants at Talad Talay Thai Hall in Bangkok, Thailand. Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Thailand on Thursday, where she met immigrants from her country during the three-day official visit to Thailand. It was Suu Kyi's highest profile overseas visit since her pro-democracy party took power in April, after nearly half a century of military rule. Borja Sanchez-Trillo/Getty Images United Nations investigators have most recently in October concluded that Myanmar's generals directed a campaign of killings, rape and arson upon the Rohingya with "genocidal intent." A United Nations report released in August shows how during a Myanmar "clearance operation" in September last year, soldiers shot and stabbed villagers, raped women, and burned homes while driving 6,000 ethnic Rohingya from their homes at Inn Din. A Reuters investigation in February detailed the murder of 10 Rohingya men and boys at the hands of Myanmar troops, police officers and Rakhine Buddhist villagers on September 2, 2017. The Myanmar government corroborated this report when it sentenced seven soldiers involved to 10 years imprisonment. Altogether it is thought more than 700,000 stateless Rohingya fled across Myanmar's western border into Bangladesh after the Myanmar military launched a crackdown in response to a Rohingya insurgency targeting Myanmar security forces. Unsurprisingly, Suu Kyi's administration rejected the findings and said the military was engaged in a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. Human-rights lawyer Chris Sidoti told Business Insider that placing pressure on Suu Kyi has no impact unless the generals are being isolated. Sidoti, currently a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Independent International Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar and an adjunct professor at the Australian Catholic University said a binding council resolution passed in October was a far more effective tool to pressure the ultimate perpetrators of the persecution of the Rohingya. "The Myanmar generals are now under more pressure than they have ever been. They are fast running out of friends, running out of countries where they can feel safe from international justice," Sidoti said. Last month, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution to establish a new mechanism to prepare cases to prosecute them for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The resolution had overwhelming support. It was carried in the 47 member Council by 35 votes to 3. (Seven states abstained and two were not in the room for the vote.) Over 100 UN member states co-spons The International Court of Justice has also commenced an investigation heading towards prosecutions. "The generals face a future where, if they set foot in any country in the world, they could be arrested and charged and prosecuted for crimes under international law in local courts or be handed over to the International Criminal Court," Sidoti said. "In addition many states have already imposed targeted travel and financial sanctions on many of the top generals." At this stage however, Myanmar's top two, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Vice Senior General Soe Win, haven't been targeted but Sidoti says, "it is only a matter of time." The fact-finding mission has recommended sanctions on them both. Sidoti says, "for Myanmar, this is very good news. Myanmar has no future with the generals running the country." The 50-year military junta — an effective dictatorship — has left the country economically ruined and politically infantile, with Suu Kyi presenting little more than an internationally acceptable face. "Myanmar has now endured 70 years of civil war, due to the dismal failures of the generals. Its transition to democracy has barely begun and has now seems permanently stalled." "The country and its people have a future only if the military is transformed. That can only begin when all the top generals have been removed," Sidoti said. Reuters reports that in March, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum withdrew its top award from Suu Kyi and she has been stripped of other significant honours, including the freedom of the cities of Dublin and Oxford, England, over the Rohingya crisis. In September, Canada's parliament voted to strip Suu Kyi of her honorary citizenship. While some critics have called for her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize to be withdrawn, the foundation that oversees the award said it would not do so. Speaking at a business forum in Singapore ahead of the ASEAN regional summit, pleaded for international investment to return to Myanmar. She did not address the ongoing crisis which has driven hundreds of thousands of the Muslim minority into crumbling and dangerous camps on the border with Bangladesh and extinguished hopes of a brighter future for Myanmar. Amnesty International also accused Suu Kyi of not condemned military abuses in conflicts between the army and ethnic minority guerrillas in northern Myanmar and her government had imposed restrictions on access by humanitarian groups.[SEP]Amnesty International said it was revoking Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Suu Kyi in 2009 while she was still under house arrest. Aung San Suu Kyi was globally hailed as a freedom fighter who stood up to her country's feared military junta while spending 15 years under house arrest. (Photo: File | AFP) London: Amnesty International on Monday stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour over the de facto Myanmar leader's "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the military against Rohingya Muslims. It was the latest in a string of awards the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner lost since Myanmar's military drove 720,000 Rohingya out of the Buddhist majority country in what the United Nations has called an act of genocide. The London-based global human rights organisation said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Suu Kyi in 2009 while she was still under house arrest. "Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights," Amnesty International chief Kumi Naidoo said in a letter to Suu Kyi released by the group. "Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you." Amnesty said it informed the 73-year-old of the decision on Sunday. She has so far issued no public response. Suu Kyi was globally hailed as a freedom fighter who stood up to her country's feared military junta while spending 15 years under house arrest. Her plight received added attention when she was visited by Hillary Clinton when the two-time US presidential candidate was still Secretary of State in 2011. Suu Kyi then reaffirmed her commitment to working with the United States to bring democracy to her country of around 50 million people. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to power in a 2015 landslide that brought hope of Myanmar correcting injustices inflicted over 50 years of brutal military rule. But her tenure has been marred by a failure to speak up for Rohingya Muslims. Her government is also fighting an uphill struggle against corruption and local conflicts. Amnesty said it believes thousands of Rohingyas were killed in Myanmar's western Rakhine province since the campaign began August 2017. Many more are thought to have been either tortured and raped. Myanmar has justified the military's actions as necessary to combat terrorism. Amnesty conceded that the civilian government Suu Kyi informally heads does not directly control the powerful security services. But it accused her of standing up for the crimes and "obstructing international investigations into abuses". It added that human rights campaigners and journalists continued to be detained and intimidated by the government since her party's victory. Suu Kyi was stripped of her honourary Canadian citizenship over her failure to speak up for the Rohingyas last month. She has also lost numerous smaller awards from individual universities and local and regional governments.[SEP]London - Amnesty International on Monday stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour over the de facto Myanmar leader’s “indifference” to the atrocities committed by the country’s military against Rohingya Muslims. The London-based global human rights organisation said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Suu Kyi in 2009 while she was still under house arrest. “Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights,” Amnesty International chief Kumi Naidoo said in a letter to Suu Kyi released by the group. “Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you.” The group said it informed Suu Kyi of the decision on Sunday. She has so far issued no public response. Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to power in 2015 in a landslide victory ending decades of military rule in the southeast Asian country of around 50 million. But her tenure has been marred by a failure to speak up for Rohingya Muslims who were driven out of the country by the army in what the United Nations has called an ethnic cleansing campaign. The 73-year-old was stripped of her honourary Canadian citizenship over her failure to speak up for the Rohingyas last month. She has also lost numerous smaller awards from individual universities and local and regional governments. More than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims fled the Buddhist majority’s western Rakhine state in a military crackdown from August last year. Many are believed to have been either murdered or tortured and raped. Suu Kyi was globally hailed as a freedom fighter who stood up to her country’s feared military dictatorship while spending 15 years under house arrest. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.[SEP]SINGAPORE (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed has sharply criticized Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi for her handling of an ethnic crisis that led to mass killings and the exodus of more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims from her country. Mahathir said Tuesday that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi is "trying to defend the indefensible" in justifying violence by Myanmar security forces against Rohingya in Rakhine state. He said that as a former political prisoner, Suu Kyi should understand suffering. Mahathir was asked about the issue at a news conference on the sidelines of a regional summit in Singapore. Suu Kyi became an icon for democracy after spending about 15 years under house arrest for opposing Myanmar's earlier military dictatorship. She has been severely criticized for her handling of the Rohingya.[SEP]Amnesty International on Monday stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour over the de facto Myanmar leader's "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the country's military against Rohingya Muslims. The London-based global human rights organisation said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Suu Kyi in 2009 while she was still under house arrest. "Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights," Amnesty International chief Kumi Naidoo said in a letter to Suu Kyi released by the group. "Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you." The group said it informed Suu Kyi of the decision on Sunday. She has so far issued no public response. Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to power in 2015 in a landslide victory ending decades of military rule in the southeast Asian country of around 50 million. But her tenure has been marred by a failure to speak up for Rohingya Muslims who were driven out of the country by the army in what the United Nations has called an ethnic cleansing campaign. The 73-year-old was stripped of her honourary Canadian citizenship over her failure to speak up for the Rohingyas last month. She has also lost numerous smaller awards from individual universities and local and regional governments. More than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims fled the Buddhist majority's western Rakhine state in a military crackdown from August last year. Many are believed to have been either murdered or tortured and raped. Suu Kyi was globally hailed as a freedom fighter who stood up to her country's feared military dictatorship while spending 15 years under house arrest. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.[SEP]Amnesty International on Monday stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour over the de facto Myanmar leader's "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the military against Rohingya Muslims. It was the latest in a string of awards the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner lost since Myanmar's military drove 720,000 Rohingya out of the Buddhist majority country in what the United Nations has called an act of genocide. The London-based global human rights organisation said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Suu Kyi in 2009 while she was still under house arrest. "Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights," Amnesty International chief Kumi Naidoo said in a letter to Suu Kyi released by the group. "Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you." Amnesty said it informed the 73-year-old of the decision on Sunday. She has so far issued no public response. Suu Kyi was globally hailed as a freedom fighter who stood up to her country's feared military junta while spending 15 years under house arrest. Her plight received added attention when she was visited by Hillary Clinton when the two-time US presidential candidate was still Secretary of State in 2011. Suu Kyi then reaffirmed her committment to working with the United States to bring democracy to her country of around 50 million people. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to power in a 2015 landslide that brought hope of Myanmar correcting injustices inflicted over 50 years of brutal military rule. But her tenure has been marred by a failure to speak up for Rohingya Muslims. Her government is also fighting an uphill struggle against corruption and local conflicts. Amnesty said it believes thousands of Rohingyas were killed in Myanmar's western Rakhine province since the campaign began August 2017. Many more are thought to have been either tortured and raped. Myanmar has justified the military's actions as necessary to combat terrorism. Amnesty conceded that the civilian government Suu Kyi informally heads does not directly control the powerful security services. But it accused her of standing up for the crimes and "obstructing international investigations into abuses". It added that human rights campaigners and journalists continued to be detained and intimidated by the government since her party's victory. Suu Kyi was stripped of her honourary Canadian citizenship over her failure to speak up for the Rohingyas last month. She has also lost numerous smaller awards from individual universities and local and regional governments.[SEP]LONDON (AFP) - Amnesty International on Monday (Nov 12) stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour over the de facto Myanmar leader's "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the military against Rohingya Muslims. It was the latest in a string of awards the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner lost since Myanmar's military drove 720,000 Rohingya out of the Buddhist majority country in what the United Nations has called an act of genocide. The London-based global human rights organisation said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Suu Kyi in 2009 while she was still under house arrest. "Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights," Amnesty International chief Kumi Naidoo said in a letter to Suu Kyi released by the group. "Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you." Amnesty said it informed the 73-year-old of the decision on Sunday. She has so far issued no public response. Suu Kyi was globally hailed as a freedom fighter who stood up to her country's feared military junta while spending 15 years under house arrest. Her plight received added attention when she was visited by Hillary Clinton when the two-time US presidential candidate was still Secretary of State in 2011. Suu Kyi then reaffirmed her committment to working with the United States to bring democracy to her country of around 50 million people. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to power in a 2015 landslide that brought hope of Myanmar correcting injustices inflicted over 50 years by brutal military rule. But her tenure has been marred by a failure to speak up for Rohingya Muslims. Her government is also fighting an uphill struggle against corruption and local conflicts. Amnesty said it believes thousands of Rohingyas were killed in Myanmar's western Rakhine province since the campaign began August 2017. Many more are thought to have been either tortured or raped. Myanmar has justified the military's actions as necessary to combat terrorism. Amnesty conceded that the civilian government Suu Kyi informally heads does not directly control the powerful security services. But it accused her of standing up for the crimes and "obstructing international investigations into abuses". It added that human rights campaigners and journalists continued to be detained and intimidated by the government since her party's victory. Suu Kyi was stripped of her honourary Canadian citizenship over her failure to speak up for the Rohingyas last month. She has also lost numerous smaller awards from individual universities and local and regional governments.

Amnesty International strips Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honor, the Ambassador of Conscience Award, which she received in 2009, because of her inaction regarding the persecution of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim population in Rakhine State and the military operations in Kachin and Shan State.

Baltimore (CNN) The Vatican has told the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to delay voting on measures to hold bishops accountable for failing to protect children from sexual abuse , the president of the conference said in a surprise announcement Monday morning. In announcing the decision to his fellow bishops, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said he was disappointed by the Vatican's interference, which he said he learned of on Sunday afternoon. "At the insistence of the Holy See, we will not be voting on the two action items in our docket regarding the abuse crisis," said DiNardo. For weeks, the US Catholic bishops have trumpeted a series of reforms they had hoped to make after what one cardinal called the church's "summer of hell." Those reforms must be approved by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which gathers the country's bishops twice a year to debate and adopt new policies. The Vatican's eleventh-hour intervention, ordered by its Congregation for Bishops, according to DiNardo, essentially puts the American bishops' reforms on hold. DiNardo, who looked shell-shocked Monday morning, tried to put a positive spin on the Vatican's decision, calling it a "bump in the road." But many bishops gathered in Baltimore through Wednesday were surprised and unhappy about the Vatican's decision, he acknowledged. Bishop Christopher Coyne of Vermont said the bishops had been "thrown a little sidewise" by Monday's announcement. "We are not, ourselves, happy about this," DiNardo said during a press conference Monday in Baltimore. "We have been working hard to get to the action stage, and we'll do it, but we have to get past this bump in the road." DiNardo also said that the text of the proposals for the bishops' meeting this week were finalized in October 30, which did not leave much time for the Vatican to raise objections or advise modifications. Pope Francis met with his ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, on Saturday, according to the Pope's public schedule. Pierre is in Baltimore and addressed the body of bishops on Monday morning, though he did not mention the Vatican's insistence that the US bishops delay their vote. In a brief interview afterward, he said the Pope is concerned about "communion," the idea that the church moves together as a whole, rather than allowing national bishops conferences to make their own policies. That goal, however, is in tension with the Pope's insistence that local church leaders are best equipped to understand and respond to the needs of their communities. Asked about the apparent contradiction, DiNardo called it "quizzical." A Vatican spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Pope Francis will convene a meeting of bishops from around the world in February to address the sexual abuse crisis, which has roiled the church on several continents, including North America, South America and Australia. The bishops' well-laid plans The Catholic bishops had been expected to debate and vote on several "concrete measures to respond to the abuse crisis," according to a news release about the meeting in Baltimore. Those measures, according to the bishops' conference , included a hotline to report bishops accused of abuse or mishandling abuse cases, standards of conduct for bishops and "protocols for bishops resigned or removed because of abuse." The bishops can still debate those measures, but they will not taking binding votes on them this week, following the Vatican's intervention. DiNardo said the Vatican's instructions came in the form of a letter from its Congregation for Bishops, which he said had concerns about church law. Under canon law, only the Pope can hold bishops accountable. The congregation also wanted the US bishops to wait to take action until after the meeting of bishops in Rome next February. Catholic bishops in the United States have been heavily criticized for failing to hold themselves accountable for the sexual abuse of children, especially after a grand jury report in Pennsylvania released this summer found widespread evidence of abuse by priests and coverups by bishops. In another scandal, Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington and a powerful figure in the church, was demoted by Pope Francis after a man accused McCarrick of molesting him decades ago in New York. Since then, other men have come forward in media reports accusing McCarrick of molesting them while they were seminarians. McCarrick has denied the accusation from New York and is appealing his case at the Vatican. A number of Catholic bishops have said they are concerned that McCarrick was allowed to rise through the church's ranks despite persistent rumors about his conduct. DiNardo and others traveled to Rome this fall to personally ask the Pope for the Vatican's help in investigating McCarrick. Immediately after DiNardo made the surprise announcement on Monday, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, one of the Pope's closest allies in the United States, said the bishops should still discuss the proposals, even if they are not approved this week. Cupich also suggested that the bishops could vote on the new measures at an emergency meeting in March. "We need as a conference, as brother bishops, to take up this issue for the good of the church in this country without delay," Cupich said.[SEP]Pope Francis requested on Monday that American bishops who had gathered in Baltimore for the first time since a series of sexual abuse scandals hit the Catholic Church across the U.S. to delay voting on proposals to address those issues until he leads a global summit in February, reports the Washington Post. Details: Both officials and representatives of survivors' groups present at the meeting were reportedly stunned by the announcement. The only bishop to speak, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, said the assembly should still hold its own non-binding vote before formally adopting the proposals as soon as possible after February's summit.[SEP]In an abrupt change of plans, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opened the group's national meeting Monday by announcing it will delay for at least several months any votes on proposed new steps to address the clergy sex abuse crisis that is rocking the church. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, of Galveston-Houston, said the delay was requested by the Vatican, which asked that the U.S. bishops wait until after a Vatican-convened global meeting on sex abuse in February. DiNardo expressed disappointment but told the U.S. bishops, "I remain hopeful that this additional consultation will ultimately improve our response to the crisis we face." The bishops are meeting through Wednesday in Baltimore and had been expected to consider several steps to combat abuse, including a new code of conduct for themselves and the creation of a special commission to review complaints against the bishops. At their meeting, which continues through Wednesday, the bishops may proceed with discussions of these proposals, which were drafted in September by the bishops' Administrative Committee. But there will be no immediate vote. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, of Chicago, suggested that the bishops hold a special assembly in March to vote on the measures after considering the results of the global meeting in February. Abuse scandals have roiled the Roman Catholic Church worldwide for decades, but there have been major developments this year in the U.S. In July, Pope Francis removed U.S. church leader Theodore McCarrick as a cardinal after church investigators said an allegation that he groped a teenage altar boy in the 1970s was credible. Subsequently, several former seminarians and priests reported that they too had been abused or harassed by McCarrick as adults, triggering debate over who might have known and covered up McCarrick's misconduct. In August, a grand jury report in Pennsylvania detailed decades of abuse and cover-up in six dioceses, alleging that more than 1,000 children had been abused over the years by about 300 priests. Since then, a federal prosecutor in Philadelphia has begun working on a federal criminal case centered on child exploitation, and attorneys general in several other states have launched investigations. DiNardo, in his address opening the bishops' assembly, told survivors of clergy abuse that he was "deeply sorry." The church, he said, should not revictimize survivors "by demanding they heal on our timeline." Announcement of a delay in the voting drew skeptical reactions. "We had this agenda, we were moving forward on these documents, this was our goal," said Bishop Christopher Coyne, of the Vermont diocese of Burlington, and the communications chair for the three-day conference. "And now ... it will look like we don't have to come up with much." Coyne said he believed there were "no machinations" leading to the delay, but he had concerns about how it would be perceived outside the assembly hall. "The Vatican just made a big mistake in asking U.S. bishops to delay their votes on clergy abuse protocols," tweeted John Gehring, the Catholic program director at Faith in Public Life, a Washington-based clergy network. "The optics are terrible, and it sends a message, intended or not, that Rome doesn't recognize the urgency of the moment."[SEP]BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. Catholic bishops abruptly postponed plans Monday to vote on proposed new steps to address the clergy sex abuse crisis roiling the church at the Vatican’s insistence. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he was told on the eve of the bishop’s national meeting to delay action until after a Vatican-convened global meeting on sex abuse in February. “We are not ourselves happy about this,” DiNardo told reporters in an unusual public display of frustration at a Vatican pronouncement. “We are working very hard to move to action — and we’ll do it,” he said. “I think people in the church have a right to be skeptical. I think they also have a right to be hopeful.” The bishops are meeting through Wednesday in Baltimore and had been expected to consider several steps to combat abuse, including a new code of conduct for themselves and the creation of a special commission, including lay experts, to review complaints against the bishops. The bishops plan to proceed with discussing these proposals, which were drafted in September by the bishops’ Administrative Committee. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, of Chicago, suggested the bishops could hold a non-binding vote on the proposals while in Baltimore and then convene a special assembly for a formal vote after considering the results of the global meeting in February. “I realize that another meeting will create logistical challenges for the conference staff and the bishops’ schedules, but there is a grave urgency to this matter and we cannot delay,” Cupich said. Abuse scandals have roiled the Roman Catholic Church worldwide for decades, but there have been major developments this year in the U.S. In July, Pope Francis removed U.S. church leader Theodore McCarrick as a cardinal after church investigators said an allegation that he groped a teenage altar boy in the 1970s was credible. Subsequently, several former seminarians and priests reported they too had been abused or harassed by McCarrick as adults, triggering debate over who might have known and covered up McCarrick’s misconduct. In August, a grand jury report in Pennsylvania detailed decades of abuse and cover-up in six dioceses, alleging more than 1,000 children had been abused over the years by about 300 priests. Since then, a federal prosecutor in Philadelphia has begun working on a federal criminal case centered on child exploitation, and attorneys general in several other states have launched investigations. DiNardo, in his address opening the bishops’ assembly, told survivors of clergy abuse he was “deeply sorry.” “Some would say this is entirely a crisis of the past. It is not,” DiNardo said. “We must never victimize survivors over again by demanding they heal on our timeline.” After DiNardo’s address, the bishops adjourned to a chapel for a daylong session of prayer that includes remarks by two survivors of clergy abuse who have worked to promote healing and reconciliation among other victims. “Please understand the heart of the church is broken and you need to fix this now,'” Luis A. Torres Jr. told the bishops. “You were not called to be CEOs… You were not called to be princes. Be the priests that you were called to be. Please act now. Be better. Be good.” Outside the conference hall, news of the delay in voting angered some protesters who were demanding the bishops take strong action against abuse. “I know that they answer to the Holy See, but there’s a bigger imperative here, which is that children and victims need them to step forward,” said Anne Barrett Doyle, who works at the abuse database BishopAccountability.org. “By complying so meekly with what the pope has demanded of them today, they are surrendering their responsibility.” Liz McCloskey, part of a coalition of concerned Catholics called the 5 Theses movement that has posted its proposals for reform on church doors in Baltimore and other cities, said the stakes couldn’t be higher. She said Catholics were “leaving in droves” in the absence of significant reforms and full transparency. “Delaying taking any action in response to the sex abuse scandal is not only a public relations nightmare but a moral failing,” McCloskey told The Associated Press. Her group’s proposals for the bishops include cooperating fully with investigations and releasing names of credibly accused clergy, committing to shedding regalia and living simply, and asking Pope Francis to put women in leadership posts. DiNardo said the bishops didn’t complete a final draft of their proposed anti-abuse actions until Oct. 30 and the Vatican, with relatively short notice, sought to delay voting because of potential legal complications. Nonetheless, John Gehring, the Catholic program director at a Washington-based clergy network called Faith in Public Life, said the Vatican “just made a big mistake.” “The optics are terrible, and it sends a message, intended or not, that Rome doesn’t recognize the urgency of the moment,” Gehring tweeted .[SEP](CNN) — The Vatican has told the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to delay voting on measures to hold bishops accountable for failing to protect children from sexual abuse, the president of the conference said in a surprise announcement Monday morning. In his announcement, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said he was “disappointed” by the Vatican’s decision, which he said he learned of on Sunday afternoon. Pope Francis met with his ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, on Saturday, according to the pope’s public schedule. Pierre is in Baltimore and addressed the body of bishops on Monday morning, though he did not mention the Vatican’s insistence that the US bishops delay their vote. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops gathers about 200 bishops from around the country twice a year to debate and adopt new policies. A Vatican spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pope Francis will convene a meeting of bishops from around the world in February to address the sexual abuse crisis, which has roiled the church on several continents, including North America, South America and Australia. The Catholic bishops had been expected to debate and vote on several “concrete measures to respond to the abuse crisis,” according to a news release about the meeting in Baltimore. Those measures, according to the bishops’ conference, included a hotline to report bishops accused of abuse or mishandling abuse cases, standards of conduct for bishops and “protocols for bishops resigned or removed because of abuse.” The bishops can still debate those measures, but they will not vote on them this week, following the Vatican’s intervention. US Catholic bishops announce new policies to police bishops Catholic bishops in the United States have been heavily criticized for failing to hold themselves accountable for the sexual abuse of children, especially after a grand jury report in Pennsylvania released this summer found widespread evidence of abuse by priests and coverups by bishops. Under church law, only the Pope can discipline bishops. In another scandal, Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, DC, and a powerful figure in the church, was demoted by Pope Francis after a man accused McCarrick of molesting him decades ago in New York. Since then, other men have come forward in media reports accusing McCarrick of molesting them while they were seminarians. McCarrick has denied some of the accusations and is appealing his case at the Vatican. A number of Catholic bishops have said they are concerned that McCarrick was allowed to rise through the church’s ranks despite persistent rumors about his conduct. DiNardo and others traveled to Rome this fall to personally ask the Pope for the Vatican’s help in investigating McCarrick. Immediately after DiNardo made the surprise announcement on Monday, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, one of the Pope’s closest allies in the United States, said the bishops should still discuss the proposals, even if they are not voted on this week. Cupich also suggested that the bishops could vote on the new measures at an emergency meeting in March. “We need as a conference, as brother bishops, to take up this issue for the good of the church in this country without delay,” Cupich said. This is a developing story and will be updated.[SEP]BALTIMORE (AP) — At the Vatican's insistence, U.S. Catholic bishops abruptly postponed plans today to vote on proposed new steps to address the clergy sex abuse crisis roiling the church. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he was told on the eve of the bishop's national meeting to delay action until after a Vatican-convened global meeting on sex abuse in February. "We are not ourselves happy about this," DiNardo told reporters in an unusual public display of frustration at a Vatican pronouncement. "We are working very hard to move to action – and we'll do it," he said. "I think people in the church have a right to be skeptical. I think they also have a right to be hopeful." The bishops are meeting through Wednesday in Baltimore and had been expected to consider several steps to combat abuse, including a new code of conduct for themselves and the creation of a special commission, including lay experts, to review complaints against the bishops. The bishops plan to proceed with discussing these proposals, which were drafted in September by the bishops' Administrative Committee. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, of Chicago, suggested the bishops could hold a non-binding vote on the proposals while in Baltimore and then convene a special assembly for a formal vote after considering the results of the global meeting in February. "I realize that another meeting will create logistical challenges for the conference staff and the bishops' schedules, but there is a grave urgency to this matter and we cannot delay," Cupich said.[SEP]BALTIMORE (CNS) — At the urging of the Vatican, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will not vote on two proposals they were to discuss at their Baltimore meeting regarding their response to the clergy sex abuse crisis. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB president, informed the bishops as they opened their fall general assembly Nov. 12 that the Vatican wanted the bishops to delay any vote until after a February meeting with the pope and presidents of the bishops’ conferences around the world that will focus on addressing clergy abuse. Affected are proposed standards of episcopal conduct and the formation of a special commission for review of complaints against bishops for violations of the standards. Cardinal DiNardo said he was disappointed that no action would be taken during the assembly, but that he was hopeful that the delay “will improve our response to the crisis we face.” The cardinal’s announcement came two days after Pope Francis met with Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, at the Vatican. Archbishop Pierre returned to the United States Nov. 11 in time for the first day of the U.S. bishops’ general fall assembly in Baltimore. However, at a midday news conference, Cardinal DiNardo said the request to delay action came from the Congregation for Bishops. The assembly planned to move forward with discussion of both proposals from the bishop’s Administrative Committee. The Administrative Committee consists of the officers, chairmen and regional representatives of the USCCB. The committee, which meets in March and September, is the highest authority of the USCCB outside of the full body of bishops when they meet for their fall and spring general assemblies. In response, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago suggested the general assembly move forward with its discussion of the two proposals. He also called for a special assembly in March to weigh and vote on the measures after being informed by the outcome of the February meeting in Rome. “It is clear that the Holy See is taking seriously the abuse crisis in the church,” Cardinal Cupich said, adding that the February meeting was a “watershed moment” in church history. “We need to be clear where we stand and tell our people where we stand,” he said. Later in the morning session, just before the assembly adjourned for a day of prayer and penitence, Cardinal DiNardo opened his presidential address pointing to the weakness within the church that has led to the clergy abuse crisis. Repeatedly citing the words of St. Augustine, he said “in order that weakness might become strong, strength became weak.” He called for action to lift the entire brotherhood of bishops from a place of weakness that has allowed the clergy sex abuse crisis to exist. While there were to be no votes on specific action at the meeting, he said the deliberations the bishops would undertake would set them on the route to healing for the church and for victims of abuse. He also held up his own weakness to victims, saying: “Where I have not been watchful or alert to your needs, wherever I have failed, I am deeply sorry.” Cardinal DiNardo urged the bishops to root themselves in the life and teaching of Jesus to lead the church and the victims of abuse to healing. He also called for the bishops to focus on the needs of victims so that “our example not lead a single person away from the Lord.” He also said that the bishops must be as accountable as anyone else in ministry in the church and that they, like priests and other church workers, must adhere to the same standards of conduct identified in the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” “Whether we will be remembered as guardians of the abused or of the abuser will be determined by our action beginning this week and the months ahead. Let us draw near to Christ today sacrificing him our own ambitions and promptly submit ourselves totally to what he demands of us both in love and justice,” he said. In his seven-minute address, the cardinal said that he read that St. Augustine warned there are two extremes that pose dangers to the faithful — despair and presumption. “We and the faithful can fall into despair believing that there is no hope for the church or (for) good change in the church. We can also believe that there are no hopes for healing from these sins,” he said. “But we must always remember that there is a thing called trusting faith and it leads us on our current journey. This trusting faith provides us roots, roots for a living memory. Our people need this living memory of hope,” he said. Presumption can lull the church into inactivity, he added, “by presuming that this will blow over, that things simply return to normal on their own. Some would say this is entirely a crisis of the past, and it is not. We must never victimize survivors over again by demanding that hey heal on our timeline.” While the majority of abuse incidents occurred decades ago, the pain among victims “is daily and present,” he continued and warned against leaving behind people who have been hurt by clergy. “In justice we must search for every child of God whose innocence is lost to a horrific predator at any time decades ago or this very day,” Cardinal DiNardo said. He explained that healing can result through forgiveness, adding, “Let us not only be willing but also ready and eager to ask for forgiveness.” “Combating the evil of sexual assault in the church will require all our spiritual and physical resources,” he said. “We must draw near to Christ in our sorrow, in humility and in contrition to better hear his voice and discern his will. It is only after listening that we can carry out the changes needed, the changes the people of God are rightfully demanding.” Copyright ©2018 Catholic News Service / U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Send questions about this site to cns@catholicnews.com[SEP]The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will not be considering two measures it drafted in response to the sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church after the Vatican intervened at the last minute. Announcing the surprise move at the start of the bishops’ annual fall assembly, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said, “At the insistence of the Holy See, we will not be voting” on the changes. “The Holy See has asked that we delay voting,” DiNardo said, because Pope Francis plans to hold a global meeting of conference presidents, scheduled for February 2019. One of the two “action items” would establish standards of accountability for bishops; the other would set up a special commission for receiving complaints against bishops. “I am sorry for the late notice, but in fact this was conveyed to me late yesterday afternoon,” said DiNardo, the archbishop of Galveston-Houston. “Although I am disappointed that we will not be taking these actions tomorrow” through a vote, he said, adding that he hopes the delay will let the Catholic Church improve its response to the abuse crisis. The sudden change in the bishops’ agenda came as they gathered in Baltimore, planning to put in place what the conference called “a series of concrete measures” in response to the sexual abuse scandal. It is “the first public meeting of bishops since a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation reported at least a thousand children were molested by hundreds of priests — and that bishops systematically covered it up,” Mary Rose Madden of member station WYPR reports. Even before that shocking report on “predator priests” emerged in August, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the archbishop of Boston, said he was concerned that the church wasn’t responding quickly or actively enough to the abuse crisis. As news of the Vatican’s intervention spread, NPR’s Sylvia Poggioli reports, “critics of the delay said it sends the message that the Holy See does not grasp the depth of the crisis.” And Madden notes that activists and abuse survivors have been taking to social media to declare that “justice delayed is justice denied.” When DiNardo began the bishops’ meeting on Monday, he devoted a large chunk of his opening address to speak directly to abuse survivors. “Where I have not been watchful or alert to your needs, wherever I have failed, I am deeply sorry,” DiNardo said. He added. “Some would say this is entirely a crisis of the past. It is not. We must never victimize survivors over again by demanding they heal on our timeline.” Many of the abuse cases that have now become part of the public record date from years or decades ago. “But the pain is daily,” the president of the U.S. bishops said. At a midday news conference that focused heavily on the months-long delay, DiNardo said that even though the U.S. bishops cannot immediately hold a vote, they would still work to clarify the actions they want to take, “so that Rome will see that.” “We are not, ourselves, happy about this,” he said.[SEP]Attendees speak during a break at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) general assembly in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (Reuters) - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will delay action to deal with a crisis involving sexual abuse of minors by clergy until after a global meeting in February at the request of the Vatican, conference president Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said on Monday. The Catholic Church worldwide is reeling from crises involving sexual abuse of minors, deeply damaging confidence in the Church in the United States, Chile, Australia, Ireland and elsewhere. Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said the Congregation for Bishops in Rome had sent a letter asking U.S. bishops to wait until after the Vatican-convened global meeting on sex abuse takes place in February. "We have accepted with disappointment this particular event that took place this morning," Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said at a media conference on Monday, the opening day of the conference. "We have not lessened in any of our resolve for actions." In the United States, 13 state attorneys general have launched statewide investigations into sexual abuse by clergy. In August, an 884-page report made public by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro stated that Roman Catholic priests in the state sexually abused nearly 1,000 children over a 70-year period and silenced victims through "the weaponization of faith" and a systematic cover-up campaign by their bishops. The conference of bishops had expected to focus this week on a measures to combat abuse, including establishing a new code of conduct, according to a September statement. "We humbly welcome and are grateful for the assistance of the whole people of God in holding us accountable," the statement said. Terry McKiernan, co-director of victims' advocacy group BishopAccountability.org, said the Pope's intervention in this week's conference was a frustrating setback. "This situation is so terrible that the only way that it’s really going to be solved is if bishops convincingly demonstrate their remorse and concern," McKiernan told Reuters in a phone interview. DiNardo called the delay "a bump in the road" on Monday but said it does not reflect U.S. bishops' lack of determination to deal with the issue. "We were all set to move to reach an action stage here this week," DiNardo said. "I don't look upon any of this as a change in direction for the Catholic bishops of the United States."[SEP]As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opened a Day of Prayer at the Fall Bishops General Assembly Nov. 12, John McKeon was the first to walk a path along Aliceanna Street outside the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, just after 9 a.m. Along with his wife, Karen Greklek, he made the journey from New York to show his concern with a simple poster board sign and matching pins that read “REPENT RESIGN.” “I don’t think the church would miss a beat if they all resigned,” McKeon said, calling for a collective resignation similar to that of the bishops of Chile. “There are many ways to serve the Lord – they don’t have to be a bishop.” Even if Pope Francis does not accept the resignations of every bishop, he said, the gesture would show remorse. “I’m here because of my faith,” said McKeon, a parishioner of St. Mary-Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Mount Vernon, N.Y. “I want the Catholic Church to be what it should be, not what it is.” Leaders from BishopAccountability.org organized a morning press conference, where they and victim-survivors of abuse denounced the Vatican’s request for the U.S. bishops not to vote on two proposals they were to discuss at the assembly regarding their response to the clergy sex abuse scandals. The Vatican – via the Congregation for Bishops – asked the U.S. bishops to delay any vote until after a February meeting with the pope and presidents of the bishops’ conferences around the world that will focus on addressing clergy abuse. The bishops were informed of the request just as the general meeting was being called to order. Action “absolutely cannot wait,” said Peter Isely, a spokesperson for Ending Clergy Abuse and founding member of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), who was the first to speak at the press conference. “There’s no reason to wait. … It’s well overdue; it’s time to stand up and do something.” Isely a victim-survivor of abuse in Wisconsin, said the bishops “need to deliver” at the General Assembly, which is to run Nov. 12-14. “They cannot walk out of this conference without delivering anything,” he said. Isely still considers himself Catholic because he believes there is a possibility that there will be change. “I don’t know what a post-abuse church will look like, but that’s one I want to be a part of,” he said. “I still do believe out of … the voice of that suffering (by abuse victims and survivors) will come the real spiritual reform of this church.” Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, and co-director and Terence McKiernan, the organization’s president, pointed to Bishop Steven Biegler of the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyo., as a good example of an accountable bishop. McKiernan told the Catholic Review that releasing the names of accused and continuously updating those lists are steps in the right direction of attaining accountability. “We know survivors who can’t go into a church,” McKiernan said, adding that as a researcher, he cannot walk away. “This has actually made my faith stronger and more important.” The press conference also heard from Shaun Dougherty, a victim-survivor who called upon his bishop, Bishop Mark Bartchak of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pa., to be a leader in the reform of the church. Dougherty told the Review that his name was one of those redacted from the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report released Aug. 14. It was Dougherty’s first time protesting outside the bishops’ conference. He said throughout his entire adult life, some members of the conference covered up clergy sexual abuse. “This time, if they’re going to do it again, they’re going to do it with me standing here,” Dougherty said. “I will not cower again.” One of nine children and raised in a “very, very” Catholic household, Dougherty said he stopped practicing his faith as a teenager as a direct result of the abuse he encountered. “I wholeheartedly struggle with faith,” he said. “If they (bishops) want me to believe in God, they should probably do something to show me that they believe in God.” Dougherty last encountered sexual abuse from a clergy member in 1983, but said “the mental torment and torture has lasted every day since that time.” His family knows about the abuse, and most have since left the Catholic Church. He still has two brothers and a sister who actively practice the Catholic faith, and acknowledged that the personal choice lies with the individual. “The Catholic faithful and the Catholic hierarchy – in order to get me to go back (to the church) – would have to act the way they taught me to act in Catholic school,” Dougherty said. “Until then, I don’t believe in anything.” Fewer than 10 people participated in the protests outside the conference hotel on the first day of the fall meeting. Some protests of and demonstrations in support of of the General Assembly began over the weekend. A group of priests, seminarians and lay faithful walked nearly 50 miles from Emmitsburg to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore Nov. 9-11 in penance and prayer. Just before those pilgrims participated in 4:30 p.m. Mass Nov. 11, a paper was taped to the door of the basilica listing “5 Theses” by the group of the same name. They called for full transparency, survivors’ voices, simple living, women in church leadership and praying for a reformed church. Members also placed the theses in the collection basket with two pennies – their “two cents” – attached. Liz McCloskey, one of the leaders of 5 Theses, said the pennies paralleled the day’s reading from the Gospel of Mark. “The Gospel for the day is the widow’s mite,” McCloskey told Catholic News Service. This is a drop in the bucket. This is a huge institution that’s been around for 2,000 years and is slow to change. “There is a feeling of powerlessness or not influencing the church, yet Jesus said those two cents are of value,” she said. “My hope is that this is a contribution that’s valued and is heard.” A vigil called “Nothing About Us Without Us” was slated for the afternoon of Nov. 12 outside the Marriott entrance. Sponsored by SNAP and Catholics for Action, it was to include a memorial for survivors who have passed away and a vigil as a reminder for the bishops that the voices of survivors and laity need to be included and a central part of discussions about the clergy sex scandal, according to the Maryland Catholics for Action website. Dennis Sadowski of Catholic News Service contributed to this article.

Pope Francis asks the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, now meeting in Baltimore, to delay voting on proposals to address the sexual abuse crisis until he leads a global summit in February.

If Stan Lee revolutionized the comic book world in the 1960s, which he did, he left as big a stamp — maybe bigger — on the even wider pop culture landscape of today. Think of “Spider-Man,” the blockbuster movie franchise and Broadway spectacle. Think of “Iron Man,” another Hollywood gold-mine series personified by its star, Robert Downey Jr. Think of “Black Panther,” the box-office superhero smash that shattered big screen racial barriers in the process. And that is to say nothing of the Hulk, the X-Men, Thor and other film and television juggernauts that have stirred the popular imagination and made many people very rich. If all that entertainment product can be traced to one person, it would be Stan Lee, who died in Los Angeles on Monday at 95. From a cluttered office on Madison Avenue in Manhattan in the 1960s, he helped conjure a lineup of pulp-fiction heroes that has come to define much of popular culture in the early 21st century.[SEP]Actor Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Winston Duke, and Seth Rogen among those who hailed the creator of Marvel comics This article is more than 9 months old This article is more than 9 months old Tributes poured in from fans and celebrities hailing the comic creator Stan Lee on Monday, who died at the age of 95. “There will never be another Stan Lee. For decades he provided both young and old with adventure, escape, comfort, confidence, inspiration, strength, friendship and joy,” Captain America actor Chris Evans said on Twitter. “He exuded love and kindness and will leave an indelible mark on so, so, so many lives. Excelsior!!” Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) There will never be another Stan Lee. For decades he provided both young and old with adventure, escape, comfort, confidence, inspiration, strength, friendship and joy. He exuded love and kindness and will leave an indelible mark on so, so, so many lives. Excelsior!! Lee was the co-creator of characters including Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Daredevil and the X-Men. “He felt an obligation to his fans to keep creating,” his daughter JC Lee said. “He loved his life and he loved what he did for a living. His family loved him and his fans loved him. He was irreplaceable.” From X-Men to Deadpool: Stan Lee's Marvel movie cameos – in pictures Read more The Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr said of Lee: “I owe it all to you.” Mark Ruffalo, who plays the Hulk, was among a host of other Marvel actors who paid their respects, and tweeted: “You let us be extra human … superhuman even.” Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, said: “No one has had more of an impact on my career and everything we do at Marvel Studios than Stan Lee. Stan leaves an extraordinary legacy that will outlive us all.” Marvel rival DC Comics wrote on its Twitter account: “He changed the way we look at heroes, and modern comics will always bear his indelible mark. His infectious enthusiasm reminded us why we all fell in love with these stories in the first place.” Lee created the Marvel Universe that stretched across comic books, movies and TV, and revitalized the comic industry with superheroes who had complex emotional lives to go along with their action adventures. This video has been removed. This could be because it launched early, our rights have expired, there was a legal issue, or for another reason. Stan Lee's best Marvel cameos – video Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films, wrote that Lee’s “contribution to pop culture was revolutionary and cannot be overstated. They say you should never meet a childhood idol. They are wrong.” Director Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, wrote: “Thanks for so much of my life. You’ll never not be in it.” Another Marvel actor, Winston Duke, credited Lee with creating “characters that continue to stand the test of time and evolve with our consciousness”. “You taught us that there are no limits to our future as long as we have access to our imagination. Rest in power!” he tweeted. Winston Duke (@Winston_Duke) THANK YOU, @TheRealStanLee. You gave us characters that continue to stand the test of time and evolve with our consciousness. You taught us that there are no limits to our future as long as we have access to our imagination. Rest in power! #EXCELSIOR #StanLee #rip pic.twitter.com/hnSmnHIDln “Thank you Stan Lee for making people who feel different realize they are special,” wrote actor Seth Rogen. Wolverine star Hugh Jackman weighed in: “We’ve lost a creative genius. Stan Lee was a pioneering force in the superhero universe. I’m proud to have been a small part of his legacy and .... to have helped bring one of his characters to life.” Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) We’ve lost a creative genius. Stan Lee was a pioneering force in the superhero universe. I’m proud to have been a small part of his legacy and .... to have helped bring one of his characters to life. #StanLee #Wolverine pic.twitter.com/iOdefi7iYz “Damn... RIP Stan. Thanks for everything,” said Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds. Singer Josh Groban said: “Thank you for making my childhood, teen years and adulthood so fun, especially during darker days.” • This article was amended on 13 November 2018 to remove a quote that was incorrectly attributed to Scarlett Johansson.[SEP]LOS ANGELES, Calif.– Comic book genius Stan Lee, the architect of the contemporary comic book, has died. He was 95. The creative dynamo who revolutionized the comics by introducing human frailties in superheroes such as Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk, was declared dead Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Kirk Schenck, an attorney for Lee’s daughter, J.C. Lee. As the top writer at Marvel Comics and later as its publisher, he revived the industry in the 1960s by offering the costumes and action craved by younger readers while insisting on sophisticated plots, college-level dialogue, satire, science fiction, even philosophy. Spider-Man, the Hulk and X-Men were among the Lee creations that went on to become stars of blockbuster films.[SEP]Stan Lee, longtime publisher and public face of Marvel Comics, died Monday at the age of 95. On Monday morning, TMZ reported an ambulance rushed Lee from his home to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He later died there, as confirmed by the Associated Press and the Hollywood Reporter. Lee had weathered a number of recent illnesses over the last few years, including pneumonia. The comic book mastermind got his start in comics in 1939, creating or contributing to the creation of iconic characters like Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, and others. When famed comic heroes were in more recent years adapted into film characters, Lee regularly made cameo appearances alongside them. Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.[SEP]Marvel legend Stan Lee, who revolutionized pop culture as the co-creator of iconic superheroes like Spider-Man and The Hulk who now dominate the world's movie screens, has died. He was 95 years old. Lee, the face of comic book culture in the United States, died early Monday in Los Angeles after suffering a number of illnesses in recent years. "With a heavy heart, we share our deepest condolences with his daughter and brother," said Marvel Comics and its owner The Walt Disney Company in a statement. "We honor and remember the creator, voice and champion of Marvel... Every time you open a Marvel comic, Stan will be there." The New Yorker, known for his distinctive tinted glasses and impish grin, ended up in the comics business by accident, thanks to an uncle who got him a job when he was a teenager filling artists' inkwells and fetching coffee. "I felt someday I'd write the 'Great American Novel' and I didn't want to use my real name on these silly little comics," Lee once said, explaining why he had forsaken his given name, Stanley Lieber. Lee rose through the ranks to become a comics writer -- making millions of superhero fans dream of his fantastic universes and humans with extraordinary powers -- and eventually led the Marvel empire for decades as its publisher. From Spidey to Black Panther to the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, Lee collaborated with other authors and illustrators to put his lively imagination on the page. Iron Man, Thor and Doctor Strange would follow -- and today, all three heroes have multi-film franchises that rake in hundreds of millions of dollars. "Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created," said Disney CEO Bob Iger. "A superhero in his own right to Marvel fans around the world, Stan had the power to inspire, to entertain, and to connect." 'The King' and 'The Man' Lee has appeared in cameo roles in nearly every movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- including as a bus driver in "Avengers: Infinity War," a film that united many of the indelible characters he brought to life. "I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers," Lee said. "And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people's lives. Without it, they might go off the deep end." Born on December 28, 1922 to Jewish immigrants who migrated to the United States from Romania, Lee got that first assistant's job at age 17 at Timely Comics and began rising through the ranks. After a stint in the US Army during World War II Lee returned to comics, teaming up with illustrator Jack Kirby in the 1960s to invent the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. It was a partnership for the ages -- Kirby, the artist, was "The King" and Lee, the writer, was "The Man." Together they would pioneer new ways to tell stories, with deeply flawed heroes and serious themes -- all while maintaining the wonder of traditional superhero lore. Even villains showed complicated feelings. "When the time came to create a teenaged hero for Marvel Comics, I decided to depict him as a bumbling real-life teenager who by some miracle had acquired a super power," Lee wrote in a 1977 column, "How I Invented Spider-Man." "If you suddenly gained the muscle power of a hundred men and could outwrestle King Kong, it doesn't mean you still wouldn't have to worry about dandruff or acne, right? Lee and his collaborators churned out hit after hit and he took over at Marvel in the 1960s, creating the "Marvel Universe" -- all of the heroes existed in the same time and story crossovers were frequent. It's a model now adopted by the Hollywood producers beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- which releases its 21st film, "Captain Marvel," in March next year. Lee formally left Marvel in the 1990s but remained chairman emeritus. He was the brand's most recognizable face, giving lectures and speaking at comics conventions. "My father loved all of his fans," his daughter JC told Hollywood celebrity news portal TMZ. "He was the greatest, most decent man." In recent years, as Lee reached his 90s, he ran into legal troubles and scandal. A massage therapist sued him for sexual assault, accusing him of inappropriate touching during two sessions in 2017. Lee denied the allegations. There were also claims that people around the Marvel legend -- who was worth tens of millions of dollars -- were trying to access his wealth, and that he was the victim of elder abuse at the hands of his manager and his daughter JC. Lee's wife of nearly 70 years, Joan, died in 2017. Hollywood quickly took to social media to pay tribute to the late superhero of comics. "My youth wouldn't have been the same without him. So grateful to have met the guy, and told him how thankful I was for his work," tweeted Australian filmmaker James Wan. Edgar Wright, the British director of "Shaun of the Dead" and "Baby Driver" used Lee's catchphrase in his eulogy: "Thanks for inspiring so many of us to pick up a pen or pencil and put your dreams onto paper."[SEP]LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stan Lee, the creative dynamo who revolutionized the comic book and helped make billions for Hollywood by introducing human frailties in superheroes such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk, died Monday. He was 95. Lee was declared dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Kirk Schenck, an attorney for Lee’s daughter, J.C. Lee. As the top writer at Marvel Comics and later as its publisher, Lee was widely considered the architect of the contemporary comic book. He revived the industry in the 1960s by offering the costumes and action craved by younger readers while insisting on sophisticated plots, college-level dialogue, satire, science fiction, even philosophy. “I think everybody loves things that are bigger than life. … I think of them as fairy tales for grown-ups,” he told The Associated Press in a 2006 interview. “We all grew up with giants and ogres and witches. Well, you get a little bit older and you’re too old to read fairy tales. But I don’t think you ever outgrow your love for those kind of things, things that are bigger than life and magical and very imaginative.” Lee considered the comic-book medium an art form and he was prolific: By some accounts, he came up with a new comic book every day for 10 years. “I wrote so many I don’t even know. I wrote either hundreds or thousands of them,” he told the AP in 2006. He hit his stride in the 1960s when he brought the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man and numerous others to life. “It was like there was something in the air. I couldn’t do anything wrong,” he recalled. His heroes, meanwhile, were a far cry from virtuous do-gooders such as rival DC Comics’ Superman. The Fantastic Four fought with each other. Spider-Man was goaded into superhero work by his alter ego, Peter Parker, who suffered from unrequited crushes, money problems and dandruff. The Silver Surfer, an alien doomed to wander Earth’s atmosphere, waxed about the woeful nature of man. The Hulk was marked by self-loathing. Daredevil was blind and Iron Man had a weak heart. Some of Lee’s creations became symbols of social change — the inner turmoil of Spider-Man represented ’60s America, for example, while The Black Panther and The Savage She-Hulk mirrored the travails of minorities and women. Lee scripted most of Marvel’s superhero comics himself during the ’60s, including the Avengers and the X-Men, two of the most enduring. In 1972, he became Marvel’s publisher and editorial director; four years later, 72 million copies of Spider-Man were sold. “He’s become our Mickey Mouse,” he once said of the masked, web-crawling crusader. Lee also published several books, including “The Superhero Women” in 1977 and “How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way” the following year, when he was named publisher of the year by the Periodical and Book Association of America. CBS turned the Hulk into a successful TV series, with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno portraying the doomed scientist from 1978-82. A Spider-Man series ran briefly in 1978. Both characters were featured in animated TV series as well. The first big-budget movie based on Lee’s characters, “X-Men,” was a smash in 2000, earning more than $130 million at North American theaters. “Spider-Man” did even better, taking in more than $400 million in 2002. A Marvel movie empire would emerge after that, one of the most lucrative mega-franchises in cinema history, with the recent “Avengers: Infinity War” grossing more than $2 billion worldwide. In 10 years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe film shave netted over $17.6 billion in worldwide grosses. Stanley Martin Lieber was born Dec. 28, 1922, in New York. He grew up a fan of “Hardy Boys” adventure books and Errol Flynn movies, and got a job at Timely Comics after graduating from high school. Within a few months, the editor and art director quit, leaving the 17-year-old Lee with creative control over the company, which grew and was renamed Atlas Comics and, finally, Marvel. Lieber changed his name, thinking Lee would be used for “silly little comics” and his real name would be reserved for novels. His early work largely reflected popular movies — westerns, crime dramas, romance, whatever was the rage at the time. He worked for about 50 cents per page. After a stint in the Army during World War II, writing for training films, he was back at Marvel to begin a long and admittedly boring run of assembly line comic book production. Comics in the 1950s were the subject of Senate hearings pushed by the Comics Code Authority, which frowned on gore and characters that questioned authority. Major comic book companies adopted the code as a form of self-regulation to avoid sanctions. Lee said he was also working for a publisher who considered comics as fare only for children. “One day I said, ‘This is insane,’” Lee told the Guardian in 1979. “I’m just doing the same type of stories as everybody else. I wasn’t taking pride in my work and I wanted to quit. But my wife said, ‘Look, why don’t you do the kind of comics you want for a change?’” The result was the first issue of “The Fantastic Four,” in 1960, with the characters, plot and text from Lee and the illustrations by famed Marvel artist Jack Kirby. The characters were normal people changed into reluctant superheroes through no fault of their own. Writing in “Origins of Marvel Comics,” Lee described the quartet this way: “The characters would be the kind of characters I could personally relate to; they’d be flesh and blood, they’d have their faults and foibles, they’d be fallible and feisty and — most important of all — inside their colorful, costumed booties they’d still have feet of clay.” “The Amazing Spider-Man” followed in 1962 and before long, Marvel Comics was an industry behemoth. Lee knew his work was different, proudly noting that stories were drawn out over several issues not to make money but to better develop characters, situations and themes. He didn’t neglect his villains, either. One, the Moleman, went bad when he was ostracized because of his appearance, Lee wrote, adding it was “almost unheard of in a comic book” to explain why a character was what he was. Lee’s direct influence faded in the 1970s as he gave up some of his editorial duties at Marvel. But with his trademark white mustache and tinted sunglasses, he was the industry’s most recognizable figure. He lectured widely on popular culture. Lee moved to Los Angeles in 1981 to head Marvel Productions, an animation studio that was later purchased, along with Marvel Comics, for $50 million by New World Entertainment. As sales of comics declined, Marvel was forced into bankruptcy proceedings that meant it had to void a lifetime contract prohibiting Lee from working for anyone else. Lee later sued Marvel for $10 million, saying the company cheated him out of millions in profits from movies based on his characters. In 2000, Lee agreed to write stories for DC Comics, reinventing Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and other signature characters for Marvel’s one-time rival. DC Vice President and Publisher Paul Levitz had nothing but praise when the agreement was made. “With his artistic collaborators at Marvel, Stan co-created the richest imaginary universe a single comics writer has ever built,” he said. The dapper, friendly comic book genius continued to work into his 90s on numerous projects, including comics, films and DVDs. In the late 1990s, he looked to capitalize on the Internet craze, offering animated “Webisodes” of comic-like action. Stan Lee Media also sought to reach out to Web-savvy youth through deals with pop artists the Backstreet Boys and Mary J. Blige. The company went bankrupt, and three men were indicted for allegedly defrauding the business in a check kiting scam. Lee wasn’t implicated. After that initial failure, Lee formed the successful Pow! Entertainment company to launch animated Internet-based projects. Lee’s wife and partner in nearly everything, Joan Lee, died on July 6, 2017, leaving a void that made her husband, by then in mental and physical decline, vulnerable to hangers-on who began to surround him. Lawsuits, court fights and an elder abuse investigation all emerged in the fight over who spoke for the elderly Lee. Lee is survived by his daughter, Joanie, and a younger brother who also worked in comics, Larry Lieber. Associated Press writers Dave Zelio and John Rogers contributed to this story[SEP]LOS ANGELES — Stan Lee, the creative dynamo who revolutionized the comic book and helped make billions for Hollywood by introducing human frailties in superheroes such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk, died Monday. He was 95. Lee was declared dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Kirk Schenck, an attorney for Lee's daughter, J.C. Lee. As the top writer at Marvel Comics and later as its publisher, Lee was widely considered the architect of the contemporary comic book. He revived the industry in the 1960s by offering the costumes and action craved by younger readers while insisting on sophisticated plots, college-level dialogue, satire, science fiction, even philosophy. Millions responded to the unlikely mix of realistic fantasy, and many of his characters, including Spider-Man, the Hulk and X-Men went on to become stars of blockbuster films. Recent projects he helped make possible range from the films "Black Panther" and "Doctor Strange" to TV series such as "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" and "Guardians of the Galaxy." "I think everybody loves things that are bigger than life. ... I think of them as fairy tales for grown-ups," he told The Associated Press in a 2006 interview. "We all grew up with giants and ogres and witches. Well, you get a little bit older and you're too old to read fairy tales. But I don't think you ever outgrow your love for those kind of things, things that are bigger than life and magical and very imaginative." Lee considered the comic-book medium an art form and he was prolific: by some accounts, he came up with a new comic book every day for 10 years. "I wrote so many I don't even know. I wrote either hundreds or thousands of them," he told the AP in 2006. He hit his stride in the 1960s when he brought the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man and numerous others to life. "It was like there was something in the air. I couldn't do anything wrong," he recalled. His heroes, meanwhile, were a far cry from virtuous do-gooders such as rival DC Comics' Superman.[SEP]According to TMZ Stan Lee is dead at the age of 95.[SEP]Stan Lee, a writer and editor often credited with helping American comics grow up by redefining the notion of a superhero, including the self-doubting Spider-Man, the bickering Fantastic Four, the swaggering Iron Man and the raging Incredible Hulk, died Nov. 12 at a hospital in Los Angeles. He was 95. The Associated Press reported the death, citing an attorney for Mr. Lee’s daughter. The cause was not immediately available. Mr. Lee’s name became synonymous with the company that would become Marvel Comics, which he joined as a teenage assistant and stayed with for much of his adult life. After toiling in comics for 20 years as a self-described hack, on the verge of quitting the business, he was ordered by his boss to emulate a line of superheroes done by rival DC comics. Mr. Lee’s full-color, morally complex heroes helped foster a revival in a largely moribund profession. Comics had entered a dark age after Senate hearings in the early 1950s that condemned the trade for contributing to juvenile delinquency. What followed was a comics code to monitor standards and ban content deemed immoral and unsuitable for children. In the ‘60s, Mr. Lee took a distinctly new approach to characters and setting, as well as to the very interaction with readers who had grown used to comics that were aimed solely at a younger audience and that featuring flawless, square-jawed heroes who had uncomplicated morals. Michael Chabon, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the comic-book-themed novel “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay,” said in an interview that Mr. Lee’s best-known characters were “vain, pompous, conceited. . . . Everything that works in comic books today is indebted to him for that.” “There’s no question that Stan and the innovations he came up with saved the comic book and the superhero,” Tom Brevoort, Marvel’s senior vice president of publishing, told The Washington Post in 2011. “By crafting characters with feet of clay and personal problems — and not writing down to an audience that was perceived to be primarily 8-year-olds — Stan opened the doorway for more sophisticated and interesting treatments of any subject matter in comics. He made comics interesting and rel­evant and fun again.” Lee told The Post in 2012: “All of our characters were freaks in their own way. The greatest example was with X-Men — they were hated because they were different. The idea I had, the underlying theme, was that just because somebody is different doesn’t make them better. ... That seems to be the worst thing in human nature.” Much of Mr. Lee’s success was indebted to his Marvel partnership with artist and frequent co-creator Jack Kirby. Their first superheroes, appearing in 1961, were the Fantastic Four. They were unlike the perfectly genial Superman, a DC Comics character. Fantastic Four were constantly were at odds with one another. Mr. Fantastic was a boring scientist whom the rest of the group constantly interrupted. One of the Four, the Thing, looked like a monster and often acted like one, and he hated the powers that made him look that way. Other heroes came with their own weaknesses, such as the Jekyll-and-Hyde-like Incredible Hulk, who could not control the anger that gave him his strength; Daredevil, whose blindness helped develop other heightened senses. Iron Man was a billionaire industrialist modeled after Howard Hughes; his weakness was a piece of shrapnel dangerously close to his heart, acquired on a trip to Vietnam to inspect the weapons he produced for the war. With artist Steve Ditko, Mr. Lee created Spider-Man in 1962, of whom cartoonist and author Jules Feiffer said, “He took the anxiety and schlumpiness that had become part of the culture from the '60s on and put them into the character of a superhero.” Besides giving the characters human personalities, the artists further attracted readers with the comics’ realistic settings. While other heroes protected fictional cities such as Metropolis and Gotham, Mr. Lee’s lived in his native New York. Mr. Lee constantly addressed and engaged the readers. In his memoir, written with George Mair, he remembered one particular author’s note: “On the cover I wrote something like, ‘Look, this may not be one of the best stories we’ve ever done, but we’ve given you enough good ones so that you owe it to us to buy this lemon anyway.' ” “Stan was the first writer to bring an ironic distance to the material,” said Marvel artist Gerry Conway, as quoted in Tom Spurgeon and Jordan Raphael's “Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book” (2003). Behind the scenes, Mr. Lee worked to foster a different kind of collaborative process with his artists. Traditionally, comics were drawn from a screenplay-like script provided by the writer. Instead, Mr. Lee said, he would offer his artists plot ideas and brainstorm with them. The artists would then draw the story, and he would later fill in dialogue and text. Artists in his “bullpen,” where the artists worked in proximity to each other and to him, were much more involved in the creative process. This became known as the Marvel Method. He crisscrossed the country as a popular college speaker, visiting campus chapters of the official fan clubs he founded, the Merry Marvel Marching Society and later the Friends of Ol’ Marvel. Marvel became — and remains — one of the best-selling comic book companies in the country. In 2009, the Walt Disney Co. reached an agreement to acquire Marvel Entertainment in a deal worth more than $4 billion. Mr. Lee has been criticized for not doing enough to acknowledge Kirby and Ditko’s roles in creating Marvel’s most popular characters. Marvel publicity and press coverage frequently played up Mr. Lee’s role and minimized his collaborators. They were minimized legally, as well. Historically, none of the creators had any ownership rights, not even Mr. Lee. Because there were no royalties, comic artists often struggled financially after they stopped working. In the 1970s, Kirby attempted to get back some of his original artwork to help support his family and sued. Mr. Lee, who was Marvel’s public face, refrained from taking an active role in the case. An elderly Kirby eventually received some of the art, years later, after agreeing to relinquish all claim to copyright. Kirby and Mr. Lee had a falling-out. Kirby died in 1994. “I made whatever I made because I was the editor . . . and I was the publisher and one-time president and chairman of the company,” Mr. Lee told The Post in 2012. “I was the scriptwriter. I made no more money than Jack, and at times he made more than I did. ... If it hadn’t been for those other guys — like [comic-book artist] John Romita [Sr.] — who took over so many of the [comics], I don’t think these comics” would be as popular today. “Jack was great, and I have taken pains to say over and over again what a great collaborator he was and how much he contributed,” Mr. Lee continued. “But even when he was alive, I was the guy doing the publicity. I was . . . the guy boosting Marvel on the front lines. Jack was the voice of Jack Kirby, and at times he left to work at D.C., and when it served his interests better he came back to Marvel.” Took pen name in his teens Stanley Martin Lieber was born in New York City on Dec. 28, 1922, the eldest son of Romanian Jewish immigrants. His father was a dress cutter who was frequently out of work. Mr. Lee came by his pen name as a teenager. He claimed he changed his name not because of anti-Semitism, like many comic book artists, but because he wanted to preserve his real name to write a real book. After graduating high school, Mr. Lee took a job with Timely Publications, a company that published Marvel and was owned by his cousin-in-law Martin Goodman. He was hired by Timely editor Joe Simon, who with Kirby co-created Captain America. During World War II, Mr. Lee served in the Army and spent three years in New Jersey writing scripts for training films. After his discharge, he continued spinning out science-fiction and monster comics for Timely, which was renamed Atlas. In 1947, he married Joan Boocock, a British hat model. Their daughter Jan died days after her birth in 1953. In June 2018, court documents showed that the Los Angeles Police Department was investigating claims of elder abuse against Mr. Lee. His circle of business partners and confidantes had shifted tumultuously since his wife, who often guarded his interests, died in 2017. [Stan Lee’s alleged elder-abuse and money issues have grown. Here’s how we got to this point.] Survivors include another daughter, Joan Celia “J.C.” Lee; and a brother, comic book artist and writer Larry Lieber. Mr. Lee credited with wife with pushing him to create the Fantastic Four instead of leaving Marvel in frustration at midcareer. His breakthrough against the industry's self-imposed “Comics Code” came in 1971 when the government asked him to produce a Spider-Man story line that came down harshly on drug use. The code had a zero-tolerance policy for drugs, even in a negative light, but Marvel ignored the regulations, published without the seal of approval and saw no change in sales. Comic books across the industry stopped following the code’s guidelines. Mr. Lee moved from editor to publisher in 1972, and then moved to Hollywood around 1980, attempting with little success to attain cinematic respectability for his characters. The few projects that came to fruition, such as “Howard the Duck” (1986) and “The Punisher” (1989), were critical and commercial failures. In 1999, Mr. Lee entered the Internet age with the company Stan Lee Media, which produced Web cartoons and briefly gave Mr. Lee a paper worth of $100 million. The company collapsed in 2001 amid allegations of a massive scam run by Mr. Lee’s partner, Peter F. Paul, who turned out to be a felon. Paul fled to Brazil but eventually returned to the United States and pleaded guilty to securities fraud. In 2002, “Spider-Man,” directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire, opened at the box office and eventually grossed more than $800 million worldwide. Citing a previously ignored line in his contract, Mr. Lee sued Marvel for 10 percent of the profits in what he told Variety was “the friendliest lawsuit in the world.” He won the case in 2005. Retaining his lifetime contract with Marvel, he started a new comic company, P.O.W. (Purveyors of Wonder) Entertainment. In 2008, he received the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given to artists by the U.S. government. Mr. Lee, who has had cameos in many Marvel-based films, was known for an economy of humility. As a teenage boss at Marvel, he would sit on a file cabinet and yell, “I am God!” at his artists sitting below. In his memoir, he said, “If I may be totally candid, I'm my biggest fan.”[SEP]Stan Lee, the colorful Marvel Comics patriarch who helped usher in a new era of superhero storytelling -- and saw his creations become a giant influence in the movie business -- has died. Kirk Schneck, an attorney for Lee's daughter, tells CNN the comic giant was taken by ambulance from his Los Angeles home on Monday morning to Cedar's Sinai Medical Center, where he later died. The cause of death is not yet known, according to Schneck. Lee began his career at what was then Timely Comics in 1939. Over the years he was a writer, editor and occasional illustrator. But, bored with the output, he was preparing to leave the company when history took a sudden turn. For many years, the business had been dominated by DC (then National) Comics, creators of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern. In the late '50s, DC started reimagining its heroes -- kicking off what comics historians call the "Silver Age" of the business -- but those figures were still, largely, otherworldly and two-dimensional, living in made-up places such as Metropolis and Gotham City. In the early '60s, Lee was asked to come up with a team of superheroes to compete against DC's Justice League. With the notable help of artists such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he helped instigate a revolution, though Lee didn't see it that way at the time. "If my publisher hadn't said 'let's do superhero stories,' I'd probably still be doing 'A Kid Called Outlaw,' 'The Two-Gun Kid' or 'Millie the Model' or whatever I was doing at the time," he told CNN in 2013. Marvel revitalized the comics business with a series of flawed, more human superheroes. Its figures lived in the real world -- a few were based in New York City, with all its dirt and clamor -- and struggled with everyday challenges, whether it was paying the rent or wondering about their purposes in life. First came the Fantastic Four, a superhero team probably most famous for the grumpy, rock-skinned Thing. Following that success Lee and Marvel introduced such characters as Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, the X-Men and Daredevil. These new superheroes -- all created in a burst between 1961 and 1964 -- were hugely popular and allowed Marvel to surpass DC in both sales and fashionableness. Spider-Man, in particular, became the imprint's signature character: a neurotic photographer named Peter Parker who, after being bitten by a radioactive spider, develops spider-like powers. Parker was forever clashing with newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson (an angry, cigar-chomping martinet who was no Perry White), wondering about his relationship with Mary Jane Watson and worrying about his fragile Aunt May. Crime fighting was the least of his concerns. "I never thought that Spider-Man would become the worldwide icon that he is. I just hoped the books would sell and I'd keep my job," Lee said in 2006. Many of the characters were developed for television with varying degrees of success. But it was the emergence of the "Marvel Universe" in the movies, especially with the "X-Men" franchise and the Sam Raimi-directed "Spider-Man" (2002), that truly made the brand ubiquitous. In 2009, the Walt Disney Company purchased Marvel Entertainment -- the licensing arm of the comic-book brand -- for $4 billion. By that point, Lee had long since become more of a company figurehead rather than a writer and editor in the day-to-day trenches. He became the company's editorial director and publisher in 1972 and eventually immersed himself in spreading the Marvel gospel (often with the exclamation, "Excelsior!") He's had bit parts in most of the films featuring the company's characters. He was occasionally criticized for egotistically cheerleading for himself as much as Marvel. "Stan the Brand," the authors of "Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book" called him, pointedly. It wasn't all joy for Lee. Though the success of the movies made the characters worth billions, Lee maintained that he saw little of that wealth. Even so, he saw more than artist Kirby, who many comics historians credit with molding a number of characters. Over the years, the credit for the characters -- and, therefore, the profits -- has been the subject of court cases, some involving Kirby or his family. The characters' impact, however, is indisputable. Marvel characters are known the world over, and its films have become huge successes. "I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers," he told the Washington Post. "And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people's lives. Without it they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you're able to entertain people, you're doing a good thing." He retained a lifelong passion for the medium he helped mold, and wouldn't tolerate disdain. "Comic book should be written as one word. So from now on, I want you to remember that," he said in a 2012 YouTube video. "They are not funny books. They are not comic books, they are comicbooks! Remember that, or incur my wrath." Tragedy struck Lee last year when he lost Joan, his wife of 69 years, who died at the age of 95. The couple had a true partnership and Marvel fans came to know Joan Lee for her voice-over work as Miss Forbes and Madame Web in the animated versions of "Fantastic Four" and "Spider-Man." She also had a cameo in "X-Men: Apocalypse" in 2016. Lee filed a suit against his former company, Pow! Entertainment in May, alleging it conspired with two employees to steal his identity. The company announced in July that the suit had been dismissed by Lee. "The whole thing has been confusing to everyone, including myself and the fans, but I am now happy to be surrounded by those who want the best for me," Lee said in a statement. "I am thrilled to put the lawsuit behind me, get back to business with my friends and colleagues at POW! and launch the next wave of amazing characters and stories!"

Marvel Comics editor and comic book writer Stan Lee dies at the age of 95.

The number of people killed by a massive blaze in northern California rose to 42 on Monday, making it the deadliest wildfire in the history of the state. Thousands of firefighters spent a fifth day digging battle lines to contain the "Camp Fire" in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains north of Sacramento, while search teams were on a grim mission to recover the dead. "As of today, an additional 13 human remains have been recovered, which brings the total number to 42," Sheriff Kory Honea told a news conference. The blaze is "the deadliest wildland fire in California history," Honea said. Although it is difficult to be certain due to inconsistencies in record keeping and categorization, the Camp Fire appears to deadliest American wildfire in a century - since the Cloquet Fire killed an estimated 1,000 people in Minnesota in 1918. The Camp Fire is the largest of several infernos that have sent a quarter of a million people fleeing their homes across the tinder-dry state, with winds of up to 60 miles (100 kilometers) per hour fanning the fast-moving flames. In addition to the historic loss of life, the Camp Fire blaze is also more destructive than any other on record, having razed 6,500 homes in the town of Paradise, effectively wiping it off the map. More than 5,100 firefighters from as far as the states of Washington and Texas have been working to halt the advance of the inferno as "mass casualty" search teams backed by anthropologists and a DNA lab pick through the charred ruins to identify remains - sometimes reduced to no more than shards of bone. At least 44 people have died in fire zones in north and south California, where acrid smoke has blanketed the sky for miles, the sun barely visible. US President Donald Trump "declared that a major disaster exists in the state of California and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires," the White House said in a statement. The move makes aid available to the state's fire-hit Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. On the ground, cars caught in the flames have been reduced to scorched metal skeletons, while piles of debris smolder where houses once stood, an occasional brick wall or chimney remaining. Glenn Simmons, 64, told AFP in the nearby town of Chico that he had been sleeping in his car since Thursday, unable to find a space in a shelter. "I was planning on maybe moving out of state, or into southern California... Everything is burned up. I have my clothes and I have a backpack, and that's pretty much it," he said. The Camp Fire has reduced around 17 square miles (45 square kilometers) of Butte County's forested hills mostly to charred wasteland - an area which hasn't seen rainfall of more than half an inch (one centimeter) in more than 30 weeks. It is currently 25 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said. Three firefighters have been injured in the effort to quell the blaze's advance. At the southern end of the state, another three firefighters have been injured battling the Woolsey Fire, which has devoured mansions and mobile homes alike in the coastal celebrity resort of Malibu. The blaze is similar in size to the Camp Fire but has been much less destructive, and the death toll has been limited to two victims found in a vehicle on a private driveway. The number of dead in a wildfire raging in California rose to 29 on Sunday, matching the deadliest in the state's history as recovery teams found six more bodies in the grim search through the wreckage. The "Camp Fire" - in the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains - is the largest and most destructive of several infernos that have sent 250,000 people fleeing their homes across the tinder-dry state, razing 6,400 homes in the town of Paradise and effectively wiping it off the map. "Today, an additional six human remains were recovered, which brings our current total to 29," Sheriff Kory Honea told a news conference at the end of the fourth day in the struggle to contain the blaze, adding that all were found in Paradise. In fire zones in north and south California - where a total of at least 31 people have died - acrid smoke blanketed the sky for miles, the sun barely visible. On the ground, cars caught in the flames were reduced to mangled metal carcasses, while power lines were gnawed by the flames. An AFP journalist saw recovery team workers discover bag and drive away two bodies in the Paradise area on Sunday, and the death toll looked set to rise further with scores more people still unaccounted for. The Camp Fire has the grisly distinction of matching the 1933 Griffith Park disaster in Los Angeles - until now the single deadliest wildfire on record, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). At the southern end of the state, where the "Woolsey Fire" is threatening mansions and mobile homes alike in the coastal celebrity redoubt of Malibu, the death toll has been limited to two victims found in a vehicle on a private driveway. Los Angeles County Fire chief Daryl Osby told reporters of his gratitude to firefighters "who've done all they could do save tens of thousands of people's lives and thousands of people's homes." Rescuers also spent hours on Saturday collecting bodies around Paradise and placing them in a black hearse. Body parts were transported by bucket, while intact remains were carried in body bags. At the Holly Hills Mobile Estate the mobile homes had been reduced to smoldering piles of debris. Yellow police tape delineated spots that were tagged "Doe C" and "Doe D," a grim marker of the bodies that had recently been removed. Locals fled the danger, but police told AFP some farmers returned to check on their cattle. Fanned by strong winds, the "Camp Fire" has scorched 111,000 acres (45,000 hectares) and is 25 percent contained, Cal Fire said. So far, three of the more than 4,000 firefighters deployed have been injured. They estimate they will need three weeks to fully contain the blaze. Evacuation orders have been issued to more than a quarter of a million people across California, with authorities urging residents not to ignore warnings to flee. "This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal. And this new abnormal will continue, certainly in the next 10 to 15 to 20 years," California Governor Jerry Brown told a news conference on Sunday. "Unfortunately, the best science is telling us that the dryness, warmth, drought, all those things, they're going to intensify," he said. Smoldering debris, skeletons of cars with melted glass, a cat with a singed, soot-covered coat: ravaged by the most destructive fire to hit California, Paradise is now a ghost town. "It's devastation, total devastation, it's pretty incredible something like this occurred," said firefighter Mark Nees, who arrived from neighboring Oregon to help his California colleagues. "We've gone through lots of wildfire over the years, this is the worst I've seen personally," the team leader told AFP. In the center of town as well as the suburbs, there is nothing left of many houses - most of which are built of wood in California - except charred debris and sometimes a brick chimney rising into the sky. Some buildings are strangely spared, such as an almost intact garage surrounded by a white plastic fence that was melted from the heat. Firefighters' red trucks and yellow suits, along with the blue pickups of electricity company workers, are the only splashes of color in the desolate, ashen grey landscape: the 27,000 inhabitants of Paradise were evacuated, some barely escaping the flames. Others were not so lucky: rescue workers recovered bodies from burned residences in Paradise on Saturday as the death toll from the blaze mounts. Inhabitants were prevented from returning to the area as a state of emergency requires, a police officer told AFP. Despite the protests of residents who want to try to find a loved one, an animal or just to find out if their house is still standing, dozens of vehicles were forced to turn back. 'I don't know where else to look' Other evacuees wait in anguish near the police barricade, including Katie McCrary, an old lady without a cell phone who has no news of her two sons and grandchildren. "I don't know if they are all right, if they got out, I've been to the shelters in Chico, they're not there," she said, referring to a neighboring city. "I don't know where else to look," McCrary said, with soot on her sweater, visibly exhausted after having spent two nights in her car on the side of the road. Dozens of people were still missing on Saturday. "Our neighbor and his daughter stayed, we haven't been able to get hold of them and they live right below us," said Jodie Colvard, who was not present when the evacuation took place. She also waits, and worries about her dog. "Our German shepherd is still in there, we left in the morning and we couldn't get back in, so she's still in there," Colvard said. An electricity company employee took the address and promised to check on the dog. "If the house is still there," she said. The fire, which has already consumed over 150 square miles (390 square kilometers) of forest and brush, continued to rage on Saturday, and was only 20 percent contained. What is left of Paradise is still not safe: "It is still very early, there is a wind event predicted tonight till Monday morning, red flag for fire again," said Nees, the firefighter. There are "potential areas that have not burned that can possibly have new fire if embers are thrown," he said. He and his men are working "so that things don't get any worse." "Hopefully people will be able to come back," Nees said. The death toll from the most destructive fire to hit California rose to 23 on Saturday as rescue workers recovered more bodies of people killed by the devastating blaze. Firefighters are battling raging fires at both ends of the state, but there is little hope of containing the flames anytime soon. "Today, 14 additional bodies were located, which brings our total number to 23," Sheriff Kory Honea told a news conference. Ten of the bodies were found in the town of Paradise while four were discovered in the Concow area, both in Butte County, Honea said. Rescuers could be seen removing remains over a period of several hours in Paradise and placing them in a black hearse. Pieces of bodies were transported by bucket, while intact remains were carried in body bags. So far, a total of 19 of the people killed in what authorities have dubbed the "Camp Fire" have been reported in Paradise, where more than 6,700 buildings -- most of them residences -- have been consumed by the late-season inferno. From miles around, acrid smoke could be seen in the sky around Paradise, the sun barely visible. On the ground, cars were reduced to metal carcasses, while power lines were also gnawed by the flames. Locals fled the danger, but police told AFP some farmers returned to check on their cattle. "The magnitude of destruction we have seen is really unbelievable and heartbreaking, and our hearts go to everybody who has been affected by this," said Mark Ghilarducci, the director of the California Office of Emergency Services. Governor-elect Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to provide assistance to the hardest-hit areas in the fire-prone state. The fast-moving Camp Fire blaze in the north broke out early Thursday. Fanned by strong winds, it has so far scorched 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) and is 20 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said Saturday. So far, three of the more than 3,200 firefighters deployed have been injured. They estimate they will need three weeks to fully contain the blaze. Local power authorities have told state officials an outage occurred near the spot where the fire erupted, The Sacramento Bee reported, but there is still no official cause of the Camp Fire blaze. Trump, who was in France for World War I commemorations, drew criticism online for his somewhat unsympathetic reaction to the devastation earlier on Saturday. "There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," Trump tweeted. "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!" Malibu mansions in flames In southern California, more wildfires burned, including one just north of Los Angeles and another in Ventura County near Thousand Oaks, where a Marine Corps veteran shot dead 12 people in a country music bar on Wednesday. Authorities said some 200,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, including the entire city of Malibu. The "Woolsey Fire" had consumed around 69,000 acres, destroyed at least 150 homes and was so far not contained, the Ventura County Fire Department said, adding that evacuation orders were issued for some 88,000 homes in the county and neighboring Los Angeles County. "We heard this was coming so we set up the sprinklers and we hosed the whole house down," said Malibu resident Patrick Henry. "We pretty much had enough time to get the dogs in the trunk." Malibu is one of the most in-demand locations in California for stars seeking privacy and luxury. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West, who lives just north of coastal Malibu, revealed she was forced to flee her home. "I heard the flames have hit our property at our home in Hidden Hills but now are more contained and have stopped at the moment," she said on Twitter. "I just pray the winds are in our favor." Actor Martin Sheen, briefly reported missing by his actor son Charlie, was also forced to evacuate. "We're fine, we're at Zuma Beach and we're probably going to sleep in the car tonight," Martin Sheen told Fox News 11, adding that it was the worst fire he had seen in 48 years of living in Malibu. The wildfire reached Paramount Ranch, destroying the Western Town sets used for hundreds of productions including HBO'S sci-fi western "Westworld," officials and the network said. Director Guillermo del Toro tweeted that Bleak House, his museum of horror movie memorabilia, was also in the path of the flames. Utter devastation In Paradise, the flames destroyed hundreds of homes, a hospital, a gas station, several restaurants and numerous vehicles, officials said. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for more than 52,000 people in the scenic area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The National Weather Service said Saturday that strong winds and dry conditions were to continue through the weekend. Nine die in California wildfires, tens of thousands forced to flee Nine people were declared dead and tens of thousands evacuated Friday as fierce wildfires raged across the western US state of California, with one rapidly spreading blaze threatening the famed resort of Malibu. All of the fatalities were reported in a massive late-season inferno in the town of Paradise, in Butte County north of the state capital Sacramento, where the entire population of 26,000 was ordered to leave, officials said. The fast moving blaze, known as the "Camp Fire," began Thursday morning. Fanned by strong winds, it has scorched 70,000 acres (28,300 hectares) and has not been contained, the California Fire Department (Cal Fire) said. Two other fires broke out in southern California, one in Ventura County near Thousand Oaks, where a Marine Corps veteran shot dead 12 people in a country music bar on Wednesday night. "The magnitude of destruction we have seen is really unbelievable and heartbreaking and our hearts go to everybody who has been affected by this," said Mark Ghilarducci, the director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. "It's my sad duty to confirm that we now have a total of nine fatalities," he said, four more fatalities beyond the five reported earlier. Details were limited, and Honea did not release names of the victims. "I don't have all of the details because we have investigators out on the field attempting to get to those locations" where the casualties were reported, Honea said at a press conference. But he did say that four people were found inside a vehicle in the Paradise area, while another was found nearby outside the vehicle. Three more were found outside a residence, and one inside a house. Dozens of other people were reported missing.[SEP]The Latest On What's Now The Deadliest Wildfire In California History At least 42 are dead in Butte County, Calif., where a devastating fire tore through the small town of Paradise and other communities. Many residents were left with nothing. Hundreds are still missing.[SEP]The Camp fire in northern California has killed 42 people, making it the deadliest wildfire in state history. It is also the most destructive, incinerating the town of Paradise and displacing more than 50,000 people. Other blazes continue to rage further south[SEP]CHICO, Calif. (Reuters) - Remains have been recovered from at least 42 people killed by a devastating wildfire that largely incinerated the town of Paradise in northern California, making it the deadliest in U.S. history, the Butte County sheriff said on Monday. The latest death toll was announced after authorities located the remains of 13 additional victims from the Camp Fire, which also ranks as the most destructive on record in California, having leveled more than 7,100 homes and other buildings since it erupted on Thursday, officials said. The number of people killed by the fire had stood at 29 earlier in the day.[SEP]PARADISE, Calif. (Reuters) - Search teams have recovered remains of 42 people killed by a fierce wildfire that largely incinerated the town of Paradise in northern California, marking the greatest loss of life from a wild land blaze in state history, authorities said on Monday. The latest death toll, up from 29 tallied over the weekend, was announced by Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea at an evening news conference in the nearby city of Chico after authorities found the bodies of 13 more victims of the devastating blaze dubbed the Camp Fire. The fire already ranked as the most destructive on record in California in terms of property losses, having consumed more than 7,100 homes and other structures since igniting on Thursday in Butte County’s Sierra foothills, about 175 miles (280 km) north of San Francisco. Honea said 228 people were officially listed as missing in the disaster, but added that his office had received requests to check on the wellbeing of more than 1,500 people who had not been heard from by loved ones. Of those cases, 231 individuals had turned up safe, he said. Authorities made clear, however, that they are bracing for the number of fatalities to climb. In addition to 13 coroner-led recovery teams working in the fire zone, 150 search-and-recovery personnel were due to arrive on Tuesday, Honea said. The sheriff said he also has requested three portable morgue teams from the U.S. military, a “disaster mortuary” crew and an unspecified number of cadaver dog units to assist in the search for human remains. Three groups of forensic anthropologists were also called in to help, he said. The bulk of the destruction and loss of life occurred in and around the town of Paradise, where flames reduced most of the buildings to ash and rubble on Thursday night, just hours after the blaze erupted. Some 52,000 people remained under evacuation orders, the sheriff said. The 42 confirmed fatalities marked the highest death toll in history from a single California wildfire, Honea said, far surpassing the previous record of 29 lives lost in 1933 from the Griffith Park blaze in Los Angeles. Authorities reported two more people perished over the weekend in a separate blaze, dubbed the Woolsey Fire, that has destroyed 435 structures and displaced some 200,000 people in the mountains and foothills near Southern California’s Malibu coast, west of Los Angeles. President Donald Trump, who drew criticism over the weekend for erroneously blaming the fires on “gross mismanagement” of forests, approved California Governor Jerry Brown’s request for a major disaster declaration on Monday. The measure hastens availability of federal emergency aid to fire-stricken regions of the state. The fires have spread with an erratic intensity that has strained firefighting resources while catching many residents by surprise. The bodies of some of the Camp Fire victims were found in burned-out wreckage of vehicles that were overrun by walls of fire as evacuees tried to flee, only to be trapped in deadly knots of traffic gridlock on Thursday night. “It was very scary,” Mayor Jody Jones recounted of her family’s own harrowing escape from their home as fire raged all around them. “It took a long time to get out. There was fire on both sides of the car. You could feel the heat coming in through the car,” she told CNN. Jones said her family is now living in their mobile home parked in a vacant lot. More than 15,000 structures were threatened by the Camp Fire on Monday in an area so thick with smoke that visibility was reduced in some places to less than half a mile. Perilous winds that stoked the fire through drought-parched brush and chaparral abated on Saturday, giving firefighters a chance to gain some ground against the flames. High winds returned on Sunday but fell again Monday morning, with crews managing to carve containment lines around 30 percent of the Camp Fire perimeter, an area encompassing 117,000 acres of scorched, smoldering terrain. The Woolsey Fire has blackened nearly 94,000 acres and was also 30 percent contained as of Monday night, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). Winds of up to 40 miles per hour (64 km per hour) were expected to continue in Southern California through Tuesday, heightening the risk of fresh blazes ignited by scattered embers. CalFire said 57,000 structures were still in harm’s way from the Woolsey Fire. Forecasts called for winds to pick up again Monday night in Butte County, though with less force than previous days, National Weather Service meteorologist Aviva Braun told reporters. Nearly 9,000 firefighters, many from out of state, were battling to suppress the Camp Fire, the Woolsey Fire and a handful of smaller Southern California blazes, backed by squadrons of water-dropping helicopters and airplane tankers. Some evacuees in Malibu, a seaside community whose residents include a number of Hollywood celebrities, were allowed to return home but were left without power or cellphone service. California has endured two of the worst wildfire seasons in its history over the past couple of years, a situation experts attribute in large part to prolonged drought across much of the Western United States. Forty-six people died in a flurry of wind-driven wildfires that swept northern California’s wine country in October of last year, destroying some 8,900 homes and other structures. The worst of those blazes, dubbed the Tubbs Fire, was blamed for 22 of the deaths.[SEP]CHICO, Calif. (Reuters) - Remains have been recovered from at least 42 people killed by a devastating wildfire that largely incinerated the town of Paradise in northern California, making it the deadliest in U.S. history, the Butte County sheriff said on Monday. The latest death toll was announced after authorities located the remains of 13 additional victims from the Camp Fire, which also ranks as the most destructive on record in California, having leveled more than 7,100 homes and other buildings since it erupted on Thursday, officials said. The number of people killed by the fire had stood at 29 earlier in the day.[SEP]Thousands of firefighters spend a fifth day digging battle lines to contain the "Camp Fire" in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains north of Sacramento, while search teams are on a grim mission to recover the dead PARADISE, United States – The number of people killed by a massive blaze in northern California rose to 42 on Monday, November 12, making it the deadliest wildfire in the history of the state. Thousands of firefighters spent a fifth day digging battle lines to contain the "Camp Fire" in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains north of Sacramento, while search teams were on a grim mission to recover the dead. "As of today, an additional 13 human remains have been recovered, which brings the total number to 42," Sheriff Kory Honea told a news conference. The blaze is "the deadliest wildland fire in California history," Honea said. Although it is difficult to be certain due to inconsistencies in record keeping and categorization, the Camp Fire appears to deadliest American wildfire in a century – since the Cloquet Fire killed an estimated 1,000 people in Minnesota in 1918. The Camp Fire is the largest of several infernos that have sent a quarter of a million people fleeing their homes across the tinder-dry state, with winds of up to 60 miles (100 kilometers) per hour fanning the fast-moving flames. In addition to the historic loss of life, the Camp Fire blaze is also more destructive than any other on record, having razed 6,500 homes in the town of Paradise, effectively wiping it off the map. More than 5,100 firefighters from as far as the states of Washington and Texas have been working to halt the advance of the inferno as "mass casualty" search teams backed by anthropologists and a DNA lab pick through the charred ruins to identify remains -- sometimes reduced to no more than shards of bone. At least 44 people have died in fire zones in north and south California, where acrid smoke has blanketed the sky for miles, the sun barely visible. US President Donald Trump "declared that a major disaster exists in the state of California and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires," the White House said in a statement. The move makes aid available to the state's fire-hit Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. On the ground, cars caught in the flames have been reduced to scorched metal skeletons, while piles of debris smolder where houses once stood, an occasional brick wall or chimney remaining. Glenn Simmons, 64, told AFP in the nearby town of Chico that he had been sleeping in his car since Thursday, unable to find a space in a shelter. "I was planning on maybe moving out of state, or into southern California... Everything is burned up. I have my clothes and I have a backpack, and that's pretty much it," he said. The Camp Fire has reduced around 17 square miles (45 square kilometers) of Butte County's forested hills mostly to charred wasteland -- an area which hasn't seen rainfall of more than half an inch (one centimeter) in more than 30 weeks. It is currently 25 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said. Three firefighters have been injured in the effort to quell the blaze's advance. At the southern end of the state, another three firefighters have been injured battling the Woolsey Fire, which has devoured mansions and mobile homes alike in the coastal celebrity resort of Malibu. The blaze is similar in size to the Camp Fire but has been much less destructive, and the death toll has been limited to two victims found in a vehicle on a private driveway. While some Malibu-area residents were allowed to return home late Sunday, the city of Calabasas, just northeast of coastal Malibu, came under evacuation orders. "This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal. And this new abnormal will continue, certainly in the next 10 to 15 to 20 years," California Governor Jerry Brown said Sunday in a stark warning over the likely damaging effects of climate change. "Unfortunately, the best science is telling us that the dryness, warmth, drought, all those things, they're going to intensify." Over the weekend, the Woolsey Fire engulfed parts of Thousand Oaks, where the community is still shell-shocked after a Marine Corps veteran shot dead 12 people in a country music bar on Wednesday. The blaze has consumed around 93,000 acres (37,600 hectares), destroyed an estimated 370 structures and was 30 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. Singer Miley Cyrus's home was one of the buildings destroyed in southern California. "Completely devestated (sic) by the fires affecting my community. I am one of the lucky ones. My animals and LOVE OF MY LIFE made it out safely & that's all that matters right now," she tweeted. "My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family & friends stand strong." Many of the affected area's residents own horses, and Twitter has been flooded with messages from people seeking and offering help. Actor James Woods, a rare political conservative in liberal Hollywood, has made new friends by using his Twitter account to help find missing people and getting help for pets, including horses. The Ventura County Humane Society said it was "deeply humbled" by a $100,000 donation from actress Sandra Bullock and her family to rescue and care for animals evacuated from the fires. – Rappler.com[SEP]CHICO — The Camp Fire became the deadliest wildfire in California state history Monday. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Monday evening that an additional 13 deaths have been confirmed, bringing the total number of deaths to 42. The Sheriff’s Office released the names of three people killed in the fire, saying their families had been notified. The people identified Monday were Ernest Foss, 65, of Paradise; Jesus Fernandez, 48, of Concow; and Carl Wiley, 77, of Magalia. Honea said he has requested about 150 additional search and rescue personnel to assist in the search for human remains. Additionally, he has asked for cadaver dogs, portable morgue units and additional radio equipment. The sheriff would not say whether he expected the fire’s death toll to rise. But he did say he wanted to complete the search in a timely fashion for both the families of the deceased and the communities that have been affected. With the number of fatalities at 29 on Sunday night, it was tied with Los Angeles County’s Griffith Park Fire of 1933, which burned 47 acres. The Camp Fire consumed more acreage, reaching 117,000 acres as of Monday evening. The fire started Thursday morning near Camp Creek Road in the Feather River Canyon off Highway 70 near Pulga. It quickly moved west and engulfed the town of Paradise. Cal Fire said 7,177 residential and commercial buildings have been destroyed and 92 have been damaged. The damage assessment team has created an interactive website that displays which buildings have been destroyed and those that are still standing. Containment increased to 30 percent Monday, but Cal Fire said 15,500 structures remain threatened. A total of 5,139 people are working on the fire. According to Cal Fire, winds from the northeast are fueling the fire. Firefighters worked Sunday night into Monday to hold lines and protect homes in areas in or near Magalia, Brush Creek and Cherokee. Fire crews are fighting flames “aggressively,” according to Cal Fire. Officials are concerned about possibly shifting winds, putting other areas in danger. Fifty-two thousand people from the areas of Paradise, Magalia, Concow, Butte Creek Canyon and Butte Valley remained under evacuation orders Monday, and Honea said no new evacuation warnings or orders had been issued. It was not yet clear, however, when residents could return home. There are more than 200 people still missing, according to Honea. A hotline network has been set up to report people missing and people found. The numbers are (530) 538-6570, (530) 538-7544 and (530) 538-7671. Many of the evacuation centers are full, so new ones are being evaluated. Those open with space available include: Bidwell Jr. High School, 2376 North Ave, Chico; Yuba-Sutter Fairground, 442 Franklin Ave, Yuba City; Plumas County Fairgrounds, 204 Fairground Rd, Quincy; and Butte County Fairgrounds, 199 E Hazel St., Gridley. Small animals can be taken to the Chico Municipal Airport, 150 Airpark Blvd. Large animals can go to the Butte County Fairgrounds, 199 E. Hazel St. in Gridley. The Gridley fairgrounds are no longer accepting donations, but Gridley High School is. Chico and Pleasant Valley high schools Monday collected clothing for students from Paradise High School, and they’ll be able to pick from what’s available Tuesday at the small gym at PV. Air quality is forecast to be very unhealthy through Tuesday by the Butte County Air Quality Management District. Smoke levels are expected to be the highest near the active fire, immediately downwind of the fire area, and within and downwind of canyon drainages. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. The Butte County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in their chambers in the County Administration Building to ratify a local disaster proclamation and a health emergency declaration concerning the Camp Fire. Chief Administrative Officer Shari McCracken declared the local emergency Thursday, which is necessary to qualify the county for state and federal aid. The supervisors have to ratify it within seven days for it to remain in effect. Butte County Health Officer Dr. Andrew Miller declared the health emergency Friday, because the debris from the fire likely contains hazardous material and probable radioactive material. Again it has to be ratified by the supervisors. President Donald Trump on Monday approved a major disaster declaration for California, opening access to federal funding for people affected by wildfires in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help residents and business owners recover from the disaster. Residents and business owners can apply for assistance beginning Tuesday at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.[SEP]The remains of at least 42 people have been located in charred areas of the wildfire still burning in northern California outside of the city of Chico. More than 200 people are reported missing.[SEP]Authorities on Monday reported 13 more fatalities from a blaze in Northern California that destroyed a town, bringing the total death toll so far to 42 and making it the deadliest wildfire in recorded state history. The dead have been found in burned-out cars, in the smoldering ruins of their homes, or next to their vehicles, apparently overcome by smoke and flames before they could jump in behind the wheel and escape. In some cases, there were only charred fragments of bone, so small that coroner’s investigators used a wire basket to sift and sort them. The search for bodies was continuing. Hundreds of people were unaccounted for by the sheriff’s reckoning, four days after the so-called Camp Fire swept over Paradise, a town of 27,000, with flames so fierce that authorities brought in a mobile DNA lab and forensic anthropologists to help identify the dead. The Camp Fire late Monday had grown to 117,000 acres and is 30 percent contained, Cal Fire officials said. A day before the fire started, PG&E contacted a woman about sparks from its lines on her property in the community of Pulga. On Monday, declared the area surrounding those lines a crime scene. The statewide death toll from wildfires over the past week has reached 44. A 1933 blaze in Griffith Park in Los Angeles killed 29 people, and a series of wildfires in Northern California’s wine country last fall killed 44 people.

The Camp Fire in Butte County is now ranked as the deadliest wildfire in Californian history, with 42 people confirmed dead and 228 people missing.

PARIS — Justin Trudeau says Canadian intelligence officials have listened to a recording of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The prime minister said he has not personally heard the recordings Turkey provided to Saudi Arabia along with allies such as the U.S. and Britain in recent days, though he said he has been fully briefed on its contents. “Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share,” said Trudeau during a press conference at the Canadian embassy in Paris. He said he brought up the subject during a recent phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and briefly again when the two met this weekend in Paris. Trudeau said he “thanked him for his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation.” • Changing story again, Saudi Arabia says journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing was planned • Canada condemns killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia consulate in Turkey Khashoggi was a vocal critic of Saudi Arabia and was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, where he’d gone to get papers to marry his fiancee. His killing has received widespread condemnation, including from Trudeau himself, but Trudeau didn’t say how the recordings have affected his thoughts on repercussions for the Saudis. “We continue to be engaged with our allies on the investigation into accountability for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and we are in discussion with our like-minded allies as to next steps towards Saudi Arabia,” he said.[SEP]Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has became the first Western leader to acknowledge his country had heard recordings of the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. “Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share,” Mr Trudeau said from Paris, where he was attending the Peace Forum following the WWI Armistice centenary. His comments come just days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had given recordings “to Saudi Arabia, to America, to the Germans, the French, to the British, to all of them”. The Canadian leader is the first since that announcement to officially confirm that “yes” his country’s intelligence had listened to the audio. He said Canada’s intelligence agencies had been working “very closely” with Turkish intelligence on Mr Khashoggi’s killing. The shared audio is the latest measure by Turkey to maintain international pressure on Saudi Arabia in its aim to stop a cover up of the October 2 killing. Mr Trudeau said that he himself had not heard the audio, and he would not give any details on the contents of the tapes. Mr Trudeau also said he thanked Mr Erdogan in person for “his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation” when the two leaders met in Paris this weekend.[SEP]PARIS Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday became the first Western leader to acknowledge his country had received the recordings of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share," Trudeau said from the Canadian Embassy in Paris, where he was attending the Peace Forum following the WWI Armistice centenary. On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had given recordings "to Saudi Arabia, to America, to the Germans, the French, to the British, to all of them." The Canadian leader is the first since that announcement to officially confirm that his country's intelligence had listened to the audio.[SEP]Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has became the first Western leader to acknowledge his country had heard recordings of the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. “Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share,” Mr Trudeau said from Paris, where he was attending the Peace Forum following the WWI Armistice centenary. His comments come just days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had given recordings “to Saudi Arabia, to America, to the Germans, the French, to the British, to all of them”. The Canadian leader is the first since that announcement to officially confirm that “yes” his country’s intelligence had listened to the audio. He said Canada’s intelligence agencies had been working “very closely” with Turkish intelligence on Mr Khashoggi’s killing. The shared audio is the latest measure by Turkey to maintain international pressure on Saudi Arabia in its aim to stop a cover up of the October 2 killing. Mr Trudeau said that he himself had not heard the audio, and he would not give any details on the contents of the tapes. Mr Trudeau also said he thanked Mr Erdogan in person for “his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation” when the two leaders met in Paris this weekend.[SEP]PARIS—Justin Trudeau says Canadian intelligence officials have listened to a recording of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The prime minister said he has not personally heard the recordings Turkey provided to Saudi Arabia along with allies such as the U.S. and Britain in recent days, though he said he has been fully briefed on its contents. “Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share,” said Trudeau during a press conference at the Canadian embassy in Paris. He said he brought up the subject during a recent phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and briefly again when the two met this weekend in Paris. His killing has received widespread condemnation, including from Trudeau himself, but Trudeau didn’t say how the recordings have affected his thoughts on repercussions for the Saudis. “We continue to be engaged with our allies on the investigation into accountability for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and we are in discussion with our like-minded allies as to next steps towards Saudi Arabia,” he said.[SEP]Turkey Keeps Pressure On Trump To Respond To Killing Of Jamal Khashoggi Turkey's president says he gave tapes of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to a number of western countries, including the U.S. The Trump Administration still faces pressure to respond.[SEP]PARIS -- Justin Trudeau says Canadian intelligence officials have listened to a recording of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The prime minister said he has not personally heard the recordings Turkey provided to Saudi Arabia along with allies such as the U.S. and Britain in recent days, though he said he has been fully briefed on its contents. "Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share," said Trudeau during a press conference at the Canadian embassy in Paris. He said he brought up the subject during a recent phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and briefly again when the two met this weekend in Paris. Trudeau said he "thanked him for his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation." Khashoggi was a vocal critic of Saudi Arabia and was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, where he'd gone to get papers to marry his fiancee. His killing has received widespread condemnation, including from Trudeau himself, but Trudeau didn't say how the recordings have affected his thoughts on repercussions for the Saudis. "We continue to be engaged with our allies on the investigation into accountability for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and we are in discussion with our like-minded allies as to next steps towards Saudi Arabia," he said.[SEP]PARIS — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday became the first Western leader to acknowledge his country had received the recordings of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "Canada has been fully briefed up on what Turkey had to share," Trudeau said from the Canadian Embassy in Paris, where he was attending the Peace Forum following the WWI Armistice centenary. On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had given recordings "to Saudi Arabia, to America, to the Germans, the French, to the British, to all of them." The Canadian leader is the first since that announcement to officially confirm that his country's intelligence had listened to the audio. Trudeau said that he himself had not heard them, and he wouldn't give any details on the contents of the tapes. Trudeau said he thanked Erdogan for "his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation" at the sidelines of the Paris ceremonies this weekend. France's account of Erdogan's claim to have shared the tapes differs somewhat. When questioned on France 2 television Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Turkey has "not to my knowledge" given the French government any such recordings, and suggesting the Turks were playing games. "If the Turkish president has information to give to us, he must give it to us," Le Drian said. "That means he has a political game in this situation," Le Drian added, referring to Erdogan. CIA Director Gina Haspel, who visited Turkey last month for information on the investigation, is reported to have heard the audio recordings of the killing. The existence of the recordings was leaked to the media but never openly confirmed until last week. Turkey says Khashoggi, who was critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was strangled and dismembered at the consulate as part of a premeditated killing. Media reports have suggested that his body could have been chemically dissolved. Saudi Arabia insisted for weeks after Khashoggi disappeared that he had walked out of the consulate, before changing its account to say he died in a brawl. Subsequently, Saudi Arabia acknowledged that Turkish evidence indicates that Khashoggi's killing was premeditated, shifting its explanation in an apparent effort to ease international outrage over the death. Saudi officials characterize the killing as a rogue operation carried out by Saudi agents who exceeded their authority. Yet some of those implicated in the killing are close to the crown prince, including a member of the prince's entourage on foreign trips who was seen at the consulate before Khashoggi's slaying. On Monday, U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt became the first British minister to visit Saudi Arabia since the Oct. 2 killing. He met with King Salman and was expected to meet the crown prince and press Saudi authorities to fully cooperate with Turkish investigators.[SEP]PARIS, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Canadian intelligence has listened to Turkish recordings of what happened to Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist killed in Istanbul, said Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, although Trudeau added that he himself had not listened to them. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate by a team sent from Riyadh. Saudi authorities have acknowledged that the killing was premeditated, but his body has not been found. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said over the weekend that audio recordings of the killing had been given to the U.S., French, German and British governments. "Canada's intelligence agencies have been working very closely on this issue with Turkish intelligence and Canada has been fully briefed on what Turkey had to share and I had a conversation with Erdogan a couple of weeks ago and here in Paris we had brief exchanges and I thanked him for his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation," said Trudeau. Trudeau specified that Canadian agents had heard the Turkish recordings, although he himself had not. "We continue to be engaged with our allies on the investigation into accountability for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and we are in discussions with our like-minded allies as to the next steps with regard Saudi Arabia," added Trudeau at a news conference in Paris on Monday. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)[SEP]Speaking at a press conference in Paris on Monday, where he attended a peace forum following the WWI Armistice centenary, Trudeau said Canadian intelligence had listened to the audio tape provided by Turkish intelligence, but he had not done so Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become the first Western leader to acknowledge that his country's intelligence received an audio recording of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that he gave recordings "to Saudi Arabia, to America, to the Germans, the French, to the British, to all of them", but there was no independent confirmation from any country that they had received it. Speaking at a press conference in Paris on Monday, where he attended a peace forum following the WWI Armistice centenary, Trudeau said Canadian intelligence had listened to the audio tape provided by Turkish intelligence, but he had not done so, according to a report in the Guardian. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a supporter-turned-critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 after he went there to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. "Canada's intelligence agencies have been working very closely on this issue with Turkish intelligence and Canada has been fully briefed on what Turkey had to share," he said. "I had a conversation with Erdogan a couple of weeks ago, and here in Paris we had brief exchanges and I thanked him for his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation." On the other hand, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that recordings related to Khashoggi's murder were not to his knowledge in his country's possession, contradicting Erdogan. Later, on being asked on France 2 television why the Turkish President had made the claim, Le Drian said: "It means he has a political game to play in these circumstances. If the Turkish President has information to give to us, he must give it to us." Asked about the existence of a tape, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said: " I can tell you that there has been an exchange of intelligence service information on that." He declined to give any further details. According to the daily, the British sources previously said they had been briefed on the contents of an alleged tape, but due to the sensitivity of intelligence exchanges, they refused to elaborate. Khashoggi's body is yet to be found. It has been reported that he was strangled, dismembered and his body dissolved in chemicals. After a weeks-long denial, Saudi Arabia admitted on October 25 that the journalist fell victim to a premeditated killing in the consulate and arrested 18 people. However, it denies the ruling royal family's involvement in the killing. Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Except for the change in the headline, the story has been provided "AS-IS," "AS AVAILABLE, without any verification or editing from our side. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau confirms that Canadian intelligence officials have listened to the recording provided by Turkey of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, though he himself had not heard it.

A minister of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration has been detained over economic malfeasance charges. Parviz Kazemi, former minister of welfare and social security in the first cabinet of Ahmadinejad, was detained two days ago and transferred to Tehran's Evin House of Detention on charge of causing disruption in the country's economic system, an informed judicial official told IRNA on Sunday. Kazemi has also served as the chairman of Bank Sarmayeh's board of directors and a member of the board of trustees of Teachers' Investment Fund. He was proposed by Ahmadinejad to the Parliament in August 2005, but resigned after one year. Iran has launched an unrelenting campaign against economic corruption and any act aimed at disrupting the country’s economic system as the country is facing re-imposition of sanctions on its various economic sectors by the US administration. In late September, Iranian Judiciary spokesman, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, told reporters that the Iranian judicial officials had handed down death sentences to three people convicted of economic corruption. Mohseni-Ejei said that the death sentences were given by special tribunals set up in Tehran, which have so far handed down various sentences to 35 economic offenders. He added that out of 35 convicts, three were sentenced to death for “spreading corruption on earth,” noting that the sentences would have to be upheld by Iran's Supreme Court before being carried out. Mohseni-Ejei said 32 other defendants were given various jail terms up to 20 years for economic corruption. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said in September that enemies of Iran have unleashed an all-out economic and media war against the country with the aim of creating “despair” and “pessimism” among people. “Today, the Islamic establishment is faced with an all-out economic war, which is being led from a war room with full precision and hard work,” said the Leader.[SEP]By The Associated Press TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s official IRNA news agency says authorities have arrested the former minister of welfare and social security for financial fraud. The Sunday report says Parviz Kazemi was taken to Tehran’s Evin… TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s official IRNA news agency says authorities have arrested the former minister of welfare and social security for financial fraud. The Sunday report says Parviz Kazemi was taken to Tehran’s Evin prison two days ago. Kazemi resigned from his post in 2006 after nearly a year under former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over political differences. He later worked in the banking sector. In recent years, Kazemi turned into a critic of Ahmadinejad. Several of Ahmadinejad’s allies are in jail over charges relating to security and financial fraud. In September, a court sentenced Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close ally of Ahmadinejad to six-and-a-half years in prison for plotting to commit crimes against national security, propaganda against the Islamic Republic and insulting officials. Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.[SEP]Iran arrests ex-minister of welfare over financial fraud TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's official IRNA news agency says authorities have arrested the former minister of welfare and social security for financial fraud. The Sunday report says Parviz Kazemi was taken to Tehran's Evin prison two days ago. Kazemi resigned from his post in 2006 after nearly a year under former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over political differences. He later worked in the banking sector. In recent years, Kazemi turned into a critic of Ahmadinejad. Several of Ahmadinejad's allies are in jail over charges relating to security and financial fraud. In September, a court sentenced Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close ally of Ahmadinejad to six-and-a-half years in prison for plotting to commit crimes against national security, propaganda against the Islamic Republic and insulting officials.[SEP](RFE/RL) — A former Iranian minister of welfare and social security has been arrested for financial fraud, official media reported on November 11. Iran’s official IRNA news agency said Parviz Kazemi was taken to Tehran’s Evin prison on November 9. Kazemi resigned from his post in 2006 after nearly a year under former hard-line President Mahmud Ahmadinejad over political differences. He later worked in the banking sector. In recent years, Kazemi turned into a critic of Ahmadinejad. Several of Ahmadinejad’s allies are in jail over charges relating to security and financial fraud. In September, a court sentenced Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close ally of Ahmadinejad, to 6 1/2 years in prison for plotting to commit crimes against national security, propaganda against the Islamic Republic, and insulting officials.

Parviz Kazemi, former Iranian welfare minister, is arrested and transferred to Tehran's Evin Prison on charge of causing disruption in the country's economic system.

Toronto 1 arrested, 9 other teens sought in attack on Jewish teens Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by Email Assault happened Sunday night in Fairholme Avenue and Bathurst Street area, police said Toronto Police say an attack on a group of Jewish teens on Sunday, Nov. 11 in the area of Fairholme Avenue and Bathurst Street is being investigated as a hate crime. (CBC) One arrest has been made and nine other teenagers are being sought in what Toronto police say is a suspected attack on a group of Jewish teens. Police said the victims were attacked and robbed on Sunday, Nov. 11 in the area of Fairholme Avenue and Bathurst Street. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime. Around 8 p.m. on Sunday, police were called to the area for reports of an assault. ADVERTISEMENT In a news release on Monday, police said four boys, all 17, were walking in the area wearing "attire of their religious faith." "As they passed another group of youngsters, who were unknown to them, derogatory comments were made about their religion," the news release said. Police said the unknown group then assaulted two of the teens, punching and kicking them. The suspects also stole a pair of sunglasses from one of the victims before fleeing. Toronto police spokesperson Katrina Arrogante said one of the boys was injured and was treated by Emergency Medical Services on the scene. "Police arrived on scene, together with EMS and located the injured male," Arrogante told CBC Toronto. "Minor injuries were sustained; some soreness to the face and some bruising to the lower body." ADVERTISEMENT The matter is being treated as a hate crime, police said. Meanwhile, Toronto Mayor John Tory responded to the assault, saying "no one should ever be attacked for their religion." Tory tweeted about the incident on Monday and called on the public to help the police "solve this hate crime/robbery investigation that occurred Sunday night." CIJA condemns attack Meanwhile, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) has also issued a statement condemning the attack. "We were deeply disturbed to learn of this vile assault on Jewish teens in Toronto, which Police are investigating as a hate-motivated crime," CIJA said. "Our security team is in constant communications with our law enforcement partners who remain on the scene and are conducting an active investigation." CIJA is calling on community members who live or work in the Dell Park area and have surveillance videos to check their footage and contact 13 Division if they have any information that might be useful. "Jewish Canadians should never fear wearing their Kippah in public. We are grateful to the Toronto Police Service for its rapid and professional response," CIJA said.[SEP]Rene Johnston/Getty Images Toronto police are investigating a hate crime they say occurred in north Toronto against Jewish teens. The 17-year-old boys were walking in Toronto's north end wearing kippahs when they passed another group of nine people in their early teens, who made derogatory comments about their religion, according to police. The two groups were unknown to one another. Four teenage Jewish boys wearing religious attire were assaulted and robbed in a hate crime Sunday evening, say police. The group then assaulted two of the boys, "punching and kicking them" and stole a pair of sunglasses from one of the victims, reported police who arrived at the scene at 8 p.m. Officers arrested a 17-year-old whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Jewish community is "deeply disturbed to learn of this vile assault," said Noah Shack, GTA vice president of The Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs in a statement. "Jewish Canadians should never fear wearing their kippah in public." A kippah is a religious headcap. Canadian Anti-Hate Network chair Bernie Farber told HuffPost Canada that this incident demonstrates a rise in racism. "Anti-Semitism has increased in ways I'd have never believed possible a year or two ago," Farber said. "It's gone from scrawling swastika symbols on sides of Jewish buildings to violence against young people. Lessons have not been learned."[SEP](JTA) — An attack on a group of identifiably Jewish 17-year-old boys in Toronto is being investigated as a hate crime. On Sunday, the Jewish teens wearing “attire of their religious faith,” according to Toronto Police, passed by a group of 10 identified as being in their “early teens.” The larger group made derogatory remarks about the religion of the Jewish teens, then punched and kicked two of the Jews before splitting up and running away, police said. A pair of sunglasses was stolen from one of the Jewish teens. One of the suspects was arrested at the scene, and the Jewish victims were treated for their injuries there, according to police. “No one should ever be attacked for their religion,” Toronto Mayor John Tory said in a tweet. “Please help @TorontoPolice solve this hate crime/robbery investigation that occurred Sunday night.”[SEP]Police in Toronto are searching for a group of teenagers accused of attacking and insulting another group of Jewish teens in North York, allegedly over their religion. The boys were walking near Fairholme Avenue and Bathurst Street at around 8 p.m. Sunday when, as they passed another group of teens, the boys were subjected to “derogatory comments” about their religion. Police say the four victims, all about 17 years old, were dressed according to their faith at the time. “They were being made fun of based on what they were wearing,” Toronto police spokesperson Katrina Arrogante told CP24. “They were wearing their yamakas on their heads – aside from that I’m not quite sure what their basic outfit was, but that was the comment that was being made to them and that’s when the assault occurred.” At some point, two of the four boys were attacked. Police allege the victims were punched and kicked and at least one item – a pair of sunglasses – was stolen from one of the victims. The suspects eventually split up and left the area before help arrived. At least one of the suspects was located by police. It’s not clear what charges, if any, they may face. The victims were treated on scene for varying injuries. They later told police that they did not know their attackers. Police are now searching for at least nine suspects, described only as being in their early teens. Few other any details about the suspects has been released. In a news release, police indicated they’re investigated the alleged attack as a possible hate crime and robbery. Noah Shack, Vice President of The Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs in the Greater Toronto Area, issued a statement Monday afternoon saying the centre was “deeply disturbed to learn of this vile assault on Jewish teens in Toronto.” “Jewish Canadians should never fear wearing their Kippah in public. We are grateful to the Toronto Police Service for its rapid and professional response.” Anyone with information about the incident or anyone who was in the area and witnessed the attack is being asked to contact Toronto police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.[SEP]In a year when the city is on pace for a record number of shootings and murders, it’s difficult to imagine something that could shock Toronto to any greater degree. However, four Jewish teens suffering a beating in a Hitler-inspired racial attack has done just that. “No one should ever be attacked for their religion. Please help Toronto Police solve this hate crime/robbery investigation that occurred Sunday night,” tweeted Mayor John Tory. A group of Orthodox Jewish kids being punched, kicked and told “Hitler was coming back” on the streets of Toronto? It happened Sunday in the Bathurst St.-Lawrence Ave. area. “They kept making fun of us for being Jewish,” said one of the 17-year-old male victims. “They were yelling at me about Hitler and kept saying it. I was punched, kicked and they broke my glasses.” The assailants referred to the “Nazis” and mocked and laughed at the young men’s religious headwear. “Two of us were wearing kippah’s and two fedoras (Hasidic Jewish hats),” said one of the victims. “I guess we stood out. We should not be beaten up because we are Jewish.” Toronto Police are rightly investigating this as a “hate crime and a robbery.” They already have one suspect in custody and are looking for nine more they describe as “young” people. “Toronto Police will not tolerate violence and harassment against anyone,” tweeted Chief Mark Saunders. “Help us find the young people responsible for the attack against a group of teens from the Jewish community.” Saunders and investigators are encouraging people to drop a dime to Crime Stoppers to arrest these alleged racists. “Four 17-year-old boys were walking in the area, all of whom were wearing attire of their religious faith,” said a Toronto Police release. “As they passed another group of young persons, who were unknown to them, derogatory comments were made about their religion. The unknown group then assaulted two of the 17-year-old boys, punching and kicking them.” Jewish teenagers punched in the face and kicked by assailants continuously referencing “Hitler” is not something I have ever covered before in my 27 years of chronicling crime in Toronto. Swastika graffiti, yes. Anti-Semitic vandalism, yes. Anti-Jewish smears, many times. But a swarm of up to 20 teenage boys allegedly attacking four Orthodox Jewish youths on their way to Yeshiva night school to study the Torah is not something I’ve ever seen. “It’s just vile,” said Michael Mostyn, B’nai Brith Canada’s chief executive officer. “It’s terrifying that Orthodox Jewish teens would face something has horrific as being beaten and harassed with anti-Semitic slurs. It’s just not right.” He was heartened to hear police were treating as a hate crime because “something like this has to be curbed” before it becomes an issue. “We have seen a rise in anti-Semitic (acts) in Toronto but actual violence is unusual,” said Mostyn. But this is a reminder of just how quickly this kind of evil can be re-introduced. “This is just another example of why we must continue educating young people in schools, particularly about the Holocaust and other examples of hatred and intolerance throughout history, helping them understand the effects of hate and why we must all stand up against it,” said Avi Benlolo, president of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. And Canadian Jewish Defense League National Director Meir Weinstein said Jewish people in Toronto have to be prepared for such attacks which he and many other Jewish leaders have been concerned about for the past few years. It’s important these young people understand the whole community does not condone what happened to them but that the whole of the community is outraged about it.[SEP]Four teenage Jewish boys wearing religious attire were assaulted and robbed in a hate crime Sunday evening, say police. The 17-year-old boys were walking in Toronto's north end wearing kippahs when they passed another group of nine people in their early teens, who made derogatory comments about their religion, according to police. The two groups were unknown to one another. The group then assaulted two of the boys, "punching and kicking them" and stole a pair of sunglasses from one of the victims, reported police who arrived at the scene at 8 p.m. Officers arrested a 17-year-old whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Jewish community is "deeply disturbed to learn of this vile assault," said Noah Shack, GTA vice president of The Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs in a statement. "Jewish Canadians should never fear wearing their kippah in public." Canadian Anti-Hate Network chair Bernie Farber told HuffPost Canada that this incident demonstrates a rise in racism and anti-semitism. "Anti-semitism has increased in ways I'd have never believed possible a year or two ago," Farber said. "It's gone from scrawling swastika symbols on sides of Jewish buildings to violence against young people. Lessons have not been learned." He pointed to the Quebec mosque shooting in January 2017 that left six dead and to the gunman who killed 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in October. The Toronto incident is alleged to have happened on Remembrance Day, and against kids, making it "the worst form of anti-semitism," Farber said. "It has to be called out and condemned. We have to try to determine why this is happening. Why is this going on?" The other suspects split up and fled, leaving the victims with injuries that were treated on scene. Police have no more information about the suspects' descriptions, said spokesperson Katrina Arrogante on Monday. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1300, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS.[SEP]Toronto police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating nine youths wanted in connection with an attack on a group of Jewish teens. Police said the victims were attacked and robbed on Sunday, Nov. 11 in the area of Fairholme Avenue and Bathurst Street. Around 8 p.m. on Sunday, police were called to the area for reports of an assault. In a news release on Monday, police said four boys, all 17, were walking in the area wearing "attire of their religious faith." "As they passed another group of youngsters, who were unknown to them, derogatory comments were made about their religion," the news release said. Police said the unknown group then assaulted two of the teens, punching and kicking them. The suspects also stole a pair of sunglasses from one of the victims before fleeing. Toronto police spokesperson Katrina Arrogante said one of the boys was injured and was treated by Emergency Medical Services on the scene. "Police arrived on scene, together with EMS and located the injured male," Arrogante told CBC Toronto. "Minor injuries were sustained; some soreness to the face and some bruising to the lower body." The matter is being treated as a hate crime, police said. Meanwhile, Toronto Mayor John Tory responded to the assault, saying "no one should ever be attacked for their religion." Tory tweeted about the incident on Monday and called on the public to help the police "solve this hate crime/robbery investigation that occurred Sunday night." Meanwhile, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) has also issued a statement condemning the attack. "We were deeply disturbed to learn of this vile assault on Jewish teens in Toronto, which Police are investigating as a hate-motivated crime," CIJA said. "Our security team is in constant communications with our law enforcement partners who remain on the scene and are conducting an active investigation." CIJA is calling on community members who live or work in the Dell Park area and have surveillance videos to check their footage and contact 13 Division if they have any information that might be useful. "Jewish Canadians should never fear wearing their Kippah in public. We are grateful to the Toronto Police Service for its rapid and professional response," CIJA said.[SEP]Toronto police have launched a robbery and hate crime investigation after a group of 17-year-old Jewish boys wearing religious garments were attacked in North Toronto Sunday evening. Police say the four boys were walking in the area of Fairholme Ave. and Bathurst St., one block south of Lawrence Ave. W., when they were passed by another group of nine teenagers. The second group made derogatory comments about the Jewish boys’ religion and their clothing then assaulted two of the 17-year-old boys, “punching and kicking them,” police said. A pair of sunglasses was then stolen from one of the victims. The 17-year-old boys did not know the other group, police said. After the alleged attack took place, the suspects split up and fled the area, police said. Police responded to the scene at approximately 8 p.m. and arrested one suspect, a 17-year-old boy, at the scene. He cannot be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. No description has been made about the other suspects other than they are in their “early teens.” Toronto police spokesperson Katrina Arrogante said police could not say whether the assault had an anti-Semitic motivation, or whether the derogatory comments were a case of “kids being kids.” The victims of the assault were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Ilya Bañares is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @ilyaoverseas[SEP]TORONTO — Police have made one arrest and are looking for nine teens following an alleged assault, described as a suspected hate crime against two Jewish boys in Toronto. Investigators say the incident happened on Sunday evening, when four 17-year-old boys were walking through a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood and wearing yarmulkes. Police allege another group of young people made derogatory comments to the boys about their religion, and began punching and kicking two of them. Investigators say the suspects split up and ran away, and the alleged victims were treated for their injuries at the scene. They say officers found one of the suspects, and are looking for nine others who are described as being in their early teens. Toronto Mayor John Tory tweeted that nobody should be “attacked for their religion,” and asked for anyone with information about the incident to call police. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it was “deeply disturbed” by what it described as the “vile assault on Jewish teens.” “Jewish Canadians should never fear wearing their Kippah in public,” vice-president Noah Shack said in a statement, noting that his organization’s security team was in contact with Toronto police.[SEP]Toronto police are on the lookout for nine young teenagers, wanted in connection with a possible hate crime. Four 17-year-old boys were walking in the area of Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue Sunday evening, wearing attire of their religious faith. As they passed a group of young people, derogatory comments were allegedly made towards them. The group, unknown to the victims, then allegedly assaulted two of the boys, punching and kicking them. A pair of sunglasses was also stolen from one of the victims, before the assailants fled the area. Police were called and one of the suspects involved was arrested. The victims were treated for their injuries at the scene. Naomi Parness with the United Jewish Appeal Federation says it is their understanding the teenagers were Jewish. The outstanding suspects are described as being in their early teens, but further details have not been made available. Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

Toronto police investigates a hate crime against four Jewish teens. 1 person is arrested and 9 other teenagers are being sought.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Kyrsten Sinema now becomes Arizona's first female senator The US state of Arizona has elected its first female senator, after Democrat Kyrsten Sinema beat Republican Martha McSally in a tight race. Ms Sinema is the south-western state's first Democratic senator since 1994. The win narrows the Republican majority to four seats (51-47), with two more Senate races remaining unresolved. In Florida, a recount has been ordered by law after unofficial results fell within a 0.5% margin. Mississippi will hold a run-off vote later this month. What happened in Arizona? With almost all the votes counted, Ms Sinema had a lead of 1.7% over her rival. She takes the seat vacated by Jeff Flake, a frequent critic of Mr Trump. Ms Sinema, 42, later addressed her cheering supporters in Scottsdale, near Phoenix, speaking of the urgent need to heal the bitter political rancour dividing Americans. She paid tribute to the memory of the late John McCain, who also represented Arizona in the Senate until his death earlier this year, saying he had set a shining example of how to put national interests above party political ones. "Senator McCain is irreplaceable," she said, "but his example will guide our next steps forward. He taught us to always assume the best in others, to seek compromise instead of sowing division, and to always put country ahead of party." Republican Ms McSally, a 52-year-old former combat fighter pilot, conceded defeat. In a video message posted on Twitter, she said: "I just called Kyrsten Sinema and congratulated her on becoming Arizona's first female senator after a hard-fought battle." Who is Kyrsten Sinema? 42 years old, born in Tucson, Arizona Faced homelessness and poverty as a child Former social worker who became a lawyer Entered politics as a Green Party candidate Elected to House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2012 Openly bisexual, she has campaigned for same-sex marriage Read more on women's mid-term gains: More women than ever before won seats in Congress in the 2018 mid-terms. What does it mean for Congress - and America? Which other races are still undecided? Votes are being recounted in the Florida senate race, which pits incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson against the state's Republican Governor Rick Scott. Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner has ordered that all 67 of the state's counties complete machine recounts for the Senate by 15:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Thursday. In Georgia's gubernatorial election, Democrat Stacey Abrams is refusing to concede in her race against Republican Brian Kemp. Mr Kemp declared victory on Wednesday with a narrow lead but campaign officials for Ms Abrams have started a legal challenge to ensure all votes are counted. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Stacey Abrams has not yet conceded in Georgia Her supporters have claimed that issues such as ballot machines supplied without power cables and four-hour queues unfairly helped Mr Kemp. An ongoing tally has whittled Mr Kemp's lead slightly to under 60,000 votes, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Sunday. But Ms Abrams still needs another 22,000 votes to trigger a run-off election next month, and it is unclear how many ballots remain outstanding. Meanwhile, in Mississippi, Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith faces Democrat Mike Espy in a run-off vote after neither managed to reach 50% in the first round, winning 41.5% and 40.6% respectively. The vote will take place on 27 November. Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Last Wednesday Donald Trump boasted that Republicans could end up with one of the party's largest Senate majorities in the last 100 years. A week and two Democratic victories later, and those hopes have been dashed. Pending the outcome of the Florida recount and a Mississippi run-off, Republicans are up only one seat in the Senate. Given that Democrats were defending 10 incumbents in states Mr Trump won in 2016, the results for Republicans reveal an enormous missed opportunity. The raw numbers don't tell the whole story. Last week there were Senate contests in eight key presidential battleground states - Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and Virginia. Democrats have won every one except Florida. And the significance of the Arizona victory is also notable. Of the five seats that have changed hands, Arizona is the only one that flipped away from the party that carried it in 2016. Time will tell whether the 2018 results indicate a new baseline for Democrats or a high-water mark. By limiting the damage in what could have been a devastating election for its Senate contingent, however, the party is much better positioned to challenge for control of the chamber in the coming years.[SEP]Democrat Kyrsten Sinema defeats Republican Martha McSally in the Arizona race for U.S. Senate WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Kyrsten Sinema defeats Republican Martha McSally in the Arizona race for U.S. Senate.[SEP]Democrat Kyrsten Sinema has defeated Republican Martha McSally to win the Arizona Senate race, the Associated Press projected Monday evening. With Sinema's victory to flip the open seat of retiring GOP Sen. Jeff Flake, she becomes the first Democrat Arizona has elected to the Senate since 1988. She will not only be the state's first female senator, but she will also be the first openly bisexual senator in U.S. history.[SEP]WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Kyrsten Sinema defeats Republican Martha McSally in the Arizona race for U.S. Senate.[SEP]Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema is the apparent winner in the Arizona Senate race, narrowly defeating Republican Rep. Martha McSally, according to an NBC News projection. Sinema is the first Democratic senator elected in Arizona in 30 years. McSally conceded the race in a video statement on her Twitter account Monday evening.[SEP](Reuters) - Democrat Kyrsten Sinema defeated Republican Martha McSally to win a close U.S. Senate race in Arizona after last Tuesday’s elections, in a Senate pickup for Democrats in a state that had not elected a Democratic U.S. senator for 30 years. Despite the Arizona result, Republicans will keep control of the 100-member Senate, winning at least 51 seats to the Democrats’ 47. Results in Florida and Mississippi are still outstanding. Sinema, 42, a U.S. representative and former social worker, will become Arizona’s first female senator. She will succeed Republican Jeff Flake, who did not seek re-election and has been a vocal critic of Republican President Donald Trump. “It won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight, but we can work together to meet the challenges our country faces,” Sinema told supporters on Monday night in Scottsdale, Arizona, after multiple media outlets called the election for her. Referring to longtime Arizona U.S. Senator John McCain, a Republican who died in August, Sinema said: “We can do this differently. For our future, for Senator McCain and for each other, I think we must.” Her opponent, McSally, 52, also a U.S. representative and a former Air Force fighter pilot, congratulated Sinema for winning the race. “I wish her all success as she represents Arizona in the Senate,” McSally said in a video posted to social media. In a tweet last Friday, Trump alleged “electoral corruption” in Arizona, without providing evidence, and seemed to call for holding a new election, even though all the votes had not yet been counted.[SEP]Democrat Kyrsten Sinema won Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat Monday in a race that was among the most closely watched in the nation, beating Republican Rep. Martha McSally in the battle to replace GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. The three-term congresswoman won after a slow vote count that dragged on for nearly a week after voters went to the polls on Nov. 6. She becomes Arizona's first Democratic U.S. senator since 1994. Her win cemented Arizona as a swing state after years of Republican dominance. Sinema portrayed herself as a moderate who works across the aisle to get things done. McSally, a former Air Force pilot who embraced President Donald Trump after opposing him during the 2016 elections, had claimed that Sinema's anti-war protests 15 years ago disqualified her and said one protest amounted to what she called "treason." Sinema and supporters rushed to a Scottsdale resort Monday night after the latest batch of ballots showed her lead to be insurmountable. "Arizona rejected what has been far too common in our country - name calling, petty, personal attacks and doing and saying what it takes to get elected," Sinema said as scores of backers waved her purple-and-yellow campaign sign. "But Arizona proved that there is a better way forward." McSally posted a video message to twitter. "I just called Kyrsten Sinema and congratulated her on becoming Arizona's first female senator after a hard-fought battle," McSally said in the video, her pet golden retriever by her side. "I wish her all success as she represents Arizona in the Senate." During her six years in Congress, Sinema built one of most centrist records in the Democratic caucus, and she voted for bills backed by Trump more than 60 percent of the time. She backed legislation increasing penalties against people in the country illegally who commit crimes. McSally's attacks on Sinema reached back more than 15 years, when Sinema was a Green Party spokeswoman and liberal activist. McSally backed Trump's tax cut, border security and the Affordable Care Act repeal agenda as she survived a three-way GOP primary in August, defeating two conservative challengers who claimed her support for Trump was fake. McSally also campaigned on her military record and support for the Armed Forces. Sinema attacked McSally's leadership of last year's failed Affordable Care Act repeal effort as a sign that she would not protect Arizona residents with preexisting medical conditions. McSally argued that she would protect patients, despite her vote on the bill that would have removed many of those protections. The contest drew more than $90 million in spending, including more than $58 million by outside groups, according to Federal Election Commission reports. Attack ads by both sides clogged the airwaves for months. Sinema, 42, has a law degree, worked as a social worker and was a political activist in her 20s, running as an independent Green Party candidate for the Arizona House. She then became a Democrat and served several terms in the state Legislature. Sinema started as an overt liberal but developed a reputation for compromise among her Republican peers, laying the groundwork to tack to the center. When the 9th Congressional District was created after the 2010 Census, Sinema ran for the Phoenix-area seat as a centrist and won the 2012 election. McSally, 52, was the first female Air Force pilot to fly in combat, flying A-10 attack jets. She also was the first woman to command a fighter squadron, again in A-10s. McSally lost her first race in Arizona's 2nd congressional district in 2012, when she was narrowly defeated by Democratic Rep. Ron Barber, who replaced Rep. Gabby Giffords after she was wounded in a 2011 assassination attempt. But McSally came back to win the 2014 election, beating Barber by a narrow margin. She was re-elected in 2016. There's still a chance McSally becomes a senator soon. One of her political mentors, Jon Kyl, was appointed in September to fill John McCain's seat after Arizona's senior senator died following a struggle against brain cancer. Kyl said he'd only serve through Jan. 3, which would mean the state's Republican governor, Doug Ducey, would get to select another senator. That person would run for re-election in 2020. Ducey campaigned with McSally often last month. Flake was an outspoken critic of Trump and announced in 2017 that he would not seek re-election, acknowledging he could not win a GOP primary in the current political climate. His support of the president's initiatives, however, was mixed. He strongly backed last year's tax cut bill but criticized Trump's positions on free trade.[SEP]Democrat Kyrsten Sinema is the apparent winner of Arizona Senate race, according to NBC News. Republican Martha McSally conceded defeat, bringing an end to the long-fought battle over the seat held by retiring GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. While most of the hundreds of midterm races produced clear winners and losers by Tuesday night, NBC News still considered the Arizona contest too close to call until Monday night. Sinema eventually developed a lead that grew as days wore on. She is the first woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate from the state of Arizona and the first Democrat that the state elected to the Senate in 30 years. As the votes trickled in, Republicans launched a lawsuit challenging a mail-in ballot-counting practice in two Arizona counties that allowed voters to fix issues for up to five days after Election Day. The tug-of-war over the remaining ballots came amid another roiling in controversy over vote totals in Broward County, Florida. President Donald Trump weighed in on both races in tweets Friday. The Sinema-McSally race was widely viewed as one of the Democrats' best opportunities to gain seats in an unfavorable Senate election map. Democrats were defending 26 Senate seats in the midterms, while Republicans were defending nine. And with Flake, an outspoken Trump critic, choosing not to run for re-election, Republicans lost the incumbent advantage that might otherwise have shielded them from a serious Democratic challenge. Instead, analysts forecasted a neck-and-neck race that appeared to break in Sinema's favor in the final days before the election,according to an NBC News/Marist poll. Analyses from RealClearPolitics and Sabato's Crystal Ball called the race a toss-up, while FiveThirtyEight gave Sinema a slight edge. Sinema, who tried to run as a moderate, came under fire in October after Republican and conservative organizations released video clips of the Democrat from years earlier appearing to make fun of her state and its residents.[SEP]PHOENIX -- Democrat Kyrsten Sinema won Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat Monday in a race that was among the most closely watched in the nation, beating Republican Rep. Martha McSally in the battle to replace GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. The three-term congresswoman won after a slow vote count that dragged on for nearly a week after voters went to the polls on Nov. 6. She becomes Arizona's first Democratic U.S. senator since 1994. Her win cemented Arizona as a swing state after years of Republican dominance. Sinema portrayed herself as a moderate who works across the aisle to get things done. McSally, a former Air Force pilot who embraced President Donald Trump after opposing him during the 2016 elections, had claimed that Sinema's anti-war protests 15 years ago disqualified her and said one protest amounted to what she called "treason." But during her six years in Congress, Sinema built one of most centrist records in the Democratic caucus, and she voted for bills backed by Trump more than 60 per cent of the time. She backed legislation increasing penalties against people in the country illegally who commit crimes. McSally's attacks on Sinema reached back more than 15 years, when Sinema was a Green Party spokeswoman and liberal activist. McSally backed Trump's tax cut, border security and the Affordable Care Act repeal agenda as she survived a three-way GOP primary in August, defeating two conservative challengers who claimed her support for Trump was fake. McSally also campaigned on her military record and support for the Armed Forces. Sinema attacked McSally's leadership of last year's failed Affordable Care Act repeal effort as a sign that she would not protect Arizona residents with preexisting medical conditions. McSally argued that she would protect patients, despite her vote on the bill that would have removed many of those protections. The contest drew more than $90 million in spending, including more than $58 million by outside groups, according to Federal Election Commission reports. Attack ads by both sides clogged the airwaves for months. Sinema, 42, has a law degree, worked as a social worker and was a political activist in her 20s, running as an independent Green Party candidate for the Arizona House. She then became a Democrat and served several terms in the state Legislature. Sinema started as an overt liberal but developed a reputation for compromise among her Republican peers, laying the groundwork to tack to the centre. When the 9th Congressional District was created after the 2010 Census, Sinema ran for the Phoenix-area seat as a centrist and won the 2012 election. McSally, 52, was the first female Air Force pilot to fly in combat, flying A-10 attack jets. She also was the first woman to command a fighter squadron, again in A-10s. McSally lost her first race in Arizona's 2nd congressional district in 2012, when she was narrowly defeated by Democratic Rep. Ron Barber, who replaced Rep. Gabby Giffords after she was wounded in a 2011 assassination attempt. But McSally came back to win the 2014 election, beating Barber by a narrow margin. She was re-elected in 2016. Flake was an outspoken critic of Trump and announced in 2017 that he would not seek re-election, acknowledging he could not win a GOP primary in the current political climate. His support of the president's initiatives, however, was mixed. He strongly backed last year's tax cut bill but criticized Trump's positions on free trade.[SEP](Reuters) - Democrat Kyrsten Sinema defeated Republican Martha McSally to win a close U.S. Senate race in Arizona following last Tuesday’s congressional elections, according to multiple media outlets. Sinema’s victory means a Senate pickup for Democrats, although Republicans will keep control of the chamber. She will succeed Republican Jeff Flake, who did not seek re-election. Sinema, a U.S. representative, thanked Arizona for electing her in a statement posted to social media and pledged to “be an independent voice for all Arizonans.” Her opponent, McSally, also a U.S. representative, congratulated Sinema for becoming Arizona’s first female senator. “I wish her all success as she represents Arizona in the Senate,” McSally said in a video posted to social media.

A week after the election, which was initially too close to call, Democratic Party candidate Kyrsten Sinema is elected to the United States Senate, defeating GOP candidate Martha McSally. Sinema is the first woman elected to represent Arizona in the Senate and first Democrat to win a Senate election in the state since 1988.

Regional News MAJURO — Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine survived a vote of no-confidence Monday afternoon, as parliament split evenly 16-16. The movers of the motion of no confidence needed 17 votes to topple Heine. The vote was held with 32 of the 33 members present, as one was off-island for medical treatment. Hilda Heine In pre-vote comments to the public and media, President Heine had said the no confidence motion was largely motivated by a proposal by an outside investor, Cary Yan, to create an investor haven at Rongelap Atoll. But debate in parliament Monday morning was limited to the five issues identified by the opposition, which did not include mention of the Rongelap proposal. President Heine, Finance Minister Brenson Wase and Foreign Minister John Silk led 45 minutes of government response to the five issues outlined by the motion movers, with President Heine saying the vote was really a “referendum about our own politics.” Wase said the criticism of the Marshall Islands government for moving ahead with a digital currency plan has been overtaken by events, with numerous countries in the Pacific following the Marshall Islands with announcements that they will be establishing their own digital currencies and requesting support from the International Monetary Fund. He said delays in releasing the Marshall Islands’ “SOV” digital currency were so the country could meet the requirements of the U.S., European Union and others. Silk said the international recognition accorded President Heine and her government showed the opposition’s contention that the government had ruined the nation’s reputation internationally was wrong. He cited donors doubling their annual grants and the country’s chairmanship of various global climate groups. Opposition Senators Casten Nemra, Bruce Bilimon and Alfred Alfred, Jr. fired back, hammering the government on lack of transparency in handling theft of money from its national trust fund in 2017 and saying the government had taken away people’s right to vote by eliminating postal absentee balloting for islanders living offshore. The parliament chamber was packed with a standing-room crowd to view the debate and the vote that followed. Immediately after the vote results were confirmed, Speaker Kenneth Kedi, who had backed the no confidence move, congratulated Heine and her Cabinet, and then, following a motion to recess, declared Nitijela to be in recess pending the call of the Speaker.[SEP]Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine narrowly survived a vote of no confidence Monday, seeing off a challenge she alleges was orchestrated by Chinese-backed business interests intent on undermining the Pacific nation's sovereignty. The vote to topple Heine, the first and only elected female leader of a Pacific island nation, split parliament 16-16, one short of the 17 her opponents required. In front of a packed public gallery, Heine and her allies spent 45 minutes defending the government's record, including claims from the opposition it had sullied the country's international reputation and eroded voting rights. Once the vote was confirmed, Speaker Kenneth Kedi -- who had backed the no-confidence move -- congratulated Heine and declared parliament was in recess. Heine said in the days leading up to the vote that the opposition's stated reasons for trying to unseat her were a "smokescreen" to cover their real motives. She said the no-confidence motion was actually prompted by her government's refusal to back plans for an independently administered tax haven on an atoll within the Marshalls. The proposed Rongelap Atoll Special Administrative Region (RASAR) is the brainchild of Cary Yan, a Chinese businessman and Marshall Islands citizen who launched the concept in Hong Kong earlier this year. The idea is that the territory would be self governing and completely tax free, making it an attractive option for hi-tech firms. Heine's government has rejected the proposal over concerns it could be vulnerable to money laundering and passport-for-sale scams. She suggested last week that the RASAR could be a Trojan horse for China to take over part of her country. The no-confidence vote was "an effort by certain foreign interests to take control of one of our atolls and turn it into a country within our own country," she told Radio New Zealand. Beijing has used billions of dollars in investment to court influence with tiny island nations across the Pacific Ocean, a region considered strategically important as a maritime gateway to Asia. Heine said she was determined to protect her country's sovereignty. "We have to be cautious knowing what the geo-political situation is in the Pacific region," she said. "I think it's important for the government to do its own due diligence and ensure that the sovereignty of the country is secure."[SEP]The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) president Hilda Heine has survived a vote of no confidence by just one vote, meaning her proposed national cryptocurrency is still on the cards. Heine’s opponents were unable to find the majority required to oust Heine over persistent plans to alleviate the nation’s reliance on the US dollar with a national cryptocurrency called “the Sovereign,” Nikkei Asian Review reports. RMI’s parliament ended split evenly over whether to remove Heine from her leadership, 16 to 16. Heine will continue to serve as the nation’s head of state. The decision to vote was realized after eight senators accused Heine of ruining the nation’s reputation with her idea of a state-backed cryptocurrency. Straight after the vote, RMI finance minister Brenson Wase reportedly confirmed the government’s intent to launching the Sovereign, pending it meets requirements set by regulators from the US, Europe, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Sovereign was first revealed at the start of the year, when government ministers announced it would issue a new digital cryptocurrency via initial coin offering (ICO), intended to be used as legal tender. But just last month, the IMF warned Heine to ease off on launching the Sovereign, or face being cut off from the US dollar altogether, which RMI uses to access critical monetary meant to curtail spiralling inflation. To date there has been little evidence for Heine giving up on the idea of a sovereign cryptocurrency any time soon, and surviving today’s vote could only bolster her confidence – that is, until the IMF catches wind of these results.

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine narrowly survives a 16-16 vote of no confidence. 17 votes were needed to remove Heine from office.

Update: Pilots who reported a UFO over Ireland on Friday, most likely saw a shooting star, according to a leading expert. Shannon Air Traffic control was contacted by a captain flying over Kerry to say she had seen a speeding bright light, with two other pilots in the area confirming the sighting. The Aviation Authority of Ireland has launched an investigation. Aviation journalist Gerry Byrne said: "In all probability they were meteorites and it's not uncommon for meteorites to come in at a low angle, a low trajectory into the Earth's atmosphere." - Additional reporting by Digital Desk Earlier: Audio: Close encounter with UFO off Irish coast leaves pilots ‘wondering’ The Irish Aviation Authority has begun an investigation into the sighting of an unidentified flying object (UFO) by a number of aircraft off the south-west coast of Ireland last Friday. At approximately 6.47am on November 9, the pilot of a British Airways flight, call sign Speedbird94, contacted Shannon Air Traffic Control (ATC) to ask if there were military exercises taking place in the airspace through which her Boeing 787 was passing. There were no military exercises underway. Shannon ATC replied: “There is nothing showing on either primary or secondary [radar].” READ MORE Rents across country up 11.3% in the last year The pilot responded: “OK. It was moving so fast.” The controller then asked: “Alongside you?” The BA pilot, flying from Montreal to Heathrow, describes how the UFO came up along the left-hand side of the aircraft, “then rapidly veered to the north”. She said it was “a very bright light” that “disappeared at very high speed”. She said they were “wondering” what it could be, that it did not seem to be on a collision course. Scroll to 17m to hear interaction The pilot of a Virgin Airlines Boeing 747, call sign Virgin76, then joined the conversation and made reference to a meteor or another object re-entering the earth’s atmosphere and said there were “multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory”. He said they were very bright “where we were”. Shannon ATC than asked if the pilots knew which direction the objects were heading. The Virgin Airlines pilot said it was in his “11 o’clock position” with “two bright lights over to the right”, that then climbed away at speed. Shannon ATC told the pilot it would pass that information on. Shannon ATC then told Speedbird94 that “other aircraft in the air have also reported the same thing so we are going to have a look and see”. Another pilot said the speed of the UFO was “astronomical, it was like Mach 2”, or twice the speed of sound. Very interesting report on Shannon high level Friday 9 November at 0630z with multiple aircraft with reported sightings of a UFO over County Kerry. Skip to 17 minutes to listen reports on @liveatc https://t.co/VP1p0hrScn #Aviation #UFO #Ireland — Trevor Buckley (@IrishAero) November 11, 2018 The Virgin Airlines flight, from Orlando to Manchester, can carry 455 passengers, while the 787 has 214 seats. A third aircraft, a Norwegian Air 737 travelling from Stewart, New York, to Shannon, which can carry 200 passengers, was also party to the conversation. The BA flight was passing over Kerry at the time, while the other two flights were off the south-west coast, heading eastbound, and in high-level airspace, which extends from 24,500ft upwards. The Irish Examiner contacted the Irish Aviation Authority to ask if it was investigating the UFO. In a statement, the authority said: “Following reports from a small number of aircraft on Friday, November 9, of unusual air activity, the IAA has filed a report. “This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process.”[SEP]Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The pilots spotted fast flying objects and bright lights in the sky The Irish Aviation Authority is investigating reports of bright lights and UFOs off the south-west coast of Ireland. It began at 06:47 local time on Friday 9 November when a British Airways pilot contacted Shannon air traffic control. She wanted to know if there were military exercises in the area because there was something "moving so fast". The air traffic controller said there were no such exercises. The pilot, flying from the Canadian city of Montreal to Heathrow, said there was a "very bright light" and the object had come up along the left side of the aircraft before it "rapidly veered to the north". She was wondering what it could be but said it did not seem to be heading for a collision. Another pilot from a Virgin plane joined in and suggested it might be a meteor or another object re-entering the earth's atmosphere. Image copyright Twitter He said there were "multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory" and that they were very bright. The pilot said he saw "two bright lights" over to the right which climbed away at speed. One pilot said the speed was "astronomical, it was like Mach 2" - which is twice the speed of sound. What could it have been? Apostolos Christou, an astronomer from the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, said what the pilots saw was probably a piece of dust entering the earth's atmosphere at very high speed. "It was most likely what are commonly called shooting stars," he said. "It appears the matter was extremely bright so it must have been quite a large piece of material. "I cannot say from the pilots' description, but it could have been the size of a walnut or an apple." The astronomer said November tended to be a very busy month for such activity. "It also appears there were bits coming off the object and flying past the aeroplane, that is also what you would expect if it was a particularly large rock from space hitting the atmosphere, it would tend to fragment." "Following reports from a small number of aircraft on Friday 9 November of unusual air activity the IAA has filed a report," the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said. "This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process." A spokesperson for Shannon Airport said it would not be appropriate for the airport to comment while the IAA investigation is ongoing.[SEP]The Irish Aviation Authority said Tuesday it was looking into “reports from a small number of aircraft” about what was called “unusual air activity” on Friday. LONDON— Irish aviation officials are investigating reports of bright lights moving quickly in the skies over Ireland. “The report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process,” the authority said in a statement. Press reports indicate the bright lights were seen Friday morning by pilots from British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. The airlines did not immediately respond to request for comments.[SEP]A UFO investigation is under way in Ireland after pilots flying BA and Virgin Airlines jets reported seeing mysterious bright lights as they crossed the country. The Irish Aviation Authority launched the probe after sightings on November 9 at around 7.40am. The pilot of British Airways flight BA94 from Montreal to London contacted Shannon Air Traffic Control after seeing the object on the left-hand side of her Boeing 787. She asked whether military exercises were taking place, according to Airlive. Air traffic control reportedly said nothing was showing on their radar systems, to which the unnamed pilot replied: 'OK. It was moving so fast.' She added that after approaching on the left side, it 'rapidly veered to the north'. She described it as a 'very bright light' that 'disappeared at very high speed'. The pilot of Virgin Airlines flight VS76 from Orlando to Manchester then reported seeing a similar thing, the website reports. He described it as a 'meteor or another object making some kind of re-entry' and said it was 'multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory – very bright from where we were.' Both planes were flying in high level airspace - an altitude from between 28,500ft and 42,000ft. Airlive says a third pilot also saw the bizarre lights and that the Irish Aviation Authority has filed a report with the sightings due to be 'investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process'.[SEP]The Irish Aviation Authority is investigating several pilots’ reports of mysterious bright lights travelling quickly over Ireland. According to an audio recording posted on the flight tracking website Airlive – which is run by aviation enthusiasts – the pilot of British Airways flight #BA94 from Montreal to London can be heard speaking to an air traffic controller in Shannon, Ireland about an unidentified object she saw on Friday morning. The pilot is heard asking Shannon Air Traffic Control if there are any military exercises occurring in the air space she’s flying through. When the controller responds that there aren’t any, the pilot describes what she witnessed. “OK. It was moving so fast,” she replied. “It came up on our left-hand side and rapidly veered to the north. We saw a bright light and then it disappeared at a very high speed.” The British Airways pilot said she didn’t think they were on a collision course with the unknown object. “We were just wondering what that could have been,” she explained. Following that report, another pilot from Virgin Airlines flight #VS76 from Orlando, Fla. to Manchester chimed in to let air traffic control know that he too saw the lights. He described it as a “meteor or another object making some kind of re-entry.” The pilot also said he thought it appeared to be “multiple objects” following the same trajectory. “[They were] very bright from where we were,” he said. “Very interesting, that one.” According to Airlive, there was another pilot who also reported seeing the unidentified object. On Tuesday, the Irish Aviation Authority confirmed it was looking into “reports from a small number of aircraft” about “unusual air activity.” In its statement, the authority added that the reports would be investigated “under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process.” With files from The Associated Press[SEP]The Irish Aviation Authority is investigating sightings of unidentified flying objects and bright lights off the coast of Ireland after receiving similar reports from several commercial pilots. According to BBC, at 06:47 local time on Friday, a British Airways pilot contacted the Shannon air traffic control to report something "moving so fast" and wanting to know if there were military exercises taking place in the area off the west coast of Ireland. "It was moving so fast," she said, according to the Guardian. "It came up on our left-hand side and then rapidly veered to the north. It was a very bright light that disappeared at very high speed." The pilot was told there were no military exercises in the area. Other aircraft flying in the area also reported seeing UFOs and bright lights. A pilot for a Virgin Airlines flight from Orlando to Manchester suggested that it might be a meteor or another object re-entering the earth's atmosphere. "There appeared to be multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory. They were very bright from where we were," he said to the Irish Times. One pilot said the speed of the UFOs was "astronomical, it was like Mach 2" - which is twice the speed of sound. The reports created quite a stir on social media, with many wondering if it was aliens visiting earth and others putting forward conspiracy theories. A spokesperson for the Irish Aviation Authority told the Irish Times it was investigating the incident and would file a report. "This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process."[SEP]The Irish Aviation Authority is investigating reports of bright lights and UFOs off the south-west coast of Ireland. It began at 06:47 local time on Friday 9 November when a British Airways pilot contacted Shannon air traffic control. She wanted to know if there were military exercises in the area because there was something "moving so fast". The air traffic controller said there were no such exercises. The pilot, flying from the Canadian city of Montreal to Heathrow, said there was a "very bright light" and the object had come up along the left side of the aircraft before it "rapidly veered to the north". She was wondering what it could be but said it did not seem to be heading for a collision. Another pilot from a Virgin plane joined in and suggested it might be a meteor or another object re-entering the earth's atmosphere. He said there were "multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory" and that they were very bright. The pilot said he saw "two bright lights" over to the right which climbed away at speed. One pilot said the speed was "astronomical, it was like Mach 2" - which is twice the speed of sound. "Following reports from a small number of aircraft on Friday 9 November of unusual air activity the IAA has filed a report," the Irish Aviation Authority said. "This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process."[SEP]Bright lights from an unidentified flying object baffled commercial airline pilots near Ireland — and prompted a federal investigation into their mysterious origin, according to reports. At least three pilots, including ones from Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, spotted the glowing orbs streaking across the sky near Shannon at “astronomical” speeds Friday, according to the UK Guardian. “It was moving so fast,” one of the pilots said, according to the paper. “It came up on our left-hand side and then rapidly veered to the north. It was a very bright light that disappeared at very high speed.” The British Airways pilot, who was flying from Montreal, radioed in to find out if there were any military exercises planned in the area, according to a recording of the conversation by Airlive, a site for aviation enthusiasts. But air traffic controllers in Shannon told her there were no such plans. A second pilot was also stunned by the bizarre sight, according to the paper. It looked like, “a meteor or another object making some kind of re-entry,” said the Virgin Airlines pilot, who was flying from Orlando to Manchester.“[It was] multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory – very bright from where we were.” A third pilot later weighed in via radio, saying: “Glad I’m not the only one [who saw it].” On Monday, the Irish Aviation Authority said it was investigating the sighting, according to the The Irish Times. “This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process,” a spokesman said. The rapidly moving lights were probably not alien invaders, the spokesman added.[SEP]Airline pilots cruising through the Irish sky were startled to discover they had some unexpected company early Friday morning, the Irish Mirror reported. Pilots from three different airlines all radioed Shannon Air Traffic Control in Ireland to report the strange sighting as they flew through the air, according to the paper. The first call, at about 6:47 a.m., came from a British Airways pilot on the way to London from Montreal, the Irish Times reported. “It was moving so fast. It appeared on our left hand side and rapidly veered to the north. We saw a bright light and it then just disappeared at a very high speed,” the pilot said, according to the paper. The controller responded that he saw nothing on the radar and that there were no military exercises at the time, according to a recording of the conversation posted by the aviation enthusiast site AirLive. Another pilot, this one from a Virgin Airlines flight, chimed in that he had seen it as well. That pilot said he had seen “multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory,” with two of them extremely bright, according to the BBC. The pilot suggested they were meteors entering the atmosphere and burning up. One pilot said the objects were moving at “astronomical” speed, of at least “Mach 2,” or twice the speed of sound, according to the BBC. A third pilot from Norwegian Air said he was “glad it wasn’t just me,” the Irish Mirror reported. “Very interesting that one,” a pilot says in the recording. The controller said the reports would be passed along and looked at. “This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process,” a spokesperson for the Irish Aviation Authority said, according to the Irish Times. But David Moore, the chairman of Astronomy Ireland, said he was 99 percent sure the lights were simply shooting stars, or “fireballs,” the Irish Independent reported. The fireballs are caused when space debris enters the atmosphere and burns up as it falls, producing a bright, streaking light. “They are completely random, they happen in broad daylight, they happen in the dead of night,” he said, according to the paper— though he joked that the aliens “could be very clever, and what it could be is the aliens, to disguise their presence, fire a meteor into the atmosphere.”[SEP]Something weird has been sighted in the skies above Ireland – after several airliner pilots encountered a ‘very bright, very fast’ object last week. The pilot of a BA flight contacted Shannon Air Traffic Control (ATC) and said that she had seen a ‘very bright light’ which ‘disappeared at very high speed’. The pilot, flying from Montreal to Heathrow, said she was left ‘wondering’ what it could be – and asked air traffic control if there were military exercises in the area. There were none, the controller said. A pilot of a nearby Virgin Airlines Boeing 74 also described seeing bright lights, saying they spotted, ‘multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory,’ the Irish Examiner reports. Other pilots also spotted lights, the Irish Examiner reported – and air authorities are to investigate the incident. The Irish Aviation Authority said, ‘Following reports from a small number of aircraft on Friday, November 9, of unusual air activity, the IAA has filed a report. ‘This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process.’

The Irish Aviation Authority launches an investigation after several airliner pilots report extremely fast moving bright lights off the south-west coast of Ireland.

New York (CNN Business) After running a year-long competition that drew interest from hundreds of cities and a number of states, Amazon has chosen New York City and Northern Virginia to split duty as its second headquarters. On Tuesday, Amazon announced it has chosen New York's Long Island City and Virginia's Arlington for HQ2. Both locations will receive a $2.5 billion investment from Amazon, and each will have more than 25,000 workers over time. Hiring begins next year. The reason behind the surprise decision to divide the facility was due to the talent pool. Amazon realized it could recruit more skilled workers and offer employees choice if it offered two locations. The development projects promise to bring the cities a giant infusion of high-paying jobs and tax revenue, but are almost certain to draw fire from critics concerned about their impact on infrastructure and property values. Amazon said it in a blog post it will receive incentives of about $1.5 billion based on job creation in Long Island City, and incentives of $573 million for Arlington. Jobs in both cities will have an average annual salary of $150,000, the company said. In Long Island City and Arlington, Amazon will have four million square feet of office space with the possibility of expanding to 8 million square feet. Amazon estimates an incremental tax revenue of over $10 billion in the next 20 years as a result of its investment and job creation in Long Island City and New York, and $3.2 billion over the same time period in Arlington and Virginia. Jay Carney, SVP of Worldwide Corporate Affairs at Amazon, said the process of cities offering incentives to companies looking to enter new regions is standard across the US. "If you look at some of the packages that were put forward by other cities, the incentives ... in New York and the DC area, Northern Virginia are actually lower than were offered elsewhere," he told CNN's Julia Chatterley. "The talent was really the driving factor for us." Carney said it was important for Amazon to be in spots that would be attractive to potential new employees. The Arlington headquarters will be located in what Amazon is calling "National Landing," which is less than 3 miles from downtown Washington DC. The newly-branded neighborhood includes parts of Pentagon City and Crystal City in Arlington and Potomac Yard in Alexandria. Meanwhile, the New York City office will be in the fast-growing Queens neighborhood of Long Island City , just across the East River and minutes from downtown Manhattan on the subway. The company also announced a new hub in Nashville to oversee customer fulfillment, transportation and supply chain activities. It will employ 5,000 people. Nashville was on Amazon's short list for HQ2. The second headquarters search began in September 2017 when Seattle-based Amazon announced it would start accepting proposals for what quickly became known as HQ2. During the process, Amazon narrowed 238 bids to 20 finalists , including Chicago, Denver, Indianapolis, and Miami. Executives traveled across the United States -- and to one Canadian city -- to tour sites to find the company's next home. Amazon's criteria for HQ2 included proximity to a major airport, ability to attract technical talent and a suburban or urban area with over 1 million people. In a surprise twist, Amazon ultimately decided to choose two winners instead of one. It originally said HQ2 would create 50,000 high-paying jobs and would be a full equal to its Seattle headquarters. One of the main concerns about the process was how a city would navigate an influx of 50,000 new workers. Splitting the project in half could ease the impact, and help Amazon avoid some of the blame for higher housing prices or more traffic in those regions. The move also allows Amazon to recruit top talent from two major Metropolitan areas. The search ignited a frenzy among cities looking to boost their economies. Some cities responded with elaborate gestures to try to woo Amazon. Tucson, Arizona, famously sent Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos a giant cactus, and Birmingham, Alabama, installed massive Amazon delivery boxes around the city. Kansas City's mayor gave five-star reviews to 1,000 random items on Amazon's website, and Stonecrest, Georgia offered to rename some of its land the city of Amazon. Amazon has said employees who work in Seattle will have a chance to relocate. It will also hire teams and executives for the new locations. The company estimates that its investments in Seattle from 2010 to 2016 added $38 billion to the city's economy. These investments include buildings, parks and infrastructure, such as corporate offices and Prime Now delivery sites. But Amazon's search for HQ2 was never just about finding a new home. Throughout the process, Amazon skillfully obtained free data from cities across North America, including proprietary information about real estate sites under development, details about their talent pool, local labor cost and what incentives cities and states were willing to pony up to bring the company to town. "Amazon was not going through this exercise to pick a single HQ2," said Richard Florida, a leading urbanist and professor at the University of Toronto. "It was part of a broader effort -- a corporate relocation strategy -- to crowd source a wide variety of data."[SEP](RNN) – Amazon has picked locations in New York City and Northern Virginia for its second and third headquarters, according to a report published late Monday in The Wall Street Journal.[SEP]ARLINGTON, Va. — Amazon is bringing 25,000 jobs and a new name to Northern Virginia. The tech behemoth on Tuesday ended a 14-month search for its second headquarters. Amazon announced a split between Long Island City in New York City and Arlington County in Northern Virginia. Residents of Crystal City, Virginia, had been anticipating Amazon’s move to the region, but in the official press release the neighborhood’s name wasn’t in the limelight. Instead, Amazon dubbed the area National Landing, “an urban community in Northern Virginia located less than 3 miles from downtown Washington, D.C.” National Landing is several neighborhoods, which include “portions of Pentagon City and Crystal City in Arlington County, Virginia, and Potomac Yard in the City of Alexandria, Virginia,” according to a state of Virginia’s release. “Amazon’s initial growth is expected to be focused in the Crystal City and Pentagon City portions of National Landing.” Arlington County spokesperson Cara O’Donnell told CNN Business the new name is “part of the proposal as a way to brand the entire area and showcase the unique partnership between Arlington and Alexandria.” Crystal City wasn’t offended by the rebrand. It said in a release it’s “thrilled” with the decision. “We’re energized by the positive impact this will have on Crystal City, where momentous change is already taking place,” it said.[SEP]Amazon will split second headquarters between New York City and Virginia, according to a person familiar with the plans RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Amazon will split second headquarters between New York City and Virginia, according to a person familiar with the plans.[SEP]ARLINGTON, Virginia — Amazon has made a more prosaic choice than the hype originally promised, naming New York City and the Washington, D.C. suburb of Arlington, Virginia as the two areas that will divvy up the 50,000 high-paying jobs the online retail giant is expected to bring. The announcement Tuesday comes after 24 months of intense jockeying by more than 230 cities vying to take home the glittering prize of becoming the home of Amazon's second headquarters. Instead, Amazon chose two areas that have long been considered front-runners, even among the 20 finalists announced on January 18. While Amazon’s request for proposals listed multiple requirements, including tax incentives and a business-friendly environment, in the end the whole reason for the exercise was to aid the Seattle-based company in hiring the best and the brightest talent to keep up its ferocious pace of innovation. Even as other tech companies are pushing equally hard to hire those same workers. New York City and the greater D.C. area both fit that bill admirably, said Jeffrey Shulman, a professor at the University of Washington’s school of business who studies Amazon’s effect on Seattle. A view of the Crystal City area in Arlington, Va. can be seen on Nov. 7, 2018. Amazon has decided to split its new headquarters between New York City and a Washington suburb in Northern Virginia, The Wall Street Journal reported, Nov. 12, 2018. “Both of those cities are attractive places to live where they have both a talent pool and the cultural amenities that make someone willing to uproot their lives and move there,” he said. And naming two rather than just one new headquarters gives the company an edge, he explained. “People who want to work at Amazon will now have three cities to choose from rather than one or two,” he said. More: Amazon HQ2 timeline: The winners are New York City and Arlington, Virginia More: Amazon HQ2: Pros and cons of it coming to your city The Washington, D.C. metro area emerged as an odds-on favorite to land Amazon’s second U.S. headquarters when it landed three spots among the 20 finalists when the company narrowed its list of candidate sites in January: Montgomery County, Maryland; Northern Virginia (Loudoun County, Virginia and Fairfax County, Virginia); and Washington, D.C. itself. That resulted in nine proposed building sites within a 28-mile radius of the U.S. Capitol. As the seat of the nation’s government, Washington stands out among the potential sites. The area’s public transportation system and its white-collar, well-educated workforce are strengths. And its location in the Eastern Time Zone makes it good for staying in touch with subsidiaries across the Atlantic. Founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post newspaper, recently purchased a $23 million mansion in the area, the largest private residence in the nation’s capital. “Then you put Bezos having a house here and owning The Post and increasingly needing to influence federal policy, this isn’t a bad place to be,” said economist Stephen Fuller, a professor of public policy and regional development and director of the Fuller Institute at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Still, Northern Virginia stood out as the prime choice in the region for its tech-centric surroundings. A crossroads of the Internet, the region has countless data centers where tech giants such as Facebook, Google and Salesforce connect. Amazon Web Services itself has 29 individual data centers in Northern Virginia. And Loudon County, where most of the data centers are located, claims that 70 percent of all global Internet traffic flows through it. Arlington and the City of Alexandria, after working together for the last year in a unique and unprecedented regional partnership, said Amazon would locate in National Landing, a newly branded neighborhood encompassing parts of Pentagon City and Crystal City in Arlington and Potomac Yard in Alexandria. The case for New York Probably highest on Amazon’s list of must-haves is access to tech and other talent. The New York Metro area has close to 1.3 million workers in the relevant fields of management, business, finance, math, public relations and sales. New York is also a magnet for young professionals, who prize urban areas, rich culture and vibrant arts scenes. In addition, it has a massive, if somewhat beleaguered transit system. And it's a large enough city that adding another 25,000 highly paid workers won't seriously distort the job market in the ways they might have in smaller cities like Raleigh, North Carolina, or Columbus, Ohio. While housing in New York City overall is tight, the area Amazon is reportedly homing in on, Long Island City at the western edge of the borough of Queens, has been on an apartment building spree. A total of 41 new apartment buildings have been built in the area over the past eight years, with 12,533 apartments by 2017, according to RentCafe. Amazon also announced it is investing $230 million in Nashville and adding 5,000 jobs at a new operations site. The new Amazon site will be located at Nashville Yards, located downtown. The new site, dubbed the Operations Center of Excellence, will be responsible for the company's customer fulfillment, transportation, supply chain, and other similar activities. Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Ralph Schulz emphasized the high wages as a win for Nashville and said he expects the company to hire from the Middle Tennessee region. He said 5,000 jobs is a "pretty good fit" compared to the 50,000 jobs the city was initialing pursuing as a second headquarters. "It would have been a challenge over time," he said. "The 5000 is a good fit in lots of ways, not just in size." The search began on Sept. 7, 2017, when Amazon announced it was looking for a second headquarters, one that would be co-equal to its Seattle home. It posted a request for proposals outlining what information and attributes it was looking for. Such an open process for an economic development proposal is rare, as these searches are usually done in secrecy and only announced once a site has been chosen. Amazon instead posted its list of made its requirements public and let the offers roll in. The prospect of investment and bragging rights from securing what's now the world's most valuable company pitted tiny cities against metropolises, each striving to convince the Seattle company it had the right workers, transportation, culture and tax breaks. It was an effort built for the age of social media, when everything takes place in public and there is constant jockeying for top billing. In the end, 238 cities sent in proposals by the Oct. 19, 2017 deadline. On Jan. 18, 2018 a shortlist of 20 finalists was announced. The cities and areas were Atlanta; Austin; Boston; Chicago; Columbus; Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; Montgomery County, Maryland; Nashville; Newark, New Jersey; New York City; Northern Virginia (Loudoun County, Virginia and Fairfax County, Virginia); Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh, North Carolina; Toronto and Washington, D.C. A team from the company visited each of the finalists in the spring and summer of 2018, then spent the next months crunching numbers and doing due-diligence checks in a tightly controlled process. While all 20 cities were eager for the jobs and investment the headquarters will bring, detractors, who dubbed the process a “race to the bottom,” argued cities offered enormous tax credits and other incentives to entice Amazon, with little proof that the city would come out ahead. Some residents worried that the influx of highly paid tech workers would worsen commutes and drive up already steep housing prices. Almost none of the finalist cities told the public — or even their local city councils — the dollar amounts. This is legal because most of the deals were put together by local development agencies.[SEP]ARLINGTON, Va. – Amazon has made a more prosaic choice than the hype originally promised, naming New York City and the Washington, D.C. suburb of Arlington, Virginia, as the two areas that will divvy up the 50,000 high-paying jobs the online retail giant is expected to bring. The announcement Tuesday comes after 14 months of intense jockeying by more than 230 cities vying to take home the glittering prize of becoming the home of Amazon's second headquarters. Instead, Amazon chose two areas that have long been considered front-runners, even among the 20 finalists announced on Jan. 18. While Amazon’s request for proposals listed multiple requirements, including tax incentives and a business-friendly environment, in the end the whole reason for the exercise was to aid the Seattle-based company in hiring the best and the brightest talent to keep up its ferocious pace of innovation – even as other tech companies are pushing equally hard to hire those same workers. New York City and the greater D.C. area both fit that bill admirably, said Jeffrey Shulman, a professor at the University of Washington’s school of business who studies Amazon’s effect on Seattle. A view of the Crystal City area in Arlington, Va. can be seen on Nov. 7, 2018. Amazon has decided to split its new headquarters between New York City and a Washington suburb in Northern Virginia, The Wall Street Journal reported, Nov. 12, 2018. “Both of those cities are attractive places to live where they have both a talent pool and the cultural amenities that make someone willing to uproot their lives and move there,” he said. And naming two rather than just one new headquarters gives the company an edge, he explained. “People who want to work at Amazon will now have three cities to choose from rather than one or two,” he said. More: Amazon HQ2 timeline: The winners are New York City and Arlington, Virginia More: Amazon HQ2: Pros and cons of it coming to your city The Washington, D.C. metro area emerged as an odds-on favorite to land Amazon’s second U.S. headquarters when it landed three spots among the 20 finalists when the company narrowed its list of candidate sites in January: Montgomery County, Maryland; Northern Virginia (Loudoun and Fairfax counties); and Washington, D.C. itself. That resulted in nine proposed building sites within a 28-mile radius of the U.S. Capitol. As the seat of the nation’s government, Washington stands out among the potential sites. The area’s public transportation system and its white-collar, well-educated workforce are strengths. And its location in the Eastern Time Zone makes it good for staying in touch with subsidiaries across the Atlantic. Founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post newspaper, recently purchased a $23 million mansion in the area, the largest private residence in the nation’s capital. “Then you put Bezos having a house here and owning The Post and increasingly needing to influence federal policy, this isn’t a bad place to be,” said economist Stephen Fuller, a professor of public policy and regional development and director of the Fuller Institute at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Still, Northern Virginia stood out as the prime choice in the region for its tech-centric surroundings. A crossroads of the internet, the region has countless data centers where tech giants such as Facebook, Google and Salesforce connect. Amazon Web Services itself has 29 individual data centers in Northern Virginia. And Loudoun County, where most of the data centers are located, claims that 70 percent of all global Internet traffic flows through it. Arlington and the City of Alexandria, after working together for the last year in a unique and unprecedented regional partnership, said Amazon would locate in National Landing, a newly branded neighborhood encompassing parts of Pentagon City and Crystal City in Arlington and Potomac Yard in Alexandria. The case for New York Probably highest on Amazon’s list of must-haves is access to tech and other talent. The New York metro area has close to 1.3 million workers in the relevant fields of management, business, finance, math, public relations and sales. New York is also a magnet for young professionals, who prize urban areas, rich culture and vibrant arts scenes. In addition, it has a massive, if somewhat beleaguered, transit system. And it's a large enough city that adding another 25,000 highly paid workers won't seriously distort the job market in the ways they might have in smaller cities such as Raleigh, North Carolina, or Columbus, Ohio. While housing in New York City overall is tight, the area Amazon is reportedly homing in on Long Island City at the western edge of the borough of Queens, which has been on an apartment-building spree. A total of 41 new apartment buildings have been built in the area over the past eight years, with 12,533 apartments by 2017, according to RentCafe. Not everyone was thrilled at the announcement. Multiple New York politicians questioned whether Amazon should even be allowed in the city, given the package of incentives it took to get the company there. “Offering massive corporate welfare from scare public resources to one of the wealthiest corporations in the world at a time of great need in our state is just wrong. The burden should not be on the 99 percent to prove we are worthy of the 1 percent’s presence in our communities, but rather on Amazon to prove it would be a responsible corporate neighbor,” wrote New York state Sen. Michael Gianaris and New York City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer in a statement. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York activist and Democrat who was recently elected to represent the 14th Congressional district covering the Bronx and Queens, tweeted that residents in Queens were “outraged” at the announcement that Amazon was coming to their neighborhood. On Twitter, she said the questions that needed to be asked included, “Has the company promised to hire in the existing community? - What’s the quality of jobs + how many are promised? Are these jobs low-wage or high wage? Are there benefits? Can people collectively bargain?” Queens resident Joe Conde, 40, said while welcoming Amazon was a good idea, he didn’t know where they’re going to put it. “Long Island City is congested as it is already. I don’t know how on earth more people can fit. I guess it could be good to bring more jobs, but the traffic is already bad enough around here with all the construction and new residents," he said. Amazon also announced it is investing $230 million in Nashville, Tennessee, and adding 5,000 jobs at a new operations site. The new Amazon site will be located at Nashville Yards, located downtown. The new site, dubbed the Operations Center of Excellence, will be responsible for the company's customer fulfillment, transportation, supply chain and other similar activities. Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Ralph Schulz emphasized the high wages as a win for Nashville and said he expects the company to hire from the middle Tennessee region. He said 5,000 jobs is a "pretty good fit" compared to the 50,000 jobs the city was initialing pursuing as a second headquarters. "It would have been a challenge over time," he said. "The 5,000 is a good fit in lots of ways, not just in size." The search began on Sept. 7, 2017, when Amazon announced it was looking for a second headquarters, one that would be co-equal to its Seattle home. It posted a request for proposals outlining what information and attributes it was looking for. Such an open process for an economic development proposal is rare, as these searches are usually done in secrecy and only announced once a site has been chosen. Amazon instead made its requirements public and let the offers roll in. The prospect of investment and bragging rights from securing what's now the world's most valuable company pitted tiny cities against metropolises, each striving to convince the Seattle company it had the right workers, transportation, culture and tax breaks. It was an effort built for the age of social media, when everything takes place in public and there is constant jockeying for top billing. In the end, 238 cities sent in proposals by the Oct. 19, 2017, deadline. On Jan. 18, 2018, a shortlist of 20 finalists was announced. The cities and areas were Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; Montgomery County, Maryland; Nashville; Newark, New Jersey; New York City; Northern Virginia (Loudoun and Fairfax counties); Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh, North Carolina; Toronto; and Washington, D.C. A team from the company visited each of the finalists in the spring and summer of 2018, then spent the next months crunching numbers and doing due-diligence checks in a tightly controlled process. While all 20 cities were eager for the jobs and investment the headquarters will bring, detractors, who dubbed the process a “race to the bottom,” argued cities offered enormous tax credits and other incentives to entice Amazon, with little proof that the city would come out ahead. Some residents worried that the influx of highly paid tech workers would worsen commutes and drive up already steep housing prices. Almost none of the finalist cities told the public – or even their local city councils – the dollar amounts. This is legal because most of the deals were put together by local development agencies. Contributing: Dalvin Brown in New York City for USA TODAY, Jamie McGee at the Nashville Tennessean.[SEP]Amazon.com Inc. made it official Tuesday, announcing plans to split its highly coveted second headquarters known as HQ2 between the Washington, D.C., and New York City areas. Crystal City and its surrounding areas (rebranded in… Amazon.com Inc. made it official Tuesday, announcing plans to split its highly coveted second headquarters known as HQ2 between the Washington, D.C., and New York City areas. Crystal City and its surrounding areas (rebranded in Amazon’s press release as part of “National Landing”) and Long Island City in Queens will each ultimately get more than 25,000 Amazon employees as part of the deal. In addition, Amazon announced it selected Nashville for a new Center of Excellence for its Operations business, which is responsible for the company’s transportation, supply chain and other activities. That site will receive 5,000 jobs. The winner in Greater Washington is an area now known as Crystal City, an urban location just across the Potomac River from D.C. that is largely controlled by a single owner, JBG Smith Properties (NYSE: JBGS). Crystal City is located within Arlington County — home of the Pentagon and Reagan National Airport — and was one of a handful Greater Washington locations…[SEP]In 2017 Amazon.com announced it was seeking a second North American headquarters which, once built out, will employ up to 50,000 high tech workers. This set off a race among big cities eager to house the world's most valuable company and its well-paid employees. The Seattle-based online retailer founded and run by billionaire Jeff Bezos, the world's richest man, said its "HQ2" would result in close to $5 billion in investment in the chosen city. The company said it would prioritize metropolitan areas with more than one million people and that it was encouraging interested communities to think "big" and "creatively" about possible locations. Amazon founded in Bellevue, Washington. Later that year the small company moves to an office in Seattle. Amazon has an estimated 10,000 employees in Seattle. Amazon announces it is searching for a second headquarters, one that will be co-equal to its Seattle home. It posts a Request for Proposal outlining what information it requires from cities that want to be considered. At the time, Amazon was estimated to have about 40,000 employees in Seattle. The company occupied 19% of all prime office space in the city, according to an analysis by the Seattle Times. Deadline for cities to submit their applications. In all, 238 proposals were received, from across the United States and Canada. Shortlist of 20 finalists announced. The cities are: Amazon teams visit all 20 cities/areas, a process that the company — and the cities — largely keep under wraps. Speaking at the Economic Club of Washington D.C., Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said that the company will announce a decision before the end of the year. After it became clear finding a city that could lure 50,000 highly-paid tech workers wasn't as easy as it had thought, Amazon pivots and instead decides to add two new headquarters instead of one. The two cities to be chosen aren't named, but Northern Virginia and New York City are at the top of most lists. Multiple media reports claim Amazon has chosen New York City and Crystal City, Virginia, as the destinations for its next headquarters. Last day for Amazon to announce its decision.[SEP]RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Amazon will split second headquarters between New York City and Virginia, according to a person familiar with the plans.[SEP]The company's headquarters expansion will be in Arlington County, Virginia and the Long Island City neighborhood of New York, and Nashville will get a 5,000 person satellite office. Amazon on Tuesday made it official: The company’s headquarters expansion will be in Arlington County, Virginia, and the Long Island City neighborhood of New York. The announcement ends a 14-month search for what Amazon had originally billed as a $5 billion second headquarters campus, which the retail and technology giant aimed to staff with 50,000 workers. At some point this fall, people familiar with Amazon’s site-selection process say, the company changed course, opting to split its so-called HQ2 among more than one city. Amazon said Tuesday that it plans to staff each of the two cities with about 25,000 workers in about 4 million square feet of office space, with an option to double that square footage sometime in the future. The company’s existing Seattle headquarters employs about 45,000 people spread over 10 million square feet of office space. In selecting the nation’s capital and its largest city, Amazon picked two of the few metropolitan areas in the U.S. that boast more workers employed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics occupations than Seattle does. The two sites are similar, located on spokes of each city’s transit line, across the river from the central business district, and a short distance to airports — Reagan National in Virginia, and LaGuardia in New York. Even before Tuesday’s announcement, the two areas were home to Amazon’s biggest satellite offices east of the Mississippi. Herndon, Virginia, is the East Coast headquarters of the Amazon Web Services cloud-computing division, part of a 2,500-person contingent in the area. New York is home to expanding teams focusing on advertising and book publishing, and earlier this year had some 1,800 Amazon employees. Amazon didn’t say what, exactly, the employees hired to staff its new offices would be working on. Splitting corporate command and control functions among multiple headquarters would be an unusual move, and outside observers speculated that the company may, at some point, choose to locate specific business units in each city, or spur that change by relocating a top executive. Amazon’s existing corporate structure does have three titular chief executives. Reporting to founder and CEO Jeff Bezos is Jeff Wilke, who runs Amazon’s retail and logistics business, and Andy Jassy, chief of Amazon Web Services. The retailer added another twist in its Tuesday blog post announcing its selection: a 5,000-person satellite office in Nashville, Tenn. That outpost, the company said, will serve as an eastern hub for logistics work. Tax breaks and other government incentives to support Amazon’s projects in the three cities total at least $2.4 billion, according to the figures Amazon broke out in its blog post. Amazon called its D.C.-area expansion, located in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington County, Virginia, National Landing, a name that baffled area journalists. Amazon selects New York, Northern Virginia, for HQ2 expansion, reports say Thanks to Amazon, Seattle is now America’s biggest company town Amazon ramps up Seattle growth target despite plans for HQ2 Read more about Amazon and its HQ2.

Amazon announces it will split their second headquarters in New York City and National Landing in northern Virginia (outside Washington D.C.) (CNN)

PARADISE (CBS SF) — The Butte County Sheriff announced Monday night that the death toll from the Camp Fire has risen to 42 after crews confirmed an additional 13 lives lost during their search for the missing. The announcement came during regional officials’ 6 p.m. update on the Camp Fire. Officials also said that the fire had grown to 117,000 acres with containment at 30 percent. The total number of single-family residences that were destroyed in the fire rose to 6,453 structures with 36 homes damaged. Additionally, fire officials determined that 74 multiple residence buildings were destroyed with 11 of those types of structures damaged. The total number of structures destroyed by the Camp Fire rose to 7,177. A total of 52,000 residents have been evacuated due to the fire. Currently there are over 13,000 people being housed in shelters. Earlier Monday, search teams returned to the historic devastation left by the wildfire that ripped through the communities of Paradise, Concow, Magalia and other smaller clusters of homes, incinerating everything in its fiery path. Among those hoping and praying for word that their loved ones had been found safe was Ted Woods. “Two of my friends are missing,” Woods said with his voice choking with emotion. “One out of Magalia and one out of Paradise. And I’m hoping it ain’t one of the body counts.” Pam Mosher is searching for her daughter and son-in-law. “It gets worse every day,” Mosher said as she held of photos of his missing relatives. “You try to tell yourself it’s going to be okay, you really don’t feel that way.” Jake Hancock, who is a District Attorney Investigator in Butte County, is a member of a search team shifting through the rubble of burned down homes in Paradise, looking for human remains. “We’re just going door to door, house to house,” he told KPIX 5. “Looking for families loved ones that are missing.” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea put the number of missing at 228. The remains of 29 victims have been recovered, 25 of those in the town of Paradise. The human toll has equaled the highest number of deaths in a single wildfire in California history matching the grim toll of the 1933 Griffith Park fire in Los Angeles. • How To Help Victims Of Camp Fire In Butte County • First Responders Who Lost Homes In Camp Fire Still Report For Duty • Remember The Five “Ps” Of Wildfire Evacuations Ten search teams were working in Paradise — a town of 27,000 — and in surrounding communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Authorities have called in a DNA lab and teams of anthropologists to help identify victims and asked families of those missing for DNA samples. While President Donald Trump has blamed state forestry policies for the tragedy, outgoing California Gov. Jerry Brown told reporters Sunday that global climate change was the culprit. “We don’t know the cause of this fire, and the town of Paradise certainly had a lot of preparation, but we’re dealing with existential conditions that, once they take off, certain amount of dryness in the vegetation, in the soil, in the air, and the winds get up 50-60 miles an hour — this is what happens,” Brown said. “But, managing all the forest in every way we can does not stop climate change, and those who deny that are definitely contributing to the tragedies that we’re now witnessing, and will continue to witness in the coming years.” Amid the ruins of Paradise on Sunday, there was a small bit of joy to celebrate. A member of Hancock’s search team found a scared and slightly singed family cat alive. “I don’t usually get to recovery anything that’s alive,” said Vicky Vincent with the Shasta County Coroner’s Office. “It’s nice to be able to save something.” And there were several joyful reunions on Sunday including John Warner, who had pleaded for any word of his grandparents during a TV interview. “(I) Just hope that somebody is watching that’s seen them,” he asked. Moments later, his phone range, his grandfather had made it out of the deadly flames and was safe in a shelter. A short time later he stood with his grandfather outside a Chico church that was serving as an evacuation center. “We found you,” Warner said hugging his grandfather. “The lady that worked here (called) and said — ‘I know where they are art, they are over at the church.” The shelters — like the one in Chico — have taken in thousands of evacuees who have lost their homes. The fire has destroyed more than 6,700 structures, most of them homes, becoming the most destruction in terms of loss of residences in state history. Shelter volunteer Tim Wall said the system is being strained to its limits. He issued a plea for help Sunday. “We’re so thankful for how the community has come together,” Wall said. “It’s been a major blessing. But this isn’t a one-day thing. This is long-term and we have to think that way. So food is going to continue to run out, so will supplies. We keep needing that. We definitely need medical supplies and medical professionals. A lot of our elderly are on oxygen and that’s running out quickly.” In the Bay Area, the massive plume of smoke and ash driven western by the upper level winds continued to drape a layer of unhealthy air over the region early Monday. The air quality indexes for several cities were among the worst in the world. San Francisco and Oakland had an AQI level of 166, Concord was at 161, San Pablo 168 and Livermore 174. Local officials have issued an air quality advisory for the region, warning residents to limit their outdoor exposure. Meanwhile, NFL officials were monitoring the pollution levels in Santa Cara. If the AQI reaches 200, Monday night’s San Francisco 49ers-New York Giants game could be cancelled.[SEP]If viewing on the ABC10 app, click here for multimedia The town of Paradise was one of the communities devastated by the Camp Fire. Prior to their community meeting, Paradise town manager Lauren Gill reached to Paradise residents through social media. Here's what she said: "Paradise...It is with a heavy heart that we reach out to all who have lost so much during the Camp Fire. There is so much devastation. Much of the physical aspect of our Town is gone, but our spirit remains," wrote Gill. "We will be forever changed by this tragedy and it will always be a part of the Town's history. A tragedy like this also changes us as individuals. I hope it makes me a stronger, better, more compassionate person. I am humbled by the heroic stories I am hearing about survival and hope. Although right now we are all heartbroken as we slowly realize the depth of our losses, we are also hopeful for tomorrow. Each step of our recovery will be long and arduous but we are strong and we love our community. We will get through this together and make Paradise better, safer and stronger." RELATED: "California Wildfires: The New Normal" is ABC10's new 9-part series on how wildfires are changing lives across Northern California In a press conference, Sheriff Kory Honea updated the total amount of unaccounted for individuals to 228. This raises the number by more than a hundred from Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci’s estimate at 4 p.m. According to the sheriff, his office continues to get calls regarding missing persons due to the Camp Fire. His office has been able to locate 107 people after receiving more than 550 calls regarding missing persons. Other calls are still being investigated, and shelters are being contacted to verify whether some individual unaccounted for are located there. Sheriff Honea also confirmed that an additional 6 deaths from the fire, bringing the death toll to 29. He added that five of these individuals were in homes and one was in vehicle. With the number of deaths, the Camp Fire has matched the deadliest wildfire on record in California history. CAL FIRE spokesman Steve Kaufmann says that the number of destroyed structures is expected increase significantly. “We anticipate that number will increase significantly. I want to stress that there was major fire devastation in that perimeter of the fire,” said Kaufmann. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has updated the total amount of fatalities from the Camp Fire to 29. 6 additional fatalities were confirmed by the sheriff at a press conference. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has updated the total amount of unaccounted for individuals in the Camp Fire to 228. California Gov. Jerry Brown says now is a time for Californians to pull together as they face catastrophic fires at both ends of the state. The Democratic governor, a climate change evangelist, stressed at a Sunday press conference that wildfires have become more ferocious because of severe drought and climate change. Brown says this "new abnormal" will only get worse over the next 10 to 20 years, threatening California's entire way of life. The governor was asked about a tweet by President Donald Trump blaming poor forest management. Brown says forest management is only one element in tackling wildfire. He also noted that the federal government has "more land than the state government." The governor says he would be willing to bring home National Guard troops from the border to help with fires if they're needed. The Camp Fire is now up to 111,000 acres burned, is 25 percent contained, and has resulted in 23 fatalities. Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott said the Camp Fire in northern California is one of the major fires currently going on in the state. He added that every available firefighting aircraft in the country is available to California and they are using those resources to their fullest extent to battle California's wildfires. "We're in this for the long haul. Again, we have firefighters deployed throughout the state working with many, many partners and will continue to do that until these conditions subside," Pimlott said. According to California Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci, there are still about 100 people left unaccounted for in Butte County due to the Camp Fire. However, officials are still working to account for all the people impacted by the Camp Fire who may be in places other than shelters. In the days since a ferocious, wind-whipped wildfire began tearing through this Northern California town, residents who stayed behind to try to save their property or who managed to get back to their neighborhoods despite mandatory evacuation orders found cars incinerated and homes reduced to rubble. They have tales of harrowing escape and struggling to cope with loss. Oroville businesswoman Tracy Grant has taken in a 93-year-old World War II veteran who doesn't know if his home in Paradise is still standing after a deadly wildfire swept through. Grant said Sunday she was handing out hamburgers to evacuees Thursday at the Forebay Aquatic Center, which is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Paradise, when she encountered Lee Brundige in his car. He initially refused the hamburger she offered, saying she should give it to someone who really needed it. She tried to get him to a shelter, but he said he was fine sleeping in his car. The next day, she convinced him to come home with her when the sheriff's office told people to clear out of the parking lot due to worsening air. "He looks at me and kind of grunted, 'No I don't want to take advantage of anyone, you're too kind.' So I said, 'This is my car. You're going to follow that bumper until we stop," she said. Her small dog Axle has kept Brundige company in the recliner they share. Grant says Brundige's son knows he's safe but she posted his father's photo on social media so his friends know too. A Northern California businesswoman has taken in a 93-year-old World War II veteran who doesn't know if his home in Paradise is still standing after a deadly wildfire swept through. Tracy Grant encountered Lee Brundige while she was handing out hamburgers to evacuees at the Forebay Aquatic Center in Oroville, which is about 20 miles south of Paradise. She says she convinced a reluctant Brundige to follow her home after sheriff's deputies told people to clear out of the parking lot because of the smoke and worsening air quality. Grant's boyfriend, Josh Fox, brought home bags of new clothes for Brundige. Her small dog Axle keeps Brundige company in the recliner they share. Brundige lived alone. His son in Southern California knows his father is OK. One of the Northern California fire's victims was an ailing woman whose body was found in bed in a burned-out house in Concow, near Paradise. Ellen Walker, who was in her early 70s, was home alone when the fire struck on Thursday, according to Nancy Breeding, a family friend. Breeding said Walker's husband was at work and called a neighbor to tell his wife to evacuate, but she was on medication and might not have been alert. He assumed she had escaped the inferno and was trying to find her at rescue centers until authorities confirmed her death late Friday. "Yesterday a fireman took him to the house to confirm, she apparently died in bed," Breeding said. "This is a devastating thing, and it's happening to so many people," she added. Anyone 18 years and under will be able to get a free meal from Chico Unified's Nutrition Services Department. Two sites will be opened at Little Chico Creek and Chapman Elementary School on Tuesday and Wednesday. Little Chico Creek is located at 2090 Amanda Way, Chico, CA 95928, and Chapman Elementary School is located at 1071 16th St, Chico, CA 95928. The Butte County Sheriff's Office has activated a Missing Persons Call Center so people can receive information about missing persons from the Camp Fire. Operating hours will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. To report friends or family that you believe are missing due to the Camp Fire call: The sheriff's office suggests making calls to the center even if the friend or family member has already been reported. Detectives can give information on the case's status and other details. The line can also be used to reported a located missing person as well. Union officials say at least 39 firefighters lost their homes as they tried to protect thousands of others from two deadly California wildfires. International Association of Fire Fighters state service representative Tim Aboudara said Sunday that dozens of other firefighters' homes likely also burned. Officials have confirmed that 36 firefighters' homes were among thousands destroyed in Northern California, most when the Sierra Foothills city of Paradise was leveled. Three are confirmed lost in a Southern California blaze south of Simi Valley. The confirmed losses affect more than 110 family members and 75 pets. But all are believed to have escaped with their lives. Most worked for the state's firefighting agency, but some for the city of Chico and one who commuted to the San Francisco Bay Area. Caltrans has been ensure the first responders in the field are supplied as they combat the Camp Fire. Agencies from around the region and up and down the state have been helping with the wildfire. The Northern California sheriff overseeing search and rescue in a deadly wildfire says he feels guilty and blessed that his family is safe while others are mourning the loss of homes and family. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at a press briefing Sunday that he is personally invested in anguished searches for missing family, including many who are frail and older. Honea said he would update numbers on the dead, which was 23 as of Saturday, later Sunday. The Camp Fire is the third-deadliest fire on record in California and the death toll appeared likely to rise. Relatives are trying to locate more than 100 people who are missing. Honea said investigators can't reach neighborhoods where there is active fire or downed power. While people collect themselves at the evacuation shelter, Ted Land spots some kindness from Jose Uriarte as he hands out food to people at the shelter from his food truck. Hazards surround the area for public safety personnel at the Camp Fire. According to the CAL FIRE Butte Unit, evacuations can't be lifted and no citizens will be able to access to the town until it is safe. Sol Bechtold is driving shelter to shelter searching for his 75-year-old mother, who remains missing after her house burned down in Magalia, just north of Paradise, in Northern California. Bechtold made a flyer with a photo of his mother, Joanne Caddy, which he posted on social media and was pinning to bulletin boards at shelters, and showing to displaced people there. He found some of her neighbors, but they had not seen Caddy since the fire. Most had been working when the fire hit last week, and were unable to make it back to their neighborhood because roads were closed amid the advancing flames, Bechtold said in a telephone interview. Caddy and her husband had moved to Magalia, a former gold-mining camp, from Fremont, California, in the Bay Area, 30 years ago. Sacramento's air quality index is registering at "very unhealthy" levels. Both the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and the Sacramento County Public Health department are advising residents to take precautions. If you see or smell the smoke from the Camp Fire in Butte County, they suggest minimizing outdoor activity. If you have to go outdoors, it is suggested you get a respiratory mask. Recommendations include staying indoors and keep doors and windows close as much as possible; children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues should especially be careful to avoid exposure. A celebrated 132-year-old Gold Rush-era wooden footbridge in Butte County is among the losses from a devastating Northern California wildfire. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the 238-foot (73-meter) Honey Run Covered Bridge near Chico was leveled in the in the fire that ripped through the area late Thursday. All that's left are charred wooden beams, rippled sheet metal and red steel beams protruding from concrete. The newspaper says it is the only three-span truss bridge of its kind in the United States. It was the backdrop for countless wedding and other celebration photos over the years and in recent years had been used for movie nights. The Honey Run Covered Bridge was listed on the Register of Historic Places and even had its own association to look after it. Authorities say more than 8,000 firefighters are battling three large wildfires at both ends of California that have destroyed thousands of structures and killed 25. About 397 square miles (795 square kilometers) of California is burning with the Camp Fire in Northern California's Butte County being the largest. The Camp Fire has killed 23 and is the third-deadliest wildfire on record in California. The Woolsey Fire in Southern California has hit hard celebrity-studded Malibu as well as the city of Thousand Oaks, which was the site of a deadly shooting at a country music bar last week. Weather conditions for fires are ripe, with strong winds continuing through Sunday in Northern California and through Tuesday in Southern California. Firefighters from out of state continue to arrive to help. RELATED: "California Wildfires: The New Normal" is ABC10's new 9-part series on how wildfires are changing lives across Northern California California Gov. Jerry Brown is requesting a "major disaster declaration" from the president for the wildfires burning at both ends of the state. His office said in a statement Sunday that the declaration would bolster ongoing emergency assistance and help residents recover from fires burning in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. If granted, the declaration would make individuals eligible for crisis counseling, housing and unemployment help, and legal aid. The Camp Fire in Northern California's Butte County has killed 23 people and is the third-deadliest on record in the state. The overall death toll from the outbreak of fires in California stood at 25 Sunday and appeared likely to rise. Cal Fire reports that the Camp Fire has now burned 109,000 acres of land and is 25% contained. The fire is expected to be fully contained by November 30. Firefighters battling the third-deadliest wildfire in California record fended off strong winds overnight and increased their handle on the blaze. California fire spokesman David Clark said Sunday that the Camp Fire grew slightly to 170 square miles (440 square kilometers), from 164 square miles (425 square kilometers) Saturday night. It is now 25 percent contained, up from 20 percent Saturday. Clark says crews are at a "pivotal point" and that high winds and dry conditions similar to when the fire started Thursday are expected for the next 24 hours. The fire has destroyed more than 6,700 buildings, nearly all of them homes, and killed 23 people. A pair of fires burning in Southern California has killed two and 250,000 remain under evacuation orders. RELATED: A glimpse of Paradise, before the fires RELATED: Why is it called the Camp Fire? Here's how wildfires actually get their names Authorities called in a mobile DNA lab and anthropologists to help identify the dead as the search went on for victims of the most destructive wildfire in California history. The death toll stood at 23 Sunday and appeared likely to climb. With the town of Paradise reduced to a smoking ruin and the fire still raging in surrounding communities, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the Northern California county was bringing in a fifth search and recovery team. An anthropology team from California State University at Chico was also assisting, because in some cases "the only remains we are able to find are bones or bone fragments." The department compiled a list of 110 people unaccounted for, but officials held out hope that many were safe but had no cellphones or some other way to contact loved ones. RELATED: "California Wildfires: The New Normal" is ABC10's new 9-part series on how wildfires are changing lives across Northern California Watch it now ... Episode 2: A cafe owner steps in to help when a Redding man faces an unspeakable tragedy in the aftermath of the Carr Fire:[SEP]BUTTE COUNTY — With 42 people dead, the Camp Fire roaring through Butte County has officially surpassed a grim marker by becoming the single most deadly and destructive fire in California’s history. The number of people who have perished in the fire, current as of Monday night, is almost certain to rise as rescue and recovery workers sift through the ruins and ashes where houses and families once stood. An untold number of people remain missing and it could be days or weeks before their loved ones have answers. More than 7,000 homes, businesses and other structures have burned to the ground or been damaged beyond repair, leaving people shell-shocked and wondering how they will pick up the pieces. Before the Camp Fire broke out Thursday morning, the state’s single deadliest fire occurred in 1933 in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park Fire, where 29 people working on trails and roads were overcome by flames whipping through a nearby canyon. As of Monday night, the fire was 30 percent contained. A pair of fires in Southern California also continued to destroy homes — many of then owned by celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Neil Young — and businesses, and force evacuations. Smoke lingered over the Bay Area and unhealthy air quality — expected to last at least through Friday — forced the cancellation of several local events, from high school football games to half marathons. Now, even as residents of Paradise — a quiet town of around 26,000 almost entirely razed by the inferno — begin contemplating the future, the fire continues to tear through communities to the north and south, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. Dozens of residents displaced by the fire huddled Monday at a Walmart parking lot, where people delivered donations of food, clothing and other supplies. Aubrianna Hernandez, a junior at Chico High School, doesn’t know yet whether her family’s home in Paradise is still standing. But she decided to volunteer. “I just kind of showed up,” Hernandez said. “I know there’s other people in worse conditions than me.” Gwendolyn and Richard Gaskin moved from the East Coast in May and purchased a mobile home in Paradise just three days before the fire broke out. “We don’t have nowhere to go at this point,” Gwendolyn said. Preston Wrachford lost his home in Paradise and was also sifting through the donations in the lot. “I was a mover and now I’m pretty sure I’m out of business,” Wrachford said. Genesis Baker, his girlfriend, fears she is, too. Baker worked for her family’s landscaping business in Paradise. “There’s nothing left to landscape,” she said. “My dad confirmed five of his contracts are gone. It was a small town to begin with. One of our customers paid us in casseroles.” Not far away, Travis Crockett sat in his truck as his wife Robin waited with dozens of others to speak to insurance agents, who set up in a gravel parking lot in Chico. The Crocketts lost their home on Winding Way in Paradise. “Our whole neighborhood is leveled,” Travis, 42, said. His brother-in-law, a U.S. Marshal, had early access to the decimated streets of the town and drove around snapping pictures of as many family members’ homes as possible. Most were gone. For the next week, the Crocketts are staying at Motel 6 in Red Bluff, which Travis said is booked with other Paradise “refugees.” As residents flee the area or hunker down, more than 5,000 fire crews from as far away as South Dakota are attempting to keep the fire from spreading into rugged terrain thick with vegetation to the north and tamping out fire west of Berry Creek to the south. There’s a possibility the region could see some rainfall next week. While that would provide welcome relief to firefighters battling the blaze, it could also bring new challenges for people who rely on the Oroville Dam for drinking water. “Contingencies are in place to ensure safety when it begins to rain. When the rain starts, we’ll be paying close attention to debris entering the lake and downstream rivers and will likely need to increase our water quality tests to ensure safety for recreation and water supply for urban/agricultural and environmental uses,” Erin Mellon, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Water Resources, said in an email Monday. While the official cause of the fire remains under investigation, state regulators are looking into PG&E, which reported malfunctions with electrical infrastructure near the source of the fire. On Monday, trading in PG&E was temporarily stopped as shares dropped significantly amid news the utility company may be responsible for the fire. Regulators are also looking into issues with Southern California Edison Company infrastructure, which also reported problems that may have contributed to a fire burning across Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Aaron Johnson, PG&E’s vice president in charge of fire safety efforts, said the company was working to restore power when safe and was working with first responders to turn off gas lines when needed. Sixty-one of PG&E’s own employees lost their homes in the blaze, he said. In Southern California, the Woolsey Fire has burned more than 90,000 acres and was far from contained Monday evening. The blaze has claimed the lives of at least two people and destroyed more than 350 homes and businesses. Firefighters had a better handle on the Hill Fire, which ignited around the same time on Thursday afternoon not far from the Woolsey Fire. The Hill Fire was 80 percent contained Monday, having already scorched 4,531 acres and destroyed two structures. On Monday, President Trump tweeted that he approved California’s request for a major disaster declaration, which will free up federal funding, and the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee said his party would ask for up to $720 million for wildfire relief. “Withholding funds is not the solution, and we will fight for it,” Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont told reporters on a conference call, referring to a tweet from President Donald Trump blaming poor forest management for the firestorms and threatening to withhold federal help. Closer to home, the San Francisco 49ers welcomed the Paradise High School football team to Levi’s Stadium for Monday night’s game against the New York Giants. Many of the high school players lost homes and the team was forced to forfeit their playoff game because of the fire. The 49ers will be matching fan donations to the North Valley Community Foundation, which is supporting fire victims. In the meantime, officials in Butte County are trying to locate residents still missing. The sheriff’s office requested calls be made to a missing persons hotline even if they had already reported the person missing to the department. Detectives will advise callers on the status of their case and provide any additional details or, if necessary, offer instructions on how to submit a saliva sample for DNA analysis. Some of the remains recovered are being sent to morgues in Sacramento County, where Butte County officials are working with the California Department of Justice’s DNA lab and teams of coroners’ investigators and anthropologists to identify the decedents. He had no estimate for how long that would take. “We are very early in our efforts,” Honea said. “There is still a great deal of work to do.”[SEP]Holding out slim hope as crews search for more fire dead; 42 already killed in blaze More than a dozen coroner search and recovery teams looked for human remains from a Northern California wildfire that killed at least 42 — making it the deadliest in state history — as anxious relatives visited shelters and called police hoping to find loved ones alive. Lisa Jordan drove 600 miles (1,000 kilometres) from Yakima, Washington, to search for her uncle, Nick Clark, and his wife, Anne Clark, of Paradise, California. Anne Clark suffers from multiple sclerosis and is unable to walk. No one knows if they were able to evacuate, or even if their house still exists, she said. “I’m staying hopeful,” she said. “Until the final word comes, you keep fighting against it.” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea updated the confirmed fatality number Monday night — a figure that is almost certain to spike following the blaze that last week destroyed Paradise, a town of 27,000 about 180 miles (290 kilometres) northeast of San Francisco. Authorities were bringing in two mobile morgue units and requesting 150 search and rescue personnel. Officials were unsure of the exact number of missing. “I want to recover as many remains as we possibly can, as soon as we can. Because I know the toll it takes on loved ones,” Honea said. Chaplains accompanied some coroner search teams that visited dozens of addresses belonging to people reported missing. For those on the grim search, no cars in the driveway is good, one car a little more ominous and multiple burned-out vehicles equals a call for extra vigilance. State officials said the cause of the inferno was under investigation. READ MORE: VIDEO – Wildfire nearly quadruples in size Meanwhile, a landowner near where the blaze began, Betsy Ann Cowley, said she got an email from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. the day before the fire last week telling her that crews needed to come onto her property because the utility’s power lines were causing sparks. PG&E had no comment on the email. Stan Craig’s sister, Beverly Craig Powers, has not returned numerous texts and calls, and the adult children of her partner, Robert Duvall, have not heard from their father, he said. The couple was last seen evacuating their Paradise home on Thursday with two pickup trucks and a travel trailer, so they could be camping. He knows friends and family are still being reunited with missing loved ones, but he said his unease grows every day. Still, the Fresno, California, resident wasn’t planning on heading to the fire area. As a former firefighter himself, he said he understands the chaos wildfires cause. “I’m going to stay here until I have something more to go on,” he said. The blaze was part of an outbreak of wildfires on both ends of the state. Together, they were blamed for 44 deaths, including two in celebrity-studded Malibu in Southern California , where firefighters appeared to be gaining ground against a roughly 143-square-mile (370-square-kilometre) blaze that destroyed at least 370 structures, with hundreds more feared lost. All told, more than 8,000 firefighters statewide were battling wildfires that destroyed more than 7,000 structures and scorched more than 325 square miles (840 square kilometres), the flames feeding on dry brush and driven by blowtorch winds. There were tiny signs of some sense of order returning to Paradise and anonymous gestures meant to rally the spirits of firefighters who have worked in a burned-over wasteland for days. Large American flags stuck into the ground lined both sides of the road at the town limits, and temporary stop signs appeared overnight at major intersections. Downed power lines that had blocked roads were cut away, and crews took down burned trees with chain saws. The 42 dead in Northern California surpassed the deadliest single fire on record, a 1933 blaze in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. A series of wildfires in Northern California’s wine country last fall killed 44 people and destroyed more than 5,000 homes. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.[SEP]Image copyright Reuters Image caption Another blaze near Los Angeles, the Peak Fire, is now out Crews battling a deadly wildfire in northern California have managed to hold their containment lines, the state fire service says. They have contained 30% of the fire, stretching over 125,000 acres (50,500 ha), but do not expect to contain it fully until the end of the month. In the ruined town of Paradise, Butte County, forensics teams are continuing to search for human remains. The official death toll has risen to 48, with dozens of people missing. Another blaze in the south of the state, the Woolsey Fire, has killed at least two people, damaging beach resorts including Malibu, a favourite with the rich and famous. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption California wildfires continue to rage It is still burning across more than 96,000 acres but is 35% contained, the state fire service tweeted. Another, smaller blaze, the Hill Fire, is 90% contained in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles. President Donald Trump has paid tribute to emergency crews' "incredible courage in the face of danger". "We mourn the lives of those lost and we pray for the victims and there were more victims than anybody would ever think possible," he said. A county in shock By Dave Lee, BBC News, Paradise, northern California It's five days since the Camp Fire destroyed this town. Power lines are strewn across the streets, cars melted into their driveways. Image copyright AFP Image caption A California license plate in the ashes of Paradise There are clues to the panic that must have swept through what was a charming town. A garden table, with food-serving tongs at the ready - both now fused together by the extreme heat. In nearby Chico, on the site of a fairground, impressive emergency planning is in action: last night's shift of firefighters sleep in a warehouse, while today's get their briefings. But being prepared for the worst doesn't make it any less traumatic. This is a county in shock - at lives, homes and livelihoods lost. And the knowledge that, in California, this will happen again. How great is the challenge in Butte County? Convoys of fire engines could be seen rumbling through the charred ruins of the town on Tuesday, Reuters news agency reports, as crews headed out to fight the deadliest wildfire in the state's history. Workers used chainsaws to clear downed power lines and other obstacles from the streets. At least 6,607 residences have been destroyed in the county along with 1,032 commercial and other structures. "Thirty percent [containment] is kind of where we're getting close to rounding the corner," said Cal Fire spokeswoman Erica Bain. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Paradise resident Sorrell Bobrink describes 'apocalyptic' scenes "When we're in the 30s and 40s, they're getting a good handle on it. By the end of this week I'd like to see that number up to 40, maybe 45." Another Cal Fire representative, Scott McLean, said firefighters were now more optimistic because of changing weather conditions. What is being done to find the missing? Officials warn that finding human remains could take weeks. It was expected that 150 search-and-recovery personnel would arrive on Tuesday to reinforce 13 coroner-led recovery teams in the fire zone, Reuters reports. Three portable morgue teams have been requested from the US military along with a "disaster mortuary" crew, cadaver dog units to locate human remains and three groups of forensic anthropologists. Many victims in Paradise are believed to have been elderly residents or people with mobility issues who would have found evacuating more difficult. Why are the fires so bad? Historically, California's "wildfire season" started in summer and ran into early autumn but experts have warned that the risk is now year-round. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption With wildfires occurring across the globe, here are some of the techniques used to stop them The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating what sparked the latest blazes - amid reports electrical companies may have suffered malfunctions near the sources shortly before the fires began. Low humidity, warm Santa Ana winds, and dry ground after a rain-free month have produced a prime fire-spreading environment. The state's 40-million-strong population also helps explain the fires' deadliness. That number is almost double what it was in the 1970s, and people are living closer to at-risk forest areas. Citing the role of a warming climate, California Governor Jerry Brown declared: "This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal."[SEP]Holding out slim hope as crews search for more fire dead; 42 already killed in blaze More than a dozen coroner search and recovery teams looked for human remains from a Northern California wildfire that killed at least 42 — making it the deadliest in state history — as anxious relatives visited shelters and called police hoping to find loved ones alive. Lisa Jordan drove 600 miles (1,000 kilometres) from Yakima, Washington, to search for her uncle, Nick Clark, and his wife, Anne Clark, of Paradise, California. Anne Clark suffers from multiple sclerosis and is unable to walk. No one knows if they were able to evacuate, or even if their house still exists, she said. “I’m staying hopeful,” she said. “Until the final word comes, you keep fighting against it.” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea updated the confirmed fatality number Monday night — a figure that is almost certain to spike following the blaze that last week destroyed Paradise, a town of 27,000 about 180 miles (290 kilometres) northeast of San Francisco. Authorities were bringing in two mobile morgue units and requesting 150 search and rescue personnel. Officials were unsure of the exact number of missing. “I want to recover as many remains as we possibly can, as soon as we can. Because I know the toll it takes on loved ones,” Honea said. Chaplains accompanied some coroner search teams that visited dozens of addresses belonging to people reported missing. For those on the grim search, no cars in the driveway is good, one car a little more ominous and multiple burned-out vehicles equals a call for extra vigilance. State officials said the cause of the inferno was under investigation. READ MORE: VIDEO – Wildfire nearly quadruples in size Meanwhile, a landowner near where the blaze began, Betsy Ann Cowley, said she got an email from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. the day before the fire last week telling her that crews needed to come onto her property because the utility’s power lines were causing sparks. PG&E had no comment on the email. Stan Craig’s sister, Beverly Craig Powers, has not returned numerous texts and calls, and the adult children of her partner, Robert Duvall, have not heard from their father, he said. The couple was last seen evacuating their Paradise home on Thursday with two pickup trucks and a travel trailer, so they could be camping. He knows friends and family are still being reunited with missing loved ones, but he said his unease grows every day. Still, the Fresno, California, resident wasn’t planning on heading to the fire area. As a former firefighter himself, he said he understands the chaos wildfires cause. “I’m going to stay here until I have something more to go on,” he said. The blaze was part of an outbreak of wildfires on both ends of the state. Together, they were blamed for 44 deaths, including two in celebrity-studded Malibu in Southern California , where firefighters appeared to be gaining ground against a roughly 143-square-mile (370-square-kilometre) blaze that destroyed at least 370 structures, with hundreds more feared lost. All told, more than 8,000 firefighters statewide were battling wildfires that destroyed more than 7,000 structures and scorched more than 325 square miles (840 square kilometres), the flames feeding on dry brush and driven by blowtorch winds. There were tiny signs of some sense of order returning to Paradise and anonymous gestures meant to rally the spirits of firefighters who have worked in a burned-over wasteland for days. Large American flags stuck into the ground lined both sides of the road at the town limits, and temporary stop signs appeared overnight at major intersections. Downed power lines that had blocked roads were cut away, and crews took down burned trees with chain saws. The 42 dead in Northern California surpassed the deadliest single fire on record, a 1933 blaze in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. A series of wildfires in Northern California’s wine country last fall killed 44 people and destroyed more than 5,000 homes. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.[SEP]The death toll has reached 42 in the Northern California wildfire, making it the deadliest in state history PARADISE, Calif. (AP) — The death toll has reached 42 in the Northern California wildfire, making it the deadliest in state history.[SEP]More than 200 missing in California's deadliest wildfire on record The death toll from a huge blaze in Northern California rose to 42 on Monday, making it the deadliest wildfire in state history. Thousands of firefighters spent a fifth day digging battle lines to contain the "Camp Fire" in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains north of Sacramento, while search teams were on a grim mission to recover the dead. "As of today, an additional 13 human remains have been recovered, which brings the total number to 42," Sheriff Kory Honea told a news conference. The blaze is "the deadliest wildland fire in California history," Honea said. Although it is difficult to be certain due to inconsistencies in record keeping and categorization, the Camp Fire appears to deadliest American wildfire in a century -- since the Cloquet Fire killed an estimated 1,000 people in Minnesota in 1918. The Camp Fire is the largest of several infernos that have sent a quarter of a million people fleeing their homes across the tinder-dry state, with winds of up to 60 miles (100 kilometers) per hour fanning the fast-moving flames. In addition to the historic loss of life, the Camp Fire blaze is also more destructive than any other on record, having razed 6,500 homes in the town of Paradise, effectively wiping it off the map. More than 5,100 firefighters from as far as the states of Washington and Texas have been working to halt the advance of the inferno as "mass casualty" search teams backed by anthropologists and a DNA lab pick through the charred ruins to identify remains -- sometimes reduced to no more than shards of bone. "We're now at a point where we're going to bring in human remains detector dogs, or what often are referred to as cadaver dogs," Honea said Monday. At least 44 people have died in fire zones in Northern and Southern California, where acrid smoke has blanketed the sky for miles, the sun barely visible. U.S. President Donald Trump "declared that a major disaster exists in the state of California and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires," the White House said in a statement. The move makes aid available to the state's fire-hit Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. On the ground, cars caught in the flames have been reduced to scorched metal skeletons, while piles of debris smolder where houses once stood, an occasional brick wall or chimney remaining. Glenn Simmons, 64, told AFP in the nearby town of Chico that he had been sleeping in his car since Thursday, unable to find a space in a shelter. "I was planning on maybe moving out of state, or into southern California... Everything is burned up. I have my clothes and I have a backpack, and that's pretty much it," he said. The Camp Fire has reduced around 17 square miles (45 square kilometers) of Butte County's forested hills mostly to charred wasteland -- an area which hasn't seen rainfall of more than half an inch (one centimeter) in more than 30 weeks. It is currently 25 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said. Three firefighters have been injured in the effort to quell the blaze's advance. At the southern end of the state, another three firefighters have been injured battling the Woolsey Fire, which has devoured mansions and mobile homes alike in the coastal celebrity resort of Malibu. The blaze is similar in size to the Camp Fire but has been much less destructive, and the death toll has been limited to two victims found in a vehicle on a private driveway. While some Malibu-area residents were allowed to return home late Sunday, the city of Calabasas, just northeast of coastal Malibu, came under evacuation orders. "This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal. And this new abnormal will continue, certainly in the next 10 to 15 to 20 years," California Governor Jerry Brown said Sunday in a stark warning over the likely damaging effects of climate change. "Unfortunately, the best science is telling us that the dryness, warmth, drought, all those things, they're going to intensify." Over the weekend, the Woolsey Fire engulfed parts of Thousand Oaks, where the community is still shell-shocked after a Marine Corps veteran shot dead 12 people in a country music bar on Wednesday. The blaze has consumed around 93,000 acres (37,600 hectares), destroyed an estimated 370 structures and was 30 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Monday extended condolences to the U.S. over the rising death toll. "We are saddened by the loss of many lives and great material losses caused by wildfires in the State of California, U.S.," the ministry said in a written statement. "We extend our condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives and to the people of the United States and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," the statement added.[SEP](Reuters) - More than 200 people were missing early on Monday in California’s deadliest and most destructive blaze on record, one of two fires raging in the state which have killed at least 31 people and forced more than a quarter of a million evacuations. The so-called Camp Fire 40 miles northwest of Sacramento burned down more than 6,700 homes and businesses in the town of Paradise, more structures than any other wildfire recorded in California. The fire had burned more than 111,000 acres and was 25 percent contained by late Sunday, officials said. Its death toll of 29 now equals that of the Griffith Park Fire in 1933, the deadliest wildfire on record in California. At least 228 people were still missing, according to Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea. In southern California, the Woolsey Fire has scorched at least 85,500 acres and destroyed 177 structures. The blaze was only 15 percent contained. At least two people have died in that fire, according to officials from the statewide agency Cal Fire. The blaze has forced the authorities to issue evacuation orders for a quarter million people in Ventura and Los Angeles counties and beachside communities including the Malibu beach colony. Celebrities at the People’s Choice Awards Sunday night in Santa Monica, Ca., asked for prayers and donations for residents and first responders. Reality television star Kim Kardashian said, ‘It’s been a really rough week in our home in Calabasas, Hidden Hills and our neighbors in Thousand Oaks and Malibu.” Actor Melissa McCarthy said, “Please keep the victims, volunteers and firefighters in your thoughts.” She also asked people to donate to the Los Angeles fire Department Foundation. Hot, dry winds were expected to whip up the fires burning in both tinder-dry southern and northern California until Tuesday, officials said. “Winds are already blowing,” Chief Daryl Osby of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said Sunday. “They are going to blow for the next three days. Your house can be rebuilt but you can’t bring your life back.” Governor Jerry Brown asked U.S. President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster to bolster the emergency response and help residents recover. Trump has criticized the California government in Tweets this weekend, blaming poor forest management for the infernos.[SEP]Authorities searching through the blackened aftermath of California's deadliest wildfire released on Wednesday the names of about 80 people who were still missing, including many in their 80s and 90s. Officials in Northern California said Tuesday that search crews had found six more bodies, bringing the death toll from the so-called "Camp Fire" to 48 and the statewide total to 50.

The death toll of the Camp Fire in Butte County, the deadliest wildfire in Californian history, rises to 48 people while dozens are missing.

MIAMI (CBSMiami) — CBS News has joined the fight against the White House for revoking a CNN reporter’s media pass. Jim Acosta’s “hard pass,” which gives holders expanded access to the White House complex, was suspended last week, hours after he sparred with President Trump in press conference. CNN took its access battle against the Trump administration to court on Tuesday, demanding the reinstatement of Acosta’s White House credentials because their revocation violates the right of freedom of the press. CBS News announced it will file an amicus brief in support of CNN, saying in a statement it supports the White House Correspondents Association and CNN’s legal fight to restore Acosta’s access. “We do not believe that revoking White House press credentials is an appropriate remedy for a disagreement the White House may have with a particular reporter,” CBS News’ statement said. “We intend to file a friend of the court brief in support of CNN’s lawsuit to defend its constitutional rights.” Fox News also filed a ‘friend of the court’ brief in federal court in support of CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration saying Secret Service passes for working White House journalists “should never be weaponized. While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.” WATCH THE ENTIRE EXCHANGE BETWEEN JIM ACOSTA AND PRESIDENT TRUMP President Trump’s administration contends it has “broad discretion” to regulate press access to the White House and said it “was lawful” to punish Acosta for his behavior. CNN says it has asked the court for an immediate restraining order requiring the pass be returned to Acosta and will seek permanent relief as part of this process. The White House Correspondents Association has said that it “strongly supports” the suit. Acosta’s access to the White House was purportedly suspended because he refused to give up a microphone to a White House intern who reached over and tried to take it away from him during the press conference. The White House accused Acosta of placing his hands on the young woman and distributed a video of the incident that several analysts concluded was doctored and had the effect of exaggerating the moment of contact. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders called the lawsuit “just more grandstanding from CNN.” Although the White House initially said it was revoking Acosta’s hard pass because he laid hands on an intern, Sanders’ new statement said he “physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern.” Sanders also said that the new justification for the removal of his pass was that he did not yield to other reporters for questions. Other news organizations also joining the fight against the White House include NBC News, the New York Times, the Washington Post and two wire services – AP and Bloomberg, among others.[SEP]Fox News joined a number of media outlets on Wednesday in announcing that they would back rival CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration. Fox News President Jay Wallace said in a statement that the network intends to file an amicus brief with a U.S. District Court in the lawsuit. CNN filed suit against the White House on Tuesday seeking the return of correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials, which were revoked last week after a testy exchange with President Trump Donald John TrumpTrump awards Medal of Valor, civilian honors to responders in Dayton and El Paso shootings Texas Democrats unveil 'path to victory' plan for 2020 The Hill's 12:30 Report: Congress returns with gun violence, funding atop agenda MORE during a press conference. “FOX News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter’s press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized," Wallace said. "While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.” ADVERTISEMENT NBC News, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, Gannett, The New York Times, Politico, USA Today, The Washington Post and other outlets also plan to file briefs supporting CNN's lawsuit, according to a release from Ballard Spahr LLP, a law firm representing the outlets. “Whether the news of the day concerns national security, the economy, or the environment, reporters covering the White House must remain free to ask questions,” the news outlets said in a joint statement released by the firm. “It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the President and his activities, and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons. Our news organizations support the fundamental constitutional right to question this President, or any President.” CNN has argued that the Trump administration violated Acosta's First and Fifth Amendment rights of free speech and due process. The case was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., and is being overseen by Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, who scheduled a hearing in the case for Wednesday. The White House dismissed CNN's lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the network of “grandstanding." White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Acosta “is no more or less special than any other media outlet or reporter with respect to the First Amendment." The White House has argued that it was justified in suspending Acosta's hard pass after he did not allow a White House intern to take the microphone from him during a press conference when Trump cut him off after he asked several questions about the migrant caravan and federal probe into Russia's election interference. “After Mr. Acosta asked the President two questions — each of which the President answered — he physically refused to surrender the White House microphone to an intern, so that other reporters might ask their questions,” Sanders said in a statement Tuesday. --Updated at 11:43 a.m.[SEP]The cable news network announced on Wednesday that it plans to file an amicus brief in support of a CNN-launched lawsuit. The move illustrates a circling of wagons among major media outlets as the Trump administration continues to portray news organizations as “enemies of the people.”[SEP][PDF] Download Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities Ebook | READ ONLINE Download at http://myfavoritebook.space/?book=1305943295 Download Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities read ebook Online PDF EPUB KINDLE Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities pdf download Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities read online Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities epub Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities vk Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities pdf Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities amazon Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities free download pdf Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities pdf free Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities pdf Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities epub download Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities online Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities epub download Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities epub vk Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities mobi Download or Read Online Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities => Sign up now for download this book: http://myfavoritebook.space/?book=1305943295 #downloadbook #book #readonline #readbookonline #ebookcollection #ebookdownload #pdf #ebook #epub #kindle[SEP]“You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN,” Trump told CNN’s Jim Acosta during a press conference in which he repeatedly clashed with reporters. pic.twitter.com/OvWCcFap5g[SEP]If there's one thing Ashton Kutcher gives a twit about, it's honoring his word. When the King of the Twitterverse beat CNN in the race to reach one million followers last month, he vowed he would one day Ding-Dong ditch the news outlet's founder and head honcho Ted Turner. RELATED: Who has Twitter-envy over Ashton's popularity? According to CNN, Kutcher rolled out a banner with his Twitter name, aplusk, over the CNN logo at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday night while an Internet audience watched over Ustream. Meanwhile, Extra reports that Kutcher, along with wife Demi Moore and some pals, also dumped 800 boxes of Ding-Dongs at Turner's Atlanta restaurant. RELATED: Try one of these tasty Celebrity Cocktails[SEP]CNN is getting support from rival Fox News in its legal battle against the White House over the revocation of press credentials for reporter Jim Acosta. Fox News President Jay Wallace issued a statement Wednesday that said his division will file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court that backs the lawsuit filed by CNN against President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend Acosta’s White House press pass after a conflict at a news conference last week. “Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized,” Wallace said. “While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.” Fox News is among more than a dozen news companies and journalism organizations that plan to file friend of court briefs on behalf of CNN, including the Los Angeles Times, NBC News, the Associated Press, USA Today Network, the New York Times, the Washington Post and Gannett Co. “It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the President and his activities, and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons,” the entities said in a joint statement. “Our news organizations support the fundamental constitutional right to question the President, or any president.” Norman Pearlstine, executive editor of the Los Angeles Times, said in a statement: “The Los Angeles Times supports the effort of CNN and Jim Acosta to have his access to White House press briefings fully restored. We plan to join with the other media organizations in filing an amicus brief in the lawsuit brought by CNN. We are committed to upholding free and fair access for journalists covering the White House.” CNN’s suit filed Tuesday says the suspension of Acosta’s credentials violates the 1st Amendment’s protection of free speech. It also says the way the administration revoked the pass, with no direct notice to Acosta or a written explanation detailing the decision, violated the 5th Amendment’s protection of due process and the federal Administrative Procedures Act. The lawsuit escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the AT&T-owned cable news outlet, which has been aggressive in its coverage of him and his administration. Trump frequently accuses CNN of disseminating “fake news” when he is angered by its reporting. Trump’s criticisms of CNN are often echoed by Fox News prime-time star Sean Hannity, who is the president’s most voluble supporter on the channel. 9:45 a.m.: This article was updated with other news organizations filing amicus briefs on behalf of CNN. This article was originally published at 8:50 a.m.[SEP]A group of CNN’s competitors, including Fox News, joined together to support CNN and Jim Acosta in their lawsuit against the White House seeking to regain Acosta’s press access there. Fox News President Jay Wallace said in a statement that while the network doesn’t “condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press,” it does, however, “support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.” Wallace also said Fox would file a brief in support of CNN’s suit in federal court in Washington. Despite rumblings that some of Acosta’s fellow reporters did not particularly like or appreciate his confrontational made-for-TV approach to dealing with the president during press conferences and media availabilities, a broad swath of media organizations have stood behind Acosta and CNN to oppose the nearly unprecedented revoking of access based plainly on the fact that the White House didn’t like a reporter. The White House, meanwhile, argued in a brief that its sanctions for Acosta were “viewpoint- and content-neutral” and “are evident from the video of the November 7 press conference.” The White House had initially claimed that it had banned Acosta because he had placed “his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern.” When this explanation was almost universally rejected (despite an altered video shared by White House press secretary Sarah Sanders), the White House said in a subsequent statement Tuesday that Acosta “inappropriately refused to yield to other reporters” and had “physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern, so that other reporters might ask their questions.” While Trump’s base of support has continued to be riled up in anger against CNN, the media has not taken the bait. Everyone from the news-wire services to the owner of the Intercept signed on to a joint statement in support of CNN, saying, “Our news organizations support the fundamental constitutional right to question this President, or any president.”

Several media organizations file amicus briefs in support of CNN.

Fox News is supporting CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration over the White House’s revocation of Jim Acosta’s press pass and plans to file an amicus brief in the case, according to a statement from the network’s president Jay Wallace. “FOX News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter’s press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized. While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.” Show less Twelve other news organizations also announced they would be joining Fox in filing an amicus brief in support of CNN.[SEP]U.S. President Donald Trump gets into an exchange with CNN reporter Jim Acosta during a news conference a day after the midterm elections on November 7, 2018 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Conservative news channel One America News Network on Thursday broke with most major media outlets by backing President Donald Trump in CNN's lawsuit seeking to restore the press credential of its White House correspondent, Jim Acosta. Acosta "has hindered our free press from functioning effectively during White House briefings," OANN argued in a court filing, calling Acosta's behavior "disruptive." OANN's filing comes less than a day before a hearing in Washington, D.C. District Court on whether to grant CNN's request for a temporary restraining order that would return Acosta's "hard pass," which gave him access to the White House grounds.[SEP][PDF] Download Trump's War: His Battle for America Ebook | READ ONLINE Download at https://murahpdfbookscoll87ju8.blogspot.com/1478976675 Download Trump's War: His Battle for America read ebook Online PDF EPUB KINDLE Trump's War: His Battle for America pdf download Trump's War: His Battle for America read online Trump's War: His Battle for America epub Trump's War: His Battle for America vk Trump's War: His Battle for America pdf Trump's War: His Battle for America amazon Trump's War: His Battle for America free download pdf Trump's War: His Battle for America pdf free Trump's War: His Battle for America pdf Trump's War: His Battle for America Trump's War: His Battle for America epub download Trump's War: His Battle for America online Trump's War: His Battle for America epub download Trump's War: His Battle for America epub vk Trump's War: His Battle for America mobi Download or Read Online Trump's War: His Battle for America => Sign up now for download this book: https://murahpdfbookscoll87ju8.blogspot.com/1478976675 #downloadbook #book #readonline #readbookonline #ebookcollection #ebookdownload #pdf #ebook #epub #kindle[SEP]Fox News, US President Donald Trump's favorite news network, announced Wednesday that it will back CNN in its lawsuit against the Trump administration for having revoked reporter Jim Acosta's White House press pass. Fox News said in a statement that it plans to file an amicus brief in the case, a figure that allows third parties to express their support for one of the sides.[SEP]Fox News has joined several news outlets and the White House Correspondents’ Association in support of CNN’s lawsuit against President Donald Trump over the revocation of reporter Jim Acosta’s White House pass. In a statement released on Wednesday, Fox News president Jay Wallace said, “FOX News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter’s press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized.” “While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people,” Wallace added. The Hill reported that CNN argued in its case filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that Acosta’s First and Fifth Amendment rights to freedom of speech and the press and due process under the law have been violated. “NBC News, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, Gannett, The New York Times, Politico, USA Today, The Washington Post and other outlets also plan to file briefs supporting CNN’s lawsuit, according to a release from Ballard Spahr LLP, a law firm representing the outlets,” The Hill reported. TRENDING: Here Are 12 Potential Trump Nominees for the Newly Vacated Attorney General Position The news outlets said in a joint statement released by the firm, “It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the President and his activities, and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons.” The Justice Department filed a brief in response to the CNN suit on Wednesday, contending, “No journalist has a First Amendment right to enter the White House.” “The president and White House possess the same broad discretion to regulate access to the White House for journalists (and other members of the public) that they possess to select which journalists receive interviews, or which journalists they acknowledge at press conferences,” DOJ lawyers said in the court filing. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders responded to CNN’s lawsuit, saying in a statement, “CNN, who has nearly 50 additional hard pass holders, and Mr. Acosta is no more or less special than any other media outlet or reporter with respect to the First Amendment. “After Mr. Acosta asked the President two questions—each of which the President answered—he physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern, so that other reporters might ask their questions. This was not the first time this reporter has inappropriately refused to yield to other reporters. “The White House cannot run an orderly and fair press conference when a reporter acts this way, which is neither appropriate nor professional,” Sanders said. “The First Amendment is not served when a single reporter, of more than 150 present, attempts to monopolize the floor. If there is no check on this type of behavior it impedes the ability of the President, the White House staff, and members of the media to conduct business.” White House Correspondents’ Association President Oliver Knox said, “Revoking access to the White House complex amounted to a disproportionate reaction to the events of last Wednesday.” Veteran Washington journalist Chris Wallace said on Fox News last week that Acosta is guilty of being a “showboat” and rude to his fellow reporters by asking repeated questions and refusing to surrender the microphone; however, the Fox News Sunday host went on to argue that the White House should not have pulled his pass. Wallace noted that CNN stood in solidarity with Fox, when the Obama administration, early in its tenure, tried to freeze out FNC from covering certain events. Regarding Acosta’s performance last Wednesday, Wallace, who prior to coming to Fox in 2003 worked for both NBC News and ABC News, said, “You know I covered the White House for six years during the Ronald Reagan years, and along with Sam Donaldson, I think we were pretty tough, persistent aggressive reporters, but we never did anything like was Jim Acosta did yesterday. I think he embarrassed himself.” “He was disrespectful to his colleagues in asking repeated questions, making it harder for them to get in a question,” the Fox News personality stated. “Jim Acosta strikes me more as a showboat, rather than he’d like to get answers to questions.” Dana Perino — a former White House press secretary during the George W. Bush administration — responded, “I know that a lot of Jim Acosta’s colleagues are frustrated with him.” She observed that the Bush White House never dealt with a reporter acting in the manner Acosta has and questioned how his conduct furthers the mission of gathering the news. Nonetheless, Perino did find pulling his pass “disproportionate” to his offense. Wallace wondered in light of Acosta’s repeated behavior along these lines since Trump took office, “What do the bosses at CNN see as their mission? In this particular case is it to cover the news or to make a scene?” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

One America News Network files an amicus brief in support of the Trump administration.

(CNN) An Ohio family carefully studied the habits of members of another family -- their routines, the layouts of their homes and where they slept -- as they planned a deadly massacre that stunned a rural town, a prosecutor said Tuesday. The eight victims -- who ranged in age from 16 to 44 -- were found shot to death at four crime scenes in and around the small town of Piketon on April 22, 2016. At one scene, police found a 4-day-old baby next to his slain mother. That child, along with a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old, survived. The suspects "spent months planning the crime," Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said. But they made mistakes, DeWine said. More than two years later, authorities arrested four members of the Wagner family Tuesday in connection with killing the members of the Rhoden family. Two grandmothers of the Wagner family were also charged in an alleged cover-up of the crime, DeWine said. He declined to identify a motive but said custody of a child "plays a role in this case." Read More[SEP]PIKE COUNTY, Ohio -- Four family members have been arrested in the 2016 murders of eight people in a rural community of southern Ohio, according to WJW. George "Billy" Wagner III, 47; Angela Wagner, 48; George Wagner IV, 27; and Edward "Jake" Wagner, 26, were arrested Tuesday and "are charged with planning and carrying out" the killings of eight members of the Rhoden family, Ohio State Attorney General Mike DeWine's office said in a news release. The Wagners are from South Webster, about a 30-mile drive southeast of Piketon, the community in and around where the killings happened. Although the Wagners had since moved to Alaska, authorities said they arrested three in Ohio and one, "Billy" Wagner, in Lexington, Kentucky. Seven adults and a teenage boy from the Rhoden family were found shot to death on April 22, 2016. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine spoke about the arrests during a news conference Tuesday evening. He gave few details about the motive, saying only that it was believed to be linked to the custody of a child, according to the Associated Press. He called the case bizarre, adding that it centered around "obsession with the custody and control of children." Edward "Jake" Wagner and one of the victims, his former girlfriend Hannah Rhoden, 19, shared custody of their daughter, authorities said. The eight victims -- who ranged in age from 16 to 44 -- were found shot to death at four crime scenes. DeWine said they now believe the suspects spent months studying their victims' schedules and the physical layouts of the Rhoden family homes. Authorities in the past suspected multiple attackers who were familiar with the victims' homes and the surrounding area about 70 miles south of Columbus. DeWine's office has said one of the victims, Christopher Rhoden Sr., had "a large-scale marijuana growing operation," leading some to speculate the killings were drug-related or even connected to Mexican drug cartels. Marijuana grow operations are not uncommon in that part of the state, however, authorities said. Those who died included Kenneth Rhoden, 44; his brother Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; and Christopher's ex-wife Dana Rhoden, 37. Also killed were three of the Rhodens' children, Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Hanna May Rhoden, 19. Other victims were Hannah Gilley, 20, who was engaged to Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, and Gary Rhoden, 38, a cousin. Authorities said the arrests were the culmination of more than 130 interviews and 550 tips in a case that at least 20 law enforcement agencies worked on. Piketon is a town of about 2,000 residents, 90 miles east of Cincinnati.[SEP]Years after eight family members were slaughtered in their southern Ohio homes, multiple arrests have been made in connection to the gruesome killings. On Tuesday, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader and Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk announced that four people — a husband, wife, and their two adult sons — were taken into custody for their alleged roles with the murders. “We promised the victims’ families that the day would come when this case would be solved, and today is that day,” DeWine said in a statement. “The indictments allege that these suspects developed a calculated plan to execute the victims in the middle of the night and then carefully cover their tracks. Their alleged plan was sophisticated, but not sophisticated enough for our team of investigators and prosecutors.” On April 22, 2016, seven adults and one teenage boy — all members of the Rhoden family — were fatally shot in four separate properties in rural Piketon, Ohio. Three of those properties contained marijuana-growing operations, and at the time, DeWine described the killings as a “preplanned execution” and a “sophisticated operation.” • Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. The victims were shot execution-style and all but one had been shot multiple times and showed signs of bruising, the Hamilton County Coroner said in a report previously obtained by PEOPLE. The murders became the largest and most complex homicide investigation in the state’s history, remaining unsolved until Tuesday when George “Billy” Wagner III, 47, Angela Wagner, 48, George Wagner IV, 27, and Edward “Jake” Wagner, 26, of South Webster were all taken into custody. RELATED: Little Boy Who Survived 2016 Massacre That Killed 8 Relatives Still Has Nightmares: ‘Fear Has Him’ The Wagners have each been charged with eight counts of aggravated murder — one count for each victim who was murdered — with death penalty specifications, according to the news release. They also face a total of nine other charges including conspiracy, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, unlawful possession of a dangerous ordinance, and aggravated burglary. In addition, Edward “Jake” Wagner was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. According to the news release, Jake allegedly had sex with Hanna May Rhoden when she was 15 and he was 20. The two conceived a child together, a daughter, who was staying with the Wagners on the night of the murders. Angela Wagner’s mother, Rita Newcomb, and Billy Wagner’s mother, Fredericka Wagner, were also arrested on Tuesday. Both face felony charges for obstructing justice and perjury for allegedly misleading investigators over the course of the investigation. Officials explained that the Wagners were indicted this week by a Pike County grand jury, less than a week after Ohio authorities found a homemade firearm suppressor that the suspects allegedly built and used in the murders. “This, along with a great deal of other investigative findings, led us to these indictments and arrests today,” DeWine explained. “The Wagners were friends with the Rhodens and had been for years. They knew the layouts of the Rhodens’ homes, and they knew the victims’ routines. It is our belief that the suspects used this knowledge to meticulously plan these horrendous, cold-blooded murders.” RELATED VIDEO: The Story Behind the Story: Eight Members of the Same Family Murdered in Ohio Despite the long road it took to get here, both Sheriff Reader and Prosecutor Junk echoed DeWine’s earlier comments and said they were determined to stick to their word, solve the case and serve justice for the victims and their loved ones. “I made a promise to the victims’ families and to the people of Pike County that we would solve this, no matter how long it took,” Reader said. “It’s been tough to be patient at times, but we kept our eye on the goal – justice for the victims.” Junk added, “We have never stopped working to find the people responsible for these savage crimes, and our sympathies continue to be with the victims’ families. There is still a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we will continue to fight to hold these alleged killers accountable.”[SEP]Four members of a family have been arrested in connection with the brutal, execution-style murders of seven adults and one teen at a home in Ohio in 2016, the state’s attorney general announced Tuesday. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said the suspects, a husband, wife, and their two adult sons, were arrested in connection with the Rhoden family murders. “Following an extensive investigation by my office’s #OhioBCI and the #PikeCounty Sheriff’s Office, we have arrested four people accused of the murders of eight people in Pike County on April 22, 2016,” DeWine said on Twitter. The Ohio A.G. release identified the suspects as George “Billy” Wagner III, Angela Wagner, and sons George Wagner IV and Edward “Jake” Wagner. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.[SEP]An Ohio family carefully studied the habits of members of another family -- learning their routines, the layouts of their homes, and where they slept -- before planning a deadly massacre that stunned a rural town, a prosecutor said Tuesday. The eight victims -- who ranged in age from 16 to 44 -- were found shot to death at four crime scenes in and around the small town of Piketon on April 22, 2016. At one crime scene, police found a 4-day-old baby lying next to his slain mother. That child, along with a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old, survived the killings. The suspects "spent months planning the crime," Ohio State Attorney General Mike DeWine said. But they made mistakes, DeWine said. More than two years later, authorities arrested four members of the Wagner family on Tuesday in connection with killing the members of the Rhoden family. Two grandmothers of the Wagner family were also charged in the alleged cover-up of the crime, DeWine said. He declined to identify a motive, but said custody of a child "plays a role in this case." "We believe that the Wagners conspired together to develop an elaborate plan to kill the eight victims under the cover of darkness and then carefully cover up their tracks," DeWine said. "The killers knew the territory and meticulously planned these murders." George "Billy" Wagner III, 47; his wife Angela Wagner, 48; and their sons, George Wagner IV, 27; and Edward "Jake" Wagner, 26, were indicted on Monday by a Pike County grand jury on several offenses, including eight counts each of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications. Authorities: One suspect had fathered a child with victims Edward "Jake" Wagner was also charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor for having sexual contact with one victim, Hanna May Rhoden when she was 15 years old and he was 20 years old, prosecutors said. He is the father of Hanna May Rhoden's older daughter, who was staying with the Wagners on the night of the killings, prosecutors said. The Wagners are also accused of forging custody documents, prosecutors said. "There certainly was obsession with custody, obsession with control of children," DeWine said. The Wagners are from South Webster, about a 30-mile drive southeast of Piketon, the community in and around where the killings happened. Angela Wagner's mother, Rita Newcomb, 65, of South Webster, Ohio, and Wagner's mother-in-law, Fredericka Wagner, 76, of Lucasville, also face felony charges of obstructing justice and perjury for allegedly misleading investigators, prosecutors said. The six are in custody in Ohio and Kentucky, authorities said. In addition to Hanna May Rhoden, 19, those who died included Kenneth Rhoden, 44; his brother Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; and Christopher's ex-wife Dana Rhoden, 37. Also killed were three of the Rhodens' children, Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20, and Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16. Other victims were Hannah Gilley, 20, who was engaged to Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, and Gary Rhoden, 38, a cousin. Piketon is a town of about 2,000 residents, about 80 miles east of Cincinnati. There were no witnesses to the shooting but the suspects left traces, authorities said. "They left a trail: The parts to build a silencer, the forged documents, the cameras, cell phones -- all that they tampered with, and the lies," Pike County Sheriff Charles S. Reader told reporters. At request of prosecutors, a judge formed an investigative grand jury in July to meet regularly to examine evidence collected and gather additional evidence, according to DeWine. Investigators discovered a key piece of evidence on October 30, the attorney general said. Since 2016, investigators conducted more than 500 interviews and followed more than 1,100 leads during the investigation, which took them to 10 states, including Alaska. The Wagners lived in Alaska before recently moving back to Pike County, the attorney general said. The Wagners had been "the prime suspects for some time," DeWine said, though he declined to say when the family was identified as suspects. "We promised that the day would come when arrests would be made in the Pike County massacres," said DeWine, who won the governor's race last week. "Today is that day."[SEP]Six family members are under arrest in connection to the murder of another family. Eight members of the Rhoden family were killed in their home in 2016. Four members of the Wagner family are charged with aggravated murder, and two others are accused of helping cover it up. Investigators say the family conspired to kill the Rhoden family over the custody of a young child.[SEP]Investigators in Ohio revealed Tuesday that the brutal murders of eight family members in Pike County two years ago might be linked to a custody dispute between the now-deceased family and another family, four of whom were indicted by a grand jury on Monday. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said at a news conference that while a motive in the Rhoden family murders isn’t fully clear, an indictment suggests that an "obsession with custody" of a young child played a role in the slayings. DeWine — he said the case is "the most bizarre story I have ever seen in being involved in law enforcement" — announced earlier Tuesday that George "Billy" Wagner III, Angela Wagner and sons George Wagner IV and Edward "Jake" Wagner were arrested in the “Pike County massacres.” Edward was once the boyfriend of one of the victims, 19-year-old Hanna Rhoden. The two shared custody of their daughter at the time of the killings. The four suspects are believed to have thoroughly planned out the murders. DeWine alleged that the Wagners “conspired together to kill eight victims under the cover of darkness, and then covered their tracks.” The victims were identified as 40-year-old Christopher Rhoden; his ex-wife, 37-year-old Dana Rhoden; their three children, 20-year-old Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 16-year-old Christopher Jr., and 19-year-old Hanna; Frankie Rhoden's fiancée, 20-year-old Hannah Gilley; Christopher Rhoden Sr.'s brother, 44-year-old Kenneth Rhoden; and a cousin, 38-year-old Gary Rhoden. Hanna Rhoden's days-old baby girl, another baby and a young child were unharmed. The Wagners allegedly spent months planning the murders, studying the Rhoden family’s habits and the layouts of their homes, DeWine said. He said the four suspects then tampered with evidence such as the victims’ cellphones and surveillance cameras on their properties to cover-up the slayings. They knew the territory in Piketon, roughly 70 miles south of Columbus, and “meticulously planned these horrendous murders,” the attorney general told reporters Tuesday afternoon. It appeared some of them were killed as they slept, including Hanna Rhoden, who was in bed with her newborn nearby, authorities said. The child, Hannah Gilley's 6-month-old baby and another small child weren't hurt. A coroner said all but one of the victims were shot more than once, including two people shot five times and one shot nine times. Some also had bruising, consistent with the first 911 caller's description of two victims appearing to have been beaten. The coroner's report didn't specify which victims had which wounds. Two other people – Billy Wagner’s mother, Fredericka, and Angela Wagner’s mother, Rita Newcomb – were also arrested in connection with the case on allegations they aided in the cover-up and misled investigating authorities. DeWine said there is "absolutely no evidence" that anyone else was involved. The four murder suspects were each charged with eight counts of aggravated murder – one count for each person killed – each with death penalty specifications. The Wagner family was also charged with conspiracy, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with evidence, aggravated burglary, and forgery for allegedly forging child custody documents, among others. FLASHBACK: TIPS SOUGHT ON 4 PEOPLE, INCLUDING VICTIM'S EX, IN RHODEN FAMILY KILLINGS Their lawyer, John Clark, said the Wagner family — who lived in Peebles in southern Ohio at the time of the killings but later moved to Alaska — look forward to their day in court so they can clear their names and await the day "when the true culprits will be discovered and brought to justice for this terrible tragedy." Since April 2016, investigators from more than 20 law enforcement agencies scrambled to determine who targeted the Rhoden family and why. They conducted over 130 interviews and processed over 100 pieces of evidence and 550 tips. Authorities said marijuana growing operations were found at three of the four crime scenes. That's not uncommon in this corner of Appalachia but stoked rumors that the slayings were related to drugs, one of many theories on possible motives that percolated in public locally. Fox News’ Travis Fedschun and Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.[SEP]Attorney general says suspects could face death penalty if convicted in 2016 slayings of 8 family members in rural Ohio WAVERLY, Ohio (AP) — Attorney general says suspects could face death penalty if convicted in 2016 slayings of 8 family members in rural Ohio.[SEP]LANCASTER – Lancaster Police are searching for two suspects involved in an October 13th burglary in the 100 block of E. King Street who were caught on surveillance cameras. The suspects made entry through a rear window to an apartment on an upper floor. The suspects took household items and electronics. They exited through the front door and out onto E. King Street. Pictures of the suspects can be seen below. Anyone with information on the case or who knows the identity of the suspects is asked to contact Lancaster Police Detective Hickey at 717-735-3344 or Lancaster Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-322-1913. Callers may remain anonymous and do not have to give their names.[SEP]Kogi State Police Command said it had arrested two robbery suspects in Ganaja area of Lokoja, the state capital. The command’s spokesman, DSP William Aya,who confirmed the arrest, said in Lokoja on Wednesday that the suspects were arrested during a robbery operation. Aya said that the police received a tip off from people who sighted the suspects while robbing their victims at gun point. “Acting on this information, operatives attached to Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Kogi State led by its Commander, DSP Babagana Bukar, promptly swung into action and arrested the duo while other members escaped,” Aya said in a statement. The police spokesman said that the suspects had confessed to the crime. He said that one locally made pistol, one live cartridge and one red unregistered Motobi Motorcycle were among the items recovered from them. The police spokesman said that efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of gang.

Four suspects have been arrested for the murders of eight members of a family in 2016. Police believe custody of a child plays a role in this case. One of the suspects has a child with one of the victims.

Montreal man convicted of terrorism in Michigan airport stabbing Witnesses saw Amor Ftouhi attack Lt. Jeff Neville at the Flint airport and wrestled him to the ground.[SEP]FILE PHOTO: Amor Ftouhi, arrested in connection with the stabbing of a police officer at Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan, is pictured in this undated handout photo obtained by Reuters June 29, 2017. FBI/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo (Reuters) - A man accused of stabbing a police officer at a Michigan airport last year was convicted in U.S. federal court on Tuesday of charges including terrorism, a court official said. A jury in Flint, Michigan, found Amor Ftouhi guilty on charges of committing an act of violence at an international airport, interference with airport security and committing an act of terrorism, the court said. Ftouhi's defense did not present a case and the jury took just more than an hour to reach its verdict, the court said. Ftouhi had pleaded not guilty and the trial began last week in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The defendant's lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sentencing is set for March 7. Ftouhi, who holds dual Tunisian-Canadian citizenship, faces up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for each count. U.S. District Judge Matthew Leitman, who presided over the trial, will impose sentencing. Ftouhi was originally charged last year with violence at an international airport for stabbing Jeff Neville, an officer at the Bishop International Airport in Flint, in the neck, authorities said. In March, a federal grand jury indicted Ftouhi on a terrorism charge stemming from the attack. Federal prosecutors said that on June 21, 2017, Ftouhi approached Neville at the airport and stabbed him, shouting: "Allahu Akbar (God is greatest)," and referencing killings in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. After his arrest, Ftouhi told officials he was a 'soldier of Allah' and subscribed to the ideology of al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, prosecutors said. Ftouhi legally entered the United States from Lake Champlain, New York, on June 16 before making his way to Flint, the FBI said. Officials said Ftouhi targeted a city with an international airport, but declined to say why Flint was chosen. "They rendered the correct verdict in my eyes," Neville, the police officer who was stabbed, told reporters, adding the verdict gave him some peace. "I would rather be working at the airport right now," said Neville, who is trying to pursue a career in real estate. "I really liked my job and it really pains me that I'm not going to be able to do that anymore."[SEP]"Amor M. Ftouhi, 51, of Quebec, Canada, was found guilty of three crimes, including an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, in conjunction with an attack on a Bishop Airport officer in Flint, Michigan on June 21, 2017," the release said on Tuesday. On the day of the incident, according to the release, Ftouhi stabbed the police officer in the neck twice while referring to killings in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan while yelling "Allahu Akbar." After his arrest, Ftouhi told law enforcement that he subscribed to the ideology of Al Qaeda and planned to kill other police officers in the airport after stealing the victim's gun. Before the attack, Ftouhi had conducted online research of US gun laws before travelling to Michigan where he was unsuccessful in repeated attempts to buy a firearm.[SEP]FLINT, Mich. - A man charged in connection to a terrorist attack at Flint's Bishop International Airport has been found guilty by a jury on all charges. Amor Ftouhi faced charges including committing an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries. An airport police officer was stabbed in his neck with a serrated hunting knife. The government said Ftouhi's plan was to stab the officer, get the cop's gun and shoot others inside the airport. That officer, Lt. Jeff Neville, testified during the trial. He said he was attacked in June 2017 with a "Rambo knife," comparing its large size to the knife used by Sylvester Stallone's John Rambo character in the 1982 movie "First Blood." He said he fell to his hands and knees at Flint's Bishop Airport. "I was watching this puddle of blood underneath me that was spreading and I just remember how weird that was. ... I felt like if I laid down on my back, I might not get back up," Neville testified on the third day of trial. Ftouhi, a Tunisian who was living in Montreal, legally drove into the U.S. at Champlain, New York, and arrived in Flint five days later. Airport police Chief Chris Miller said he jumped on Ftouhi and tried to handcuff him. "He said, 'Allahu Akbar. You have killed people in Afghanistan, and you have killed people in Iraq,'" Miller testified. "That's not something that you normally hear every day. It's distinctive in my mind. We were fighting. There was a lot of blood." Neville no longer works at the airport. "It's something that you never forget because you can't feel half of your face," Neville said of the aftermath. "Even sleeping is different." Copyright 2018 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[SEP]A Tunisian man living in Montreal who drove to Flint’s Bishop Airport and stabbed an airport police officer has been convicted of terrorism and other crimes in federal court. Amor Ftouhi attacked Lt. Jeff Neville at the Flint airport in June of 2017. Neville was seriously injured, but survived. Ftouhi was convicted of three crimes on Tuesday. Investigators said Ftouhi’s plan was to stab Neville , take his gun and shoot people in the airport. He had driven to Flint five days after entering the U.S. by way of the entry point in Champlain, New York. He tried to buy a gun at a gun show, but failed, instead purchasing a large knife.[SEP]FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A man who drove to Michigan from Montreal and stabbed an airport police officer has been convicted of terrorism and other crimes. It was a slam dunk for federal prosecutors: Witnesses saw Amor Ftouhi attack Lt. Jeff Neville at the Flint airport and wrestled him to the ground. Ftouhi was convicted of three crimes Tuesday. He’s a Tunisian who was living in Montreal at the time of the June 2017 stabbing. Investigators say Ftouhi wanted to stab Neville , take his gun and start shooting people in the airport. He legally drove into the U.S. at Champlain, New York, and arrived in Flint five days later. He tried but failed to buy a gun at a gun show and instead bought a large knife.[SEP]A native of Tunisia who was living in Canada was convicted Tuesday of an act of terrorism for the stabbing of a police officer at the international airport in Flint, Michigan. Amor Ftouhi, who faces a maximum of life in prison, was convicted by a jury after only an hour of deliberation, WXYZ-TV reported. He allegedly entered Bishop International Airport on June 20, 2017, walked up to Lt. Jeff Neville and stabbed him with a knife while yelling “Allahu Akhbar.” Often mistranslated “God is great,” the phrase is Arabic for “Allah is the greatest,” or “Allah is supreme” over all other gods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Ftouhi entered the U.S. from Canada on June 16, 2017. After unsuccessfully attempting to purchase a gun, he bought a knife, the station reported. Ftouhi told law-enforcement agents after the attack he was a “soldier of Allah” who followed al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. Robert Spencer, director of Jihad Watch, noted the case received very little establishment media attention, possibly “because it is such a quintessential example of jihad.” Ftouhi not only screamed “Allahu akbar” as he stabbed the officer, he struck him in the neck, Spencer pointed out, as commanded in Quran 47:4. MLive reported one of the agents who interrogated Ftouhi, FBI Special Agent Shadi Elreda, said Ftouhi told him “his mission was to kill a United States government employee.” “His mission was to kill and be killed. He said his mission was not over. He said he would have a better chance of success and enter into heaven,” Elreda testified. “He said they needed to act against the enemies of Allah. He blamed the United States government for their support of Israel.” The FBI agent said Ftouhi cried because he failed. The MLive report said Ftouhi told investigators he visited a few mosques in Flint before heading to the airport. Spencer, noting 72 jihad terrorists have come to the U.S. from the countries listed in President Trump’s initial immigration ban, presented examples of other Muslim immigrants who have killed: • Somali Muslim migrant Mohammad Barry in February 2016 stabbed multiple patrons at a restaurant owned by an Israeli Arab Christian; • Ahmad Khan Rahami, an Afghan Muslim migrant, in September 2016 set off bombs in New York City and New Jersey; • Arcan Cetin, a Turkish Muslim migrant, in September 2016 murdered five people in a mall in Burlington, Washington; • Dahir Adan, another Somali Muslim migrant, in October 2016 stabbed mall shoppers in St. Cloud while screaming “Allahu akbar”; • And Abdul Razak Artan, another Somali Muslim migrant, in November 2016 injured nine people with car and knife attacks at Ohio State University.[SEP]A Montreal man who told investigators that his mission was “to kill and be killed” was convicted of terrorism and other crimes Tuesday in the stabbing of a Michigan airport officer. READ MORE: Terrorism investigation launched after Canadian Amor Ftouhi accused of stabbing Michigan cop in neck Federal prosecutors had an easy time persuading jurors: Witnesses wrestled Amor Ftouhi to the ground after seeing him attack Lt. Jeff Neville at the Flint airport in June 2017. Ftouhi, 53, was convicted of three charges. A native of Tunisia, he also had Canadian citizenship and was living in Montreal at the time of the attack. “This isn’t a mystery. He was caught right there. He has the knife in his hand,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Cathleen Corken told jurors. WATCH: Montreal man accused in Flint airport stabbing says it was ‘his mission’ Investigators say Ftouhi wanted to stab Neville, seize his gun and shoot people in the airport. He legally drove into the U.S. at Champlain, N.Y., and arrived in Flint five days later. He tried unsuccessfully to buy a gun at a gun show and instead bought a large knife. Witnesses said he yelled, “Allahu Akbar” – God is great – during the attack. Neville survived but has lost feeling in part of his face as a result of being stabbed in the neck. He no longer works at the airport. READ MORE: Terrorism investigation launched after Canadian Amor Ftouhi accused of stabbing Michigan cop in neck “This is what a Muslim is born for,” Ftouhi said in a handwritten note to his wife that was found in his apartment. FBI agent Shadi Elreda told jurors about his interview with Ftouhi after his arrest. He said Ftouhi was upset that Neville might survive. “His mission was to kill and be killed. He said his mission was not over,” Elreda testified. Ftouhi’s lawyers didn’t offer an opening statement at trial and didn’t call any witnesses. In her closing argument, attorney Joan Morgan said Ftouhi was unstable and believed it would be easier to be killed by police in the United States than in Canada. WATCH: Stabbed officer in Flint airport attack was millimeters from death “He was a person who was absolutely looking for a way out,” she said. Neville described the attack in testimony last week. “I was watching this puddle of blood underneath me that was spreading and I just remember how weird that was. … I felt like if I laid down on my back, I might not get back up,” he said. Airport police Chief Chris Miller said he jumped on Ftouhi and tried to handcuff him. “He said, ‘Allahu Akbar. You have killed people in Afghanistan, and you have killed people in Iraq,”‘ Miller testified.[SEP]FLINT, Mich. — A Montreal man who told investigators that his "mission was to kill and be killed" was convicted of terrorism and other crimes Tuesday in the stabbing of a Michigan airport officer. It was a slam dunk for federal prosecutors: Witnesses saw Amor Ftouhi attack Lt. Jeff Neville at the Flint airport in June 2017 and wrestled him to the ground. Ftouhi, 53, was convicted of three crimes. He's a native of Tunisia who was living in Montreal at the time of the stabbing. "This isn't a mystery. He was caught right there. He has the knife in his hand," Assistant U.S. Attorney Cathleen Corken told jurors. Investigators say Ftouhi wanted to stab Neville , take his gun and start shooting people in the airport. He legally drove into the U.S. at Champlain, New York, and arrived in Flint five days later. He tried but failed to buy a gun at a gun show and instead bought a large knife. Witnesses said he yelled, "Allahu akbar" — God is great — during the attack. Neville survived but has lost feeling in part of his face as a result of being stabbed in the neck. "This is what a Muslim is born for," Ftouhi said in a handwritten note to his wife that was found in his apartment. FBI agent Shadi Elreda told jurors about his interview with Ftouhi after his arrest. He said Ftouhi was upset that Neville might survive. "His mission was to kill and be killed. He said his mission was not over," Elreda testified. Ftouhi's lawyers didn't offer an opening statement at trial and didn't call any witnesses. In her closing argument, attorney Joan Morgan said Ftouhi was unstable and believed it would be easier to be killed by police in the U.S. than in Canada. "He was a person who was absolutely looking for a way out," she said.[SEP]A Tunisian man who told investigators that his 'mission was to kill and be killed' has been convicted of terrorism and other crimes in the stabbing of an airport officer. It was a slam dunk for federal prosecutors: Witnesses saw Amor Ftouhi attack Lt. Jeff Neville at the Flint, Michigan airport in June 2017 and wrestled him to the ground. On Tuesday, the jury convicted Ftouhi, 53, of three crimes after deliberating for just over an hour. The father of three is a native of Tunisia who was living in Montreal at the time of the stabbing. 'This isn't a mystery. He was caught right there. He has the knife in his hand,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Cathleen Corken told jurors. Investigators say Ftouhi wanted to stab Neville, take his gun and start shooting people in the airport. He legally drove into the U.S. at Champlain, New York, and arrived in Flint five days later. He tried but failed to buy a gun at a gun show and instead bought a large knife. Witnesses said he yelled, 'Allahu akbar' - God is great - during the attack before stabbing Neville with an eight-inch serrated knife. 'He further exclaimed something similar to, 'You have killed people in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and we are all going to die,'' according to a court affidavit submitted by authorities. Investigators said Ftouhi had unsuccessfully tried to purchase a gun while in the United States, prior to the attack. Neville survived but has lost feeling in part of his face as a result of being stabbed in the neck. 'This is what a Muslim is born for,' Ftouhi said in a handwritten note to his wife that was found in his apartment. FBI agent Shadi Elreda told jurors about his interview with Ftouhi after his arrest. He said Ftouhi was upset that Neville might survive. 'His mission was to kill and be killed. He said his mission was not over,' Elreda testified. Ftouhi's lawyers didn't offer an opening statement at trial and didn't call any witnesses. In her closing argument, attorney Joan Morgan said Ftouhi was unstable and believed it would be easier to be killed by police in the U.S. than in Canada. 'He was a person who was absolutely looking for a way out,' she said. Ftouhi was convicted of committing an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, committing an act of violence at an international airport and interference with airport security. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The attack came amid a wave of jihadist-inspired attacks in Europe, but investigators have said there is no information to suggest that the Flint stabbing was part of a wider plot.

Amor Ftouhi is found guilty of three federal charges in the stabbing of an airport police officer last year in Flint, Michigan.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the president's order to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections, opening the way for lawmakers to vote on whether to accept his earlier ouster of the prime minister. Sri Lanka has been in a political crisis since Oct. 26, when President Maithripala Sirisena suddenly fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. A day later Sirisena suspended Parliament, apparently to allow Rajapaksa time to gather support among lawmakers. But Wickremesinghe insisted his firing was unconstitutional. He refused to vacate his official residence and demanded that Parliament be summoned to prove he still has support. Amid mounting pressure from political opponents and foreign governments, including the United States and the EU, to convene Parliament to end the impasse, Sirisena announced the legislature would return this Wednesday. But last Friday, he instead dissolved Parliament and called new elections in January. Opponents said Sirisena made the decision because Rajapaksa had been unable to assemble a majority. The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to suspend the president's order until Dec. 7, after 13 political parties and individuals filed petitions with the court calling the dissolution unconstitutional. It said it would hold hearings on the case starting Dec. 4. Wickremesinghe welcomed the ruling, calling it "a resounding victory for people's franchise." "The powers of the president are limited. The president must act according to the law, he is not above the law," he said. Hours after the court's ruling, the office of the speaker of Parliament announced that lawmakers would meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Wickremesinghe said he was ready to "show that we have the majority and that we are the legitimate government of Sri Lanka." After the ruling was announced, hundreds of opposition supporters who had gathered near the court cheered and lit firecrackers. Jehan Perera, executive director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, said the order "proves that Sri Lanka's judiciary is independent and that they were prepared to give a judgment that went against the executive." "That's a positive indication of the continuing strength of Sri Lanka's institutions and their independence which is important to the sustenance of our democracy," he added. Tensions had been building between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of economic reforms introduced by the prime minister. Sirisena has also accused Wickremesinghe and another Cabinet member of plotting to assassinate him, a charge Wickremesinghe has repeatedly denied. Sirisena was also critical of investigations into military personnel who were accused of human rights violations during Sri Lanka's 25-year civil war against a Tamil separatist group, which ended in 2009. Rajapaksa, who was president from 2005 to 2015, is considered a hero by some in Sri Lanka's ethnic Sinhalese majority for ending the war by crushing the Tamil rebels. But his time in power was marred by allegations of war-time atrocities, corruption and nepotism.[SEP]Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has overturned President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to dissolve parliament and ordered a halt to preparations for snap elections. The decision on Tuesday was the latest in a protracted political crisis triggered by Sirisena's surprise move on October 26 to fire Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replace him with Mahinda Rajapaksa, a controversial former president. Both men, however, are claiming the post of prime minister, and Wickremesinghe is holed up in the official residence and refusing to step down. The 225-member parliament is expected to reconvene on Wednesday and go ahead with a vote to test if Rajapaksa is able to summon a majority in the legislature. "I will go to parliament tomorrow and we will show we are the legitimate government of Sri Lanka," Wickremesinghe said at the Temple Trees residence. The people have won their first victory. Let's go forward and re-establish the sovereignty of the people in our beloved country. — Ranil Wickremesinghe (@RW_UNP) November 13, 2018 For its part, Rajapaksa's party said they will appeal to a fuller bench of the highest court in the land to reconsider Tuesday's decision. The former president's son, a lawmaker, took to Twitter to deny speculation that his father was planning to step down and avoid facing a vote in parliament. Rumors circulating that PM @PresRajapaksa resigning is completely false. We will all attend parliament tomorrow. The decision by the Supreme Court is an interim order to consider the case and “not” the final decision. — Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) November 13, 2018 The ruling came a day after political parties petitioned the court against the president's decision last week to dissolve parliament and call for a snap vote on January 5. The three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice Nalin Perera read out the landmark decision to a packed court in the capital, Colombo. The court also said it would give a final verdict on the petition on December 7, after three more days of hearings. "[This decision] effectively says the court believes ... the president has acted unconstitutionally in dissolving the parliament," Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith, reporting from Colombo, said. Crucial vote expected Sajith Premadasa, a legislator with Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP), hailed the ruling. "We have an independent and just judiciary, correctly interpreting the provisions and stipulations in the constitution and binding by all the legal norms to promote democracy, justice and fairness," he told Al Jazeera. The UNP had "vehemently" rejected the sacking of the parliament and demanded a House vote to prove that the deposed leader still had the backing of at least 113 legislators. {articleGUID} Hours before Sirisena dissolved parliament on Friday, his coalition had admitted it could not muster enough parliamentary support for the president's nominee. "If that vote goes ahead in parliament on Wednesday, and Wickremesinghe is reconfirmed prime minister, that means Rajapaksa is out after having been appointed very controversially by the president," Al Jazeera's Smith said. "It is a very difficult time, particularly for the president," he added. Security at the courtroom was beefed up ahead of the hearing as authorities feared clashes between rival supporters. However, there was no trouble and supporters of Sirisena left peacefully when it was known that parliament had been restored. The United States, European Union and other members of the international community have raised concerns over the crisis. Only China has recognised the appointment of Rajapaksa, who during his decade as president until 2015 relied heavily on Beijing for diplomatic and financial support.[SEP]Less than three weeks after Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena shocked the country by sacking his prime minister and suspending Parliament, his bid to consolidate power has hit a major speed bump: the country's Supreme Court. Justices have overturned Sirisena's recent decree dissolving Parliament, and issued an order of their own, staying the president's attempt to replace sitting lawmakers through snap elections. Sirisena had wanted to push forward with snap elections in January, but court is putting that plan on hold for now while it considers the constitutional arguments against the move. Tuesday's ruling met with celebrations from Sirisena's critics, who say the president violated Sri Lanka's constitution with his actions in recent weeks, beginning with the abrupt firing of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe late last month. "The people have won their first victory," tweeted Wickremesinghe, who has refused to cede his position to the man Sirisena appointed to replace him, former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. "Let's go forward and re-establish the sovereignty of the people in our beloved country." The court's decision marks the latest — but certainly not the last — chapter in a saga that opened with a bang on Oct. 26. That was when Sirisena ended his increasingly rocky political alliance with Wickremesinghe by ousting the minister and replacing him within hours with Rajapaksa. Then, amid protest from lawmakers, Sirisena proceeded to suspend Parliament, as well. The following weeks did little to ease the chaos at Sri Lanka's highest levels of power. The president and his newly appointed prime minister alleged an assassination plot by Wickremesinghe's cabinet members, while elsewhere in the capital, Colombo, deadly clashes broke out between protesters and the security detail for one of those cabinet members. And on Friday, after briefly flirting with the prospect of reconvening Parliament, the president reversed course again and said it would be dissolved entirely and replaced in a snap vote scheduled for January. He and Rajapaksa cast the decision as a bid to avoid bloodshed in an increasingly unstable political environment. "As leaders, it is our responsibility and obligation to give the people the opportunity to voice their opinions on the future of [Sri Lanka]," said Rajapaksa, who has been dogged by allegations of war crimes and corruption connected to his decade in power. "A general election will truly establish the will of the people and make way for a stable country." Now, that plan is on hold until the Supreme Court considers it further early next month — and lawmakers expect Parliament to reconvene Wednesday. And they expect to call the parliamentary procedure Sirisena apparently wished to avoid when he suspended the body the first time: a vote to determine whether the president has the backing of a majority of lawmakers. Members of Wickremesinghe's party, the United National Party, have repeatedly asserted that Sirisena does not. "It is difficult for me to remain silent in the face of severe violation of democratic principles," the speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, said in a statement released last week. And he noted that he will not accept Sirisena's recent moves without the support of most lawmakers, adding: "I am compelled to accept the status that existed previously until such time that they and the new political alliance prove their majority in Parliament."[SEP]COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended a presidential decree to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections, heightening the country’s political uncertainty. Later on Tuesday, Karu Jayasuriya, the speaker of Parliament said the legislature would reconvene at 10 a.m. (0430 GMT) on Wednesday, as originally scheduled. Sri Lanka has been in political turmoil since President Maithripala Sirisena fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last month and appointed a pro-China former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his place. Sirisena, facing international pressure, reconvened parliament on Nov. 14, but on Friday, he suddenly dissolved it and ordered a general election for Jan. 5. But the Supreme Court, hearing petitions by supporters of Wickremesinghe, stayed the latest presidential orders until Dec. 7. It will decide then on the petitions challenging the decree. Sirisena did not have the authority to sack parliament, according to a constitutional amendment passed in 2015, the petitioners said. Sirisena’s supporters said the coalition government had failed to deliver on its promises and an election was the best course The instability in the island nation of 21 million people has raised concerns for its economy, already expanding at its slowest pace in more than a decade. Wickremesinghe welcomed the court’s decision as being in line with the constitution. “You can’t play football with the constitution and you can’t bend the constitution as and how you want.” He said parliament should open on Wednesday, when he hoped to prove his majority.[SEP]In a major setback to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, the Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned his controversial decision to dissolve Parliament and ordered a halt to preparations for snap elections on January 5. A three-member bench, including country’s Chief Justice Nalin Perera, delivered its ruling after two days of deliberations on as many as 13 petitions against and five for Sirisena’s November 9 decision to dissolve Parliament, nearly two years before its term was to end. Sirisena dissolved Parliament after it became clear that he lacked support from lawmakers to install former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister following his October 26 sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe as premier. All petitions filed against Sirisena’s decision will be heard on December 4, 5 and 6, the apex court ruled, according to the opposition party officials attending the hearing held under tight security. Major political parties and an election commission member Ratnajeevan Hoole on Monday dragged Sirisena to the Supreme Court, challenging his move of dissolving Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end. Sirisena dissolved Parliament and ordered snap election on January 5, plunging the country into an unprecedented political and constitutional crises. Rajapaksa needed the support of minimum 113 parliamentarians in the 225-member House to prove his majority. Wickremesinghe has maintained that his sacking by Sirisena was unconstitutional and illegal and was still the prime minister. Sirisena on Sunday stoutly defended his move to dissolve Parliament, saying it was taken to prevent clashes among rival lawmakers. He said there were reports that politicians would clash during the floor test, which was due on November 14. At the hearing Tuesday, Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, on behalf of the state, justified Sirisena’s action, saying the powers of the President are clear and unambiguous as provided for in the Constitution and the announcement of the dissolution of Parliament was done by the President in accordance with the Constitution. He pleaded for the dismissal of all petitions and said the President is empowered to dissolve Parliament. Rajapaksa, 72, who ruled Lanka for a nearly decade from 2005, was unexpectedly defeated by his deputy Sirisena in the presidential election held in January 2015 with the support from Wickremesinghe’s UNP. However, the power-sharing arrangement between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe became increasingly tenuous on several policy matters, especially on issues like the economy and security. And subsequently, Sirisena abruptly ousted Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa.— PTI[SEP]Colombo: In a major setback to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, the Supreme Court Tuesday overturned his controversial decision to dissolve Parliament and ordered a halt to preparations for snap elections on January 5. A three-member bench, including country's chief justice Nalin Perera, delivered its ruling after two days of deliberations on as many as 13 petitions against and five for Sirisena's November 9 decision to dissolve Parliament, nearly two years before the its term was to end. Sirisena dissolved Parliament after it became clear that he lacked support from lawmakers to instal former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime Minister following his October 26 sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe as premier. All petitions filed against Sirisena's decision will be heard on December 4, 5 and 6, the apex court ruled, according to the opposition party officials attending the hearing held under tight security. Major political parties and an election commission member Ratnajeevan Hoole on Monday dragged Sirisena to the Supreme Court, challenging his move of dissolving Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end. Sirisena dissolved Parliament and ordered snap election on January 5, plunging the country's into an unprecedented political and constitutional crises. Rajapaksa needed the support of minimum 113 parliamentarians in the 225-member House to prove his majority. Wickremesinghe has maintained that his sacking by Sirisena was unconstitutional and illegal and was still the prime minister. Sirisena on Sunday stoutly defended his move to dissolve Parliament, saying it was taken to prevent clashes among rival lawmakers. He said there were reports that politicians would clash during the floor test, which was due on November 14. At the hearing Tuesday, Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, on behalf of the state, justified Sirisena's action, saying the powers of the President are clear and unambiguous as provided for in the Constitution and the announcement of the dissolution of Parliament was done by the President in accordance with the Constitution. He pleaded for the dismissal of all petitions and said the President is empowered to dissolve Parliament. Rajapaksa, 72, who ruled Lanka for a nearly decade from 2005, was unexpectedly defeated by his deputy Sirisena in the presidential election held in January 2015 with the support from Wickremesinghe's UNP. However, the power-sharing arrangement between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe became increasingly tenuous on several policy matters, especially on issues like the economy and security. And subsequently, Sirisena abruptly ousted Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa.[SEP]COLOMBO, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended a presidential decree to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections, heightening the country's political uncertainty. Later on Tuesday, Karu Jayasuriya, the speaker of Parliament said the legislature would reconvene at 10 a.m. (0430 GMT) on Wednesday, as originally scheduled. Sri Lanka has been in political turmoil since President Maithripala Sirisena fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last month and appointed a pro-China former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his place. Sirisena, facing international pressure, reconvened parliament on Nov. 14, but on Friday, he suddenly dissolved it and ordered a general election for Jan. 5. But the Supreme Court, hearing petitions by supporters of Wickremesinghe, stayed the latest presidential orders until Dec. 7. It will decide then on the petitions challenging the decree. Sirisena did not have the authority to sack parliament, according to a constitutional amendment passed in 2015, the petitioners said. Sirisena's supporters said the coalition government had failed to deliver on its promises and an election was the best course. Sirisena soon after the court decision met the security council in a bid to maintain peace and order, local media said. Nimal Siripala, an ally of Sirisena said an application will be made to the Supreme Court to refer the matter for the five-member full bench. The Tuesday verdict was decided by a three-member bench. The instability in the island nation of 21 million people has raised concerns for its economy, already expanding at its slowest pace in more than a decade. Wickremesinghe welcomed the court's decision as being in line with the constitution. "You can't play football with the constitution and you can't bend the constitution as and how you want." He said parliament should open on Wednesday, when he hoped to prove his majority. However, Sirisena's allies said a vote of confidence cannot be decided by the parliament speaker. "This is just an interim order and not the final decision," Faiszer Musthapha, a lawmaker and legal expert told reporters. "The process is you have to bring a no confidence motion against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and defeat." (Reporting by Shihar Aneez Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Matthew Mpoke Bigg)[SEP]Sri Lanka’s supreme court has suspended a presidential decree dissolving parliament and ruled that an earlier call to summon MPs is valid. The court decided that the decree issued last Friday by President Maithripala Sirisena to dissolve the legislature will be suspended until December 7. On October 26, Mr Sirisena abruptly ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. A day later he suspended parliament, apparently to allow Mr Rajapaksa time to gather support among MPs. He later ordered parliament to return on Wednesday, but then dissolved it last Friday and called for new elections in January. Mr Wickremesinghe has refused to step down. Opposition MP Ajith Perera said parliament will meet on Wednesday to prove that Mr Wickremesinghe has the support of a majority of his colleagues.[SEP]Sri Lanka' Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned President Maithripala Sirisena's dissolution of Parliament and ordered a halt to preparations for snap elections on January 5, party officials present at the hearing said. A three-member bench including the country's chief justice Nalin Perera delivered its ruling after two days of deliberations on as many as 13 petitions against and five for Sirisena's November 9 decision to dissolve Parliament. All petitions filed against Sirisena's decision will be heard on December 4, 5 and 6, the apex court ruled. The petitioners included a member of the independent election commission Ratnajeevan Hoole. Sirisena dissolved Parliament and ordered snap election on January 5, plunging the country's into an unprecedented political and constitutional crises since October 26 when he sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Sri Lankan President had appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as the country’s new Prime Minister. But Wickremesinghe and other constitutional experts questioned the validity of the decision and have refused to accept Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister, plunging the Sri Lankan into a political crisis.[SEP]Less than three weeks after Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena shocked the country by sacking his prime minister and suspending Parliament, his bid to consolidate power has hit a major speed bump: the country’s Supreme Court. Justices have overturned Sirisena’s recent decree dissolving Parliament, and issued an order of their own, staying the president’s attempt to replace sitting lawmakers through snap elections. Sirisena had wanted to push forward with snap elections in January, but court is putting that plan on hold for now while it considers the constitutional arguments against the move. Tuesday’s ruling met with celebrations from Sirisena’s critics, who say the president violated Sri Lanka’s constitution with his actions in recent weeks, beginning with the abrupt firing of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe late last month. “The people have won their first victory,” tweeted Wickremesinghe, who has refused to cede his position to the man Sirisena appointed to replace him, former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. “Let’s go forward and re-establish the sovereignty of the people in our beloved country.” The court’s decision marks the latest — but certainly not the last — chapter in a saga that opened with a bang on Oct. 26. That was when Sirisena ended his increasingly rocky political alliance with Wickremesinghe by ousting the minister and replacing him within hours with Rajapaksa. Then, amid protest from lawmakers, Sirisena proceeded to suspend Parliament, as well. The following weeks did little to ease the chaos at Sri Lanka’s highest levels of power. The president and his newly appointed prime minister alleged an assassination plot by Wickremesinghe’s cabinet members, while elsewhere in the capital, Colombo, deadly clashes broke out between protesters and the security detail for one of those cabinet members. And on Friday, after briefly flirting with the prospect of reconvening Parliament, the president reversed course again and said it would be dissolved entirely and replaced in a snap vote scheduled for January. He and Rajapaksa cast the decision as a bid to avoid bloodshed in an increasingly unstable political environment. “As leaders, it is our responsibility and obligation to give the people the opportunity to voice their opinions on the future of [Sri Lanka],” said Rajapaksa, who has been dogged by allegations of war crimes and corruption connected to his decade in power. “A general election will truly establish the will of the people and make way for a stable country.” Now, that plan is on hold until the Supreme Court considers it further early next month — and lawmakers expect Parliament to reconvene Wednesday. And they expect to call the parliamentary procedure Sirisena apparently wished to avoid when he suspended the body the first time: a vote to determine whether the president has the backing of a majority of lawmakers. Members of Wickremesinghe’s party, the United National Party, have repeatedly asserted that Sirisena does not. “It is difficult for me to remain silent in the face of severe violation of democratic principles,” the speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, said in a statement released last week. And he noted that he will not accept Sirisena’s recent moves without the support of most lawmakers, adding: “I am compelled to accept the status that existed previously until such time that they and the new political alliance prove their majority in Parliament.”

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka reverses President Maithripala Sirisena's decisions to dissolve Parliament and to hold snap elections.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press Calgary will redefine its reputation as a winter sport powerhouse in the aftermath of a vote rejecting a bid for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In a city where recreational and international athletes ski, board and skate in the legacy venues from the 1988 Winter Olympics, the results of a plebiscite indicate that distinction doesn't warrant bidding for another games. In the non-binding plebiscite, just under 40 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot, and 56 per cent cast a dissenting one. A Calgary city council that was nervous and divided over bidding is expected to scuttle it Monday. Calgary, along with the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., made Canada a player in the international sport community. If a city synonymous with a successful games legacy doesn't want to them again, what Canadian city ever will? "Sport in a positive sense really brings a country together," Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith said Wednesday. "I think it's just a part of us, our humanity. So I suspect we will see another bid from Canada." Calgary's mayor does not want to pursue a bid for 2030, which the United States intends to do with either Salt Lake City or Denver. "There's geopolitical reasons where it would probably be pretty unlikely Canada would successful in a bid for that particular games," Mayor Naheed Nenshi explained. "There's a bunch of people who were basically saving up their powder for a 2030 bid, leaving 2026 relatively open. "If Calgarians have spoken in this way for 2026, and we respect that decision, why would it be any different four years from now? It would take a lot to convince me that we'd want to put the community through this again for 2030." Yves Hamelin relocated from Quebec, where he was head of the national short-track speedskating team, to Calgary in 2014 to oversee the Olympic Oval. His son Charles is a three-time gold medallist in short-track. A sport system that would have been shaped by a home games on the horizon now must adjust expectations and plans, he said. "For a while, there's definitely going to be an impact," Hamelin said. "Will this remove our appetite to do what's right, to support our community, support youth and the athletes that come out of this sport development? The motivation will always stay. "We will always keep our eyes on making the sport system as best we can with what we have to do that. The games were just a tool, a leverage to really give an edge to our system. We're going to have to be more creative I would say." Looking at Calgary through a sport lens, it is a city of facilities more than three decades old. McMahon Stadium is almost 60 years old. While a new stadium and NHL arena weren't part of the proposed draft plan, McMahon and the Saddledome were promised an overhaul. The oval, the sliding track and slopes of WinSport and the Canmore Nordic Centre that produce Olympic and Paralympic medallists need to be maintained, said Own The Podium chief executive officer Anne Merklinger. "We need to develop a Plan B," she said. "These facilities are critical to our continued success in winter sport longer term." A $500-million renewal of Calgary's '88 legacies was one piece of a proposed bid. The other was economic revitalization of a city that has a commercial vacancy rate of 25 per cent, in a province that desperately wants pipelines built to the coast to get a competitive price for its oil. Calgary was one of many North American cities that made a pitch for Amazon's second headquarters, but didn't make the shortlist. The proposed draft plan from the Calgary 2026 bid corporation asked Calgarians to put in $390 million and said $4.4 billion in economic impact would come back to the city if it won the games. Kyle Shewfelt, an Olympic gold medallist in gymnastics at the 2004 Athens Games, is a business owner in Calgary operating his own gymnastics centre. For him, sport ranked second behind the economy when it came to what he thought another Winter Games would do for the city. "My question now is, if 56 per cent of Calgarians didn't want this, what do they want?" he asked. "This was about a catalyst for our city to move forward. "We're in a place right now where we're boom and bust because of oil and gas and that's all we wait for. I want to diversify this economy. I want us to pursue a big challenge. I want to be a part of that." Calgary 2026 waged a public relations battle on social media that Vancouver's bid group did not face pre-Twitter. Board chair Scott Hutcheson, a commercial real estate entrepreneur, is concerned that those with the power to greenlight mega-projects won't be able to stomach the social media berating. "What biggest concern having gone through this process is how are we going to get big projects done in our community?" Hutcheson said. "How are we going to get our community to agree to do big projects? How are we going to get our politicians to have the strength, with social media as strong as it is, to say 'yes' for big projects? "I empathize with politicians because they're up against a different wave of negativity. Who is going to step up and lead these projects? And at what social risk?" The International Olympic Committee is left with two of the three cities it invited to be candidates for 2026: Stockholm and Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. IOC executive Christophe Dubi visited Calgary multiple times touting a low-risk, high-reward scenario should Calgary get the games. The IOC, like Calgary 2026, did not convince the majority of voters. "It comes as no surprise following the political discussions and uncertainties right up until the last few days," the IOC said in a statement. "It is disappointing that the arguments about the sporting, social and long-term benefits of hosting the Olympic Games did not sway the vote." ---- With files from Canadian Press sports reporter Gregory Strong.[SEP]A Calgarian arrives to vote in a plebiscite on whether the city should proceed with a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY — The results are in, and a majority of Calgarians are saying “no thanks” to a potential bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The city conducted a non-binding plebiscite today to gauge public opinion on whether or not there is sufficient interest to submit a bid. Out of 767,734 eligible voters in Calgary, 56 per cent (171,750 of 304,774 total votes) said they don’t want the city to throw in its hat for the games. “We really wanted this dream for Calgary to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Mary Moran, CEO of Calgary 2026. “We learned so much about our community. We learned so much about each other.” The plebiscite’s result is non-binding on city council, which has the final say on whether Calgary will proceed with a bid. The results won’t be declared official until Friday. Council is expected to address the results Monday. By comparison, 387,306 voted in the 2017 civic election for a 58.1 per cent turnout. Calgary was the host city of the 1988 Winter Olympics. The venues from those games formed the foundation of a 2026 bid, for which Calgarians were asked to state their appetite. The plebiscite’s result is non-binding on city council, which has the final say on whether Calgary will proceed with a bid. The results won’t be declared official until Friday. Council is expected to address the results Monday. While a firm ‘no’ vote Tuesday was definitive in terms of what action a nervous council will take, a ‘yes’ vote was still subject to the decision of a group of people divided on 2026. A bid was nearly scuttled before the plebiscite. Ten votes out of 15 on council were required Oct. 31 for a motion to pass on abandoning the plebiscite. Eight voted in favour of that motion which would have generated a cascade of other motions shutting down the bid. Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi voted for continuing with a bid, saying the proposed host draft plan and budget is a good deal for the city. The Alberta government made its funding of a bid conditional on a plebiscite and provided $2 million to pay for it. “We fought many, many obstacles along the way,” said Scott Hutcheson, board chair of Calgary 2026. “We had three government partners that stepped up with billions of dollars to invest in this dream.” Elections Calgary told voters to not wear Olympic-themed clothing to polling stations as that would be considered campaigning. Returning officer Laura Kennedy said some people were asked to adjust their attire before voting. The bid corporation Calgary 2026, led Moran and Hutcheson — a commercial real estate entrepreneur and former national-team skier — was mandated to “promote a responsible bid.” Calgary 2026 was hampered by the tardiness of what the cost-sharing agreement would be between the federal and provincial governments and the city. An agreement that was supposed to be ready for public consumption mid-August wasn’t clear until Oct. 30. In the estimated $5.1 billion price tag to host the games, the public investment ask was $2.875 billion and down from an initial $3 billion. The province committed $700 million, while the Canadian government said it would provide $1.45 billion. The city of Calgary was asked for $390 million, and was credited with the $150 million already committed to improving an area that would be a games hub. While no order of government offered to be a guarantor against debut, Calgary 2026 built $1.1 billion in contingency funds into its budget to mitigate financial risk. The International Olympic Committee invited Calgary, Stockholm and a joint Italian bid from Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo to candidate cities for 2026. The IOC will accept bids in early January. The election of the host city is in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June.[SEP]CALGARY -- Calgarians have headed to the polls to declare whether they want the city to host a second Winter Games. The question "are you for or are you against hosting the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games?" was posed to them Tuesday in a plebiscite to help determine whether the city should move ahead with a bid. As of 1 p.m., nearly 131,000 votes were cast, including through advance polls and mail-in ballots. There were 767,734 eligible voters in Calgary on the 2018 list that was provided by the province of Alberta. Returning officer Laura Kennedy said plebiscite-day voting was on track to match the turnout for the 2017 municipal election. "It's going very, very well," Kennedy said. "I'm very pleased with how well it's going." Calgary was the host city of the 1988 Winter Olympics. The legacy venues from those games form the foundation of a potential second bid, which would now include the Paralympic Games. While the result of the vote is non-binding on a city council that has the final say, the vote will influence council's decision. The plebiscite was a condition of the Alberta government providing money for a bid. The provincial government is paying for the $2-million cost of the plebiscite. In an estimated $5.1-billion total price tag to host the games, the public investment asked of three orders of government is $2.875 billion. What a cost-sharing agreement between the federal, provincial and municipal governments would look like wasn't clear to the public until Oct. 31, which was less than two weeks before the vote. The city has been asked to contribute $390 million, while the province has committed $700 million and the Canadian government $1.45 billion. The bid corporation Calgary 2026 says games revenues will cover the remaining cost. No order of government is providing guarantees against cost overruns, but Calgary 2026 has built $1.1 billion in contingency funds into its draft hosting plan. Calgary 2026's plans includes $502 million to upgrade legacy venues from the '88 Games to get them Olympic-read again. The two new sport venues proposed are an indoor fieldhouse and a 5,000-seat ice arena. No new stadium or NHL-sized arena is in the draft host plan, although there have been overtures between the city and the Calgary Flames to re-start talks on a new arena. Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi feels the current proposed plan and financial agreement is good for the city and thus supports a bid. "I really want people to make their decision based on what's before us because we know that's solid and that's certain and even that, I think leads to lots of benefits for Calgary," the mayor said. The International Olympic Committee will accept bids from 2026 candidate cities in January. The election of the host city is in June.[SEP]Residents to choose in a non-binding vote on Tuesday whether they want city to bid on 2026 Olympics An artist’s rendering of a refurbished McMahon Stadium in Calgary is seen in this handout image. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation) Scott Hutcheson carries a volunteer medal from the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary with him these days. His parents, Bob and Jane, relocated from Ontario for a month to donate their time at the Nakiska alpine ski venue during those games. Bob recently sent the medal to his son, who hopes Calgarians feel its value as much as he does when they vote Tuesday in a plebiscite on whether or not they want the city to bid on the 2026 Winter Games. “That’s what it’s about,” Hutcheson said Monday. “Giving your spirit, giving your all to a community. That’s what he did.” The board chair of the bid corporation Calgary 2026 feels the plebiscite will be a close race between those who want to host another Winter Games eight years from now, and those who don’t. “I think it’s a jump ball,” Hutcheson said. “Depends who votes, depends who gets out.” READ MORE: The cost of Calgary hosting the 2026 Winter Games The result may be non-binding on a Calgary city council that has the final say on a bid, but it will heavily influence its decision. “Vote, regardless of where you stand,” Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi said. ”Let’s make sure there’s a really high voter turnout so there’s an unambiguous decision on this. “I hope people vote ‘yes’. I think there are many, many great reasons to keep this process going and to not let this opportunity pass us by.” The cauldron atop the Calgary Tower began igniting last week at 8:26 p.m. for 20 minutes 26 seconds. The tower is a symbol of the ‘88 Olympics, as the relay torch was a replica of it. The tower is an asset in Hutcheson’s commercial real estate company, but the former national alpine team skier says he’s not using it to ignite ‘88 nostalgia in Calgarians to favour another bid. The pro-bid Calgary Hotel Association is sponsoring the lighting of the tower in the run-up to the plebiscite, as well as cauldrons at WinSport and the Olympic Oval, he said. It became easier to do that, Hutcheson said, after the proposed cost-sharing agreement between the three orders of government became public less than two weeks ago. “The bid is understood. That momentum is exciting, but it’s late,” he acknowledged. “If it were done three months ago, it would have left way more time to talk about what this means from an investment standpoint.” In an estimated $5.1 billion total price tag, the federal government has committed $1.45 billion and the province $700 million. The city’s share would be $390 million. Hutcheson wants Calgarians to see it as a small investment for a big return. “I never expected this small an investment to work from our city at $390 million,” Hutcheson said. “I never expected they’d put that little an amount in and we’d be able to get the federal government and the province both in for a remarkable number that works. This deal to me is way better than what I would have pencilled in months ago. “I respect that not everybody is going to want to vote ‘yes.’ But I would ask those that vote ‘no’ to make sure they have another community project in their mind that will make a difference. ‘No’ doesn’t build a community.” Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter[SEP](Reuters) - Calgary’s hopes of hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics were dashed on Tuesday after citizens voted resoundingly against the western Canadian city’s plan to bid for the Games. More than 56 percent of voters said ‘No’ in the plebiscite, a surprisingly lopsided margin after both sides had expected a close call in the city which hosted the 1988 Winter Games. After witnessing a high turnout, with more than 304,000 ballots cast in a reflection of the interest in the poll, the unofficial results had 132,832 opting ‘For’ and 171,750 ‘Against’ Calgary making a bid to host the Games. The outcome was another blow for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has seen interest in hosting Games fall dramatically as the size and cost of staging the multi-sport event has sky-rocketed. The Calgary vote leaves Sweden’s Stockholm and an Italian bid involving Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo as the only candidates left in the race. Swiss city Sion, Japan’s Sapporo and Graz in Austria all withdrew earlier this year, while Turkey’s Erzurum was last month eliminated from the bidding process by the IOC, which will elect the winning bid in June 2019. “It (result) comes as no surprise following the political discussions and uncertainties right up until the last few days,” the IOC said in a statement. “We understand the disappointment of all those involved in the candidature... who fought so hard for the Olympic project. “It is disappointing that the arguments about the sporting, social and long-term benefits of hosting the Olympic Games did not sway the vote. “We will continue our cooperation with Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo and Stockholm in order to ensure the best possible host for the Olympic Winter Games 2026.” BID FINISHEDWhile the Calgary vote was non-binding, the 15-member city council is expected to respect the outcome when it meets on Monday to decide whether to move the bid process forward. Calgary 2026 and Canada Olympic Committee (COC) acknowledged the people had spoken, with the former saying it would wrap up operations in the next few weeks. “We know that this was very divisive, but it’s time to put that behind us,” Calgary bid chief Mary Moran told supporters. “This all began with great promise: a chance to bring the Olympics and Paralympics home to Calgary and Canada. “A chance to re-establish our city on the world stage — put us back on the map... It all made sense, and it still makes sense.” However, those in the ‘No’ camp were jubilant at the result. “I think that people had enough of the establishment, telling us what to do, what to think,” local councillor Sean Chu said. “They tell you to spend millions, billions, it’s good for you.” The COC, meanwhile, said the vote represented a missed “unique opportunity” to bring a renewed vision to the Games. “The Canadian Olympic Committee respects the results of tonight’s plebiscite in Calgary, but we are disappointed with the outcome,” COC said in the statement. “The opportunity to welcome the world to Canada, where people can experience the uniting power of the Games and within our nation’s culture of peace and inclusion, would have offered countless benefits to all.” Beijing is hosting the next Winter Games in 2022.[SEP]Are you for or against the city hosting the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games? That is the question being posed to Calgarians on Tuesday as citizens will head to the numerous polling stations dotted across the city to have their say. The polls for the Olympic plebiscite are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. READ MORE: Everything you need to know to vote in Calgary’s Olympic plebiscite While the result of the plebiscite is considered non-binding, the provincial government has put strict a contingency on its potential financial contribution: there’s no money without a yes vote. No matter the result of the plebiscite Tuesday night, Calgary City Councill will still have to vote on how it will move forward — whether it continues to pursue a bid or chooses to put an end to the years-long process. WATCH: Linda Olsen talks to Global National reporter Eric Sorensen, who covered the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, about the differences between then and now. Calgary, Stockholm, Sweden and a joint bid from Milan and Cortina d’Amprezzo, Italy, were named by the International Olympic Committee as candidate cities to bid for the Games. The IOC will select its winning city in June. Global News will have up-to-the-minute details on developments throughout the day. Tune in live to Global Calgary’s special online coverage of Decision 2026 here, starting at 10 p.m.[SEP]The question “are you for or are you against hosting the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games?” was to be posed to them Tuesday in a plebiscite to help determine whether the city should move ahead with a bid. Tabetha Boot carries lawn signs during a rally in support of the 2026 Winter Olympic bid in Calgary, Alta., on November 5, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Calgarians head to the polls to declare whether they want the city to host a second Winter Games. The question ”are you for or are you against hosting the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games?” was to be posed to them Tuesday in a plebiscite to help determine whether the city should move ahead with a bid. Calgary was the host city of the 1988 Winter Olympics. The legacy venues from those games form the foundation of a potential second bid, which would now include the Paralympic Games. While the result of the vote is non-binding on a city council that has the final say, the vote will influence council’s decision. The plebiscite was a condition of the Alberta government providing money for a bid. The provincial government is paying for the $2-million cost of the plebiscite. In an estimated $5.1-billion total price tag to host the games, the public investment asked of three orders of government is $2.875 billion. What a cost-sharing agreement between the federal, provincial and municipal governments would look like wasn’t clear to the public until Oct. 31, which was less than two weeks before the vote. The city has been asked to contribute $390 million, while the province has committed $700 million and the Canadian government $1.45 billion. The bid corporation Calgary 2026 says games revenues will cover the remaining cost. No order of government is providing guarantees against cost overruns, but Calgary 2026 has built $1.1 billion in contingency funds into its draft hosting plan. Calgary 2026’s plans includes $502 million to upgrade legacy venues from the ‘88 Games to get them Olympic-read again. The two new sport venues proposed are an indoor fieldhouse and a 5,000-seat ice arena. No new stadium or NHL-sized arena is in the draft host plan, although there have been overtures between the city and the Calgary Flames to re-start talks on a new arena. Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi feels the current proposed plan and financial agreement is good for the city and thus supports a bid. “I really want people to make their decision based on what’s before us because we know that’s solid and that’s certain and even that, I think leads to lots of benefits for Calgary,” the mayor said. The International Olympic Committee will accept bids from 2026 candidate cities in January. The election of the host city is in June. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.[SEP]Calgary, along with the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., made Canada a player in the international sport community Dave King, left, Linda King, right, son and daughter of Frank King, wearing 1988 Calgary Olympic jackets react to the results of a plebiscite on whether the city should proceed with a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) Calgary will redefine its reputation as a winter sport powerhouse in the aftermath of a vote rejecting a bid for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In a city where recreational, domestic and international athletes ski, board and skate in the legacy venues from the 1988 Winter Olympics, the results of a plebiscite indicated that distinction doesn’t warrant bidding for another games. In the non-binding plebiscite, just under 40 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot, and 56 per cent cast a dissenting one. A Calgary city council that was nervous and divided over bidding is expected to scuttle it Monday. Calgary, along with the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., made Canada a player in the international sport community. If a city synonymous with a successful games legacy doesn’t want to them again, what Canadian city ever will? “Sport in a positive sense really brings a country together,” Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith said Wednesday. “I think it’s just a part of us, our humanity. So I suspect we will see another bid from Canada.” But the chair of Calgary’s bid corporation doesn’t think the city should immediately shift its focus to chasing the 2030 Winter Games. Scott Hutcheson says the city needs to decompress and re-assess. “I don’t think its 2030,” Hutcheson said. “I think you’ve got to put your pencil down for seven years. You don’t put it down for three years. “Use the work later, but you can’t put a city through this every four years. My view would be let it go, accept the result, move on and come back with a bid maybe in seven years.” READ MORE: Olympic and Paralympic committees disappointed, but respectful of Calgary’s vote Yves Hamelin relocated from Quebec, where he was head of the national short-track speedskating team, to Calgary in 2014 to oversee the Olympic Oval. His son Charles is a three-time gold medallist in short-track. A sport system that would have been shaped by a home games on the horizon now must adjust expectations and plans, he said. “For a while, there’s definitely going to be an impact,” Hamelin said. “Will this remove our appetite to do what’s right, to support our community, support youth and the athletes that come out of this sport development? The motivation will always stay. “We will always keep our eyes on making the sport system as best we can with what we have to do that. The games were just a tool, a leverage to really give an edge to our system. We’re going to have to be more creative I would say.” Looking at Calgary through a sport lens, it is a city of facilities more than three decades old. WATCH: Calgarians say no to 2026 Olympic bid While a new stadium and NHL arena weren’t part of the proposed draft plan, McMahon Stadium and the Saddledome were promised an overhaul. A $500-million renewal of Calgary’s ‘88 legacies was one piece of a proposed bid. The other was economic revitalization of a city that has a commercial vacancy rate of 25 per cent in a province that desperately wants pipelines built to the coast to get a competitive price for its oil. Calgary was one of many North American cities that made a pitch for Amazon’s second headquarters, but didn’t make the shortlist. Calgary 2026’s proposed draft plan asked Calgarians to put in $390 million and said $4.4 billion would come back to the city if it won the games. Kyle Shewfelt, an Olympic gold medallist in gymnasitcs at the 2004 Athens Games, is a business owner in Calgary operating his own gymnastics centre. For him, sport ranked second behind the economy when it came to what he thought a Winter Games would do for the city. “My question now is, if 56 per cent of Calgarians didn’t want this, what do they want?” he asked. “This was about a catalyst for our city to move forward. “We’re in a place right now where we’re boom and bust because of oil and gas and that’s all we wait for. I want to diversity this economy. I want us to pursue a big challenge. I want to be a part of that.” The International Olympic Committee is left with two of the three cities it invited to be candidates for 2026: Stockhom and Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. IOC executive Christophe Dubi visited Calgary multiple times touting a low-risk, high-reward scenario should Calgary get the games. The IOC, like Calgary 2026, did not convince the majority of voters Tuesday. “It comes as no surprise following the political discussions and uncertainties right up until the last few days,” the IOC said in a statement. “It is disappointing that the arguments about the sporting, social and long-term benefits of hosting the Olympic Games did not sway the vote.” Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.[SEP]CALGARY – Scott Hutcheson carries a volunteer medal from the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary with him these days. His parents Bob and Jane relocated from Ontario for a month to donate their time at the Nakiska alpine ski venue during those games. Bob recently sent the medal to his son, who hopes Calgarians feel its value as much as he does when they vote Tuesday in a plebiscite on whether or not they want the city to bid on the 2026 Winter Games. “That’s what it’s about,” Hutcheson said Monday. “Giving your spirit, giving your all to a community. That’s what he did.” The board chair of the bid corporation Calgary 2026 feels the plebiscite will be a close race between those who want to host another Winter Games eight years from now, and those who don’t. “I think it’s a jump ball,” Hutcheson said. “Depends who votes, depends who gets out.” The result may be non-binding on a Calgary city council that has the final say on a bid, but it will heavily influence its decision. “Vote, regardless of where you stand,” Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi said. “Let’s make sure there’s a really high voter turnout so there’s an unambiguous decision on this. “I hope people vote ‘yes’. I think there are many, many great reasons to keep this process going and to not let this opportunity pass us by.” The cauldron atop the Calgary Tower began igniting last week at 8:26 p.m. for 20 minutes 26 seconds. The tower is a symbol of the ’88 Olympics, as the relay torch was a replica of it. The tower is an asset in Hutcheson’s commercial real estate company, but the former national alpine team skier says he’s not using it to ignite ’88 nostalgia in Calgarians to favour another bid. The pro-bid Calgary Hotel Association is sponsoring the lighting of the tower in the run-up to the plebiscite, as well as cauldrons at WinSport and the Olympic Oval, he said. It became easier to do that, Hutcheson said, after the proposed cost-sharing agreement between the three orders of government became public less than two weeks ago. “The bid is understood. That momentum is exciting, but it’s late,” he acknowledged. “If it were done three months ago, it would have left way more time to talk about what this means from an investment standpoint.” In an estimated $5.1 billion total price tag, the federal government has committed $1.45 billion and the province $700 million. The city’s share would be $390 million. Hutcheson wants Calgarians to see it as a small investment for a big return. “I never expected this small an investment to work from our city at $390 million,” Hutcheson said. “I never expected they’d put that little an amount in and we’d be able to get the federal government and the province both in for a remarkable number that works. This deal to me is way better than what I would have pencilled in months ago. “I respect that not everybody is going to want to vote ‘yes.’ But I would ask those that vote ‘no’ to make sure they have another community project in their mind that will make a difference. ‘No’ doesn’t build a community.” No order of government has put up its hand to be a guarantor against debt. Calgary 2026 has built $1.1 billion in contingency funds into its proposed budget as insurance. “If Calgarians make a decision to move forward, 50 per cent plus one vote, I will be respecting that decision,” Coun. Evan Woolley said. “Each of our individual colleagues on council, because it is a non-binding decision, will have to make those decisions for themselves. “No means no. Yes means we’ve got a bunch of work to do. We will move forward on that basis, but I can tell you that without more certainty from our federal and provincial governments around guarantees and helping us mitigate these risks, the city of Calgary cannot carry some of those risks on our own.” Calgary 2026’s proposed draft plan earmarks $502 million towards upgrading the ’88 legacy venues, now over 30 years old. WinSport, formerly the Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA), is a non-profit organization that oversees much of the legacy. While the ’88 Games produced endowment funds to help pay for the continued operations and upgrades of venues such as the oval, the Canmore Nordic Centre and Canada Olympic Park, WinSport CEO Barry Heck says those facilities’ require a bigger investment to extend their lives. “There are the legacy facilities from eighty-eight, that have served Calgary so extremely well for 30 years, has put us on the map, as a world-leading winter sport Olympic city, but they’re end of life,” Heck said. “For us to keep delivering what we have for the next two or three generations, we need this renewal. Five hundred million is a lot of money, but it’s a fraction of what it would cost to rebuild these facilities.”[SEP]Out of 767,734 eligible voters, 304,774 voted and 171,750 said ”no.” Members of the “Yes” campaign react to the results of a plebiscite on whether the city of Calgary should proceed with a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. The results are in, and a majority of Calgarians are saying “no thanks” to a potential bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh A Calgary bid for the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games is destined to die after the majority of voters said ‘no’ to it. In a plebiscite asking citizens if they want to host a Winter Games again after the 1988 Winter Olympics in the city, 56.4 per cent of those who went to the polls cast a dissenting vote Tuesday. “I believed in what the Olympic Games could do for our community, for our province and for our country,” bid corporation chair Scott Hutcheson said. “I’m disappointed in the outcome, but I certainly respect the democratic process.” READ MORE: Olympic decision time for Calgaryians in 2026 plebiscite Out of 767,734 eligible voters, 304,774 voted and 171,750 said ”no.” “Today, I have to say, Calgarians won,” said Coun. Sean Chu, who was against a bid. The plebiscite’s result is non-binding on city council, which has the final say on whether Calgary proceeds with a bid. The results won’t be declared official until Friday. Council is expected to address the results Monday. A firm ‘no’ vote paves the way for a divided and nervous council to scuttle a bid. “I think it’s a very strong message,” said Daniel Gauld of the No Calgary Olympics organization. “I think city council is going to have to listen to that. “The provincial and federal funding will not be forthcoming with this decision today. I think it would be political suicide if they didn’t shut down this bid, so I expect we’ll be seeing that, hopefully.” Bid supporters and bid corporation Calgary 2026 people gathered at restaurant near the Saddledome to await the results Tuesday. Several athletes there were devastated when the result was announced. “I feel really heartbroken and disappointed,” said Helen Upperton, a silver medallist in bobsled. “I have a daughter who would be eight in 2026. I did this for her. My question to Calgary is now what? What is the big dream, what is the big idea?” A bid was nearly over before the plebiscite. Ten votes out of 15 on council were required Oct. 31 for a motion to pass on abandoning the plebiscite. Eight voted in favour of that motion which would have generated a cascade of other motions shutting down the bid. Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi voted for continuing with a bid, saying the proposed host draft plan and budget was a good deal for the city. The Alberta government made its funding of a bid conditional on a plebiscite and provided $2 million to pay for it. “Today was a success because Calgarians were given the opportunity to have their say on whether to proceed with an Olympic bid,” Alberta Minister of Culture and Recreation Ricardo Miranda said in a statement. “This decision was never an easy one. Calgarians were provided the information they needed to make an informed choice and we respect their decision.” Calgary 2026 was led by Mary Moran, who came from Calgary Economic Development, and Hutcheson, a commercial real estate entrepreneur and former national-team skier. Calgary 2026 was hampered by the tardiness of what the cost-sharing agreement would be between the federal and provincial governments and the city. An agreement that was supposed to be ready for public consumption mid-August wasn’t clear until Oct. 30. “I have to work with city council every day and have for the last nine years and getting governments aligned is always a big challenge,” Moran said. “I wish we did it sooner, but we did the best we could with what we were dealt.” “We always knew we had a short runway, but everybody knows we came out with a pretty solid budget on Sept. 11 and we always said a couple of numbers would change and they did. It’s just unfortunate it was complicated.” In the estimated $5.1 billion price tag to host the games, the public investment ask was $2.875 billion and down from an initial $3 billion. The province committed $700 million, while the Canadian government said it would provide $1.45 billion. The city of Calgary was asked for $390 million, and was credited with the $150 million already committed to improving an area that would be a games hub. While no order of government offered to be a guarantor against debt, Calgary 2026 built $1.1 billion in contingency funds into its budget to mitigate financial risk. “I think building a dream and articulating that with our social-media type of environment today and a populist movement makes it more challenging,” Hutcheson said. “With the right dream and with the right city and with the right program, the Olympics should bring lasting memories to a community and we weren’t able to do it this time.” The International Olympic Committee invited Calgary, Stockholm and a joint Italian bid from Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo to be candidate cities for 2026. The IOC will accept bids in early January. The election of the host city is in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Residents of the city of Calgary head to the polls to vote on a non-binding plebiscite to determine if the city should make a bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Page Content The City of Calgary Province of Alberta Friday, November 16, 2018 I am for Calgary hosting 132,832 (43.6%) I am against Calgary hosting 171,750 (56.4%) Total number ballots marked 304,774 Total number of eligible voters 767,734 ​​​Dated at The City of Calgary, in the Province of Alberta, the 16th day of November 2018. Laura M. Kennedy, Returning Officer Vote 2018 results by ward View the Vote 2018 results by voting station for each ward. Results data is also available in the Calgary Open Data portal. Vote 2018 results by ward [SEP]With nearly 57% of the county’s registered voters going to the polls, the unofficial results are in. Unofficial results of Elgin-related contested races: County Commissioners District 5 – Tom Borer 300, incumbent LeRoy Kerkman 276; District 18 School Board (top 3 will serve) – incumbent Lisa Welding 347, Todd Heithoff 336, Ron Bode 270, Luke Hinkle 255 and Janet Koinzan 221. Ag Society – For 1199 Against 1104 View the results here. The “unofficial” results of all races in Antelope Co.[SEP]Midterm elections have historically been particularly disappointing with regards to young voter turnout. But this year’s midterm turnout is far higher than typical, and SF State University student voters followed along with the trend. Students lined up all afternoon and into the night at the polling place on campus at the Seven Hills Conference Center. Alandra Cruz a pre-psychology major who couldn’t vote during the last election due to age restrictions said this time around, she was determined to make a difference. “I’m voting to help make change and to beat out the republicans,” said Cruz while waiting in line at the Seven Hills Conference center. Other students echoed Cruz’s determination to bring about change. “It’s the only way to make real change,” said Jarred Finch a sophomore English major at SF state. In 2014, young voters struggled to produce a 25 percent turnout, a historical low, according to U.S. census data. Back then, according to a UC Davis study, voter turnout among youths in california didn’t even reach the 10 percent margin. However, the past two years have seen a resurgence of registered voters across the country which has translated into an astounding revival of voter determination to do their part. Voter participation rates for this years midterm election more closely resembled those of a presidential year. While exact vote tallies won’t be available for several weeks, the preliminary data align with pre-election surveys, which reported a record number of young voters who said they would vote. Thirty-one percent of youth voters, defined as those aged between 18 and 29, cast ballots in the 2018 midterm elections. This is the highest turnout since before 1994, according to an early evaluation by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (Circle) at Tufts University. This year’s turnout is estimated to be at least 10 percent higher than the last midterm election in 2014 midterms. And in a number of states overall voter turnout reached record highs; states like Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota and a few other states had turnout rates over 60 percent according to the United States Elections Project. With current projections the U.S. could be on it’s way to recovering from the initial 17 percent plunge voter turnout took in 1974, and headed back towards its 48 percent peak in 1966. School administrators involved in raising student turnout have remained impartial choosing to advertised for voter registration and information on the ballot through the Government and Community Relations (GCR) website without advocation of a particular political affiliation. The efforts stem from from the need to cauterize the bleeding voter population which, until last year, had shown excessive declines in the U.S. since the 1960’s. “[GCR] sent out voter registration and ballot information via their website” said Ivan Natividad SF states public affairs and communication specialist. The importance of voter turnout cannot be overstated. Speaking at a Democratic National Committee earlier this year Obama emphasized exactly that. “Boil it down; if we don’t vote this democracy doesn’t work,” said former president Obama. A message that translated into record voter registration numbers and voter turnout numbers across the nation.

The unofficial results suggest the No vote is in the lead, and only a 40% voter turnout. Official results will be released Friday, November 16.

President Donald Trump is moving to replace his deputy national security adviser after she feuded with first lady Melania Trump, two sources familiar with the matter said, with a spokeswoman for the first lady leaving no doubt about where she stood on the matter. The first lady complained to the president that she was unhappy with how she was being treated by Mira Ricardel, a former Boeing Coexecutive who worked on the Trump presidential campaign and was picked by National Security Adviser John Bolton to be his deputy earlier this year, two sources told Reuters. "It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House," Grisham said. Sources said that Melania Trump explicitly asked the president to oust Ricardel after their dealings over the Africa trip "didn't go well." The other source said that Melania Trump felt that Ricardel tried to short-change the first lady in terms of U.S. government resources allocated to support her Africa tour. The sources did not elaborate on the clash over resources. The White House and the National Security Council (NSC) did not respond to requests for comment. Ricardel could not be reached for comment. She had a prominent place standing to Trump's right on Tuesday at a White House ceremony in the Roosevelt Room marking Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. A source familiar with Ricardel's White House performance said Ricardel also ran afoul of much of the NSC staff and "sort of alienated everyone" except for Bolton, the veteran conservative foreign policy expert who has been her immediate superior. Bolton is currently travelling in Asia with Vice President Mike Pence. One of the sources familiar with the White House intrigue said the tensions began building to a crisis point about a month ago and serious, but apparently unsuccessful, efforts were made to defuse the dispute. Ricardel was also believed to have had a dislike of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, current and former officials have told Reuters.[SEP]WASHINGTON – In an extraordinary step for a first lady, Melania Trump called for the dismissal of deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel. "It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she (Ricardel) no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House," said a statement from Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's communications director. The statement came minutes after a Diwali event hosted by President Donald Trump that Ricardel attended.[SEP]Amid reports of a clash between first lady Melania Trump and Deputy National Security Adviser Mira Ricardel, the former has made a public call for the latter’s ouster. According to Bloomberg, the first lady’s spokeswoman made it clear where Trump stands on the woman serving just below National Security Adviser John Bolton. “It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House,” Stephanie Grisham said. The statement came in response to reports that Trump had petitioned for Ricardel to be removed from the position. Reuters cited several sources familiar with the situation who said the relationship between Trump and Ricardel suffered irreparable damage during the first lady’s trip to Africa earlier this year. TRENDING: Fed Board Run by Obama Holdovers Is ‘Hemorrhaging’ Taxpayer Money on Legal Fees According to one source, communications leading up to that tour “didn’t go well.” Another individual described funding for the October trip as a central sticking point. Specifically, Trump reportedly felt that Ricardel’s office did not offer sufficient National Security Council resources for the mission. One source cited by Bloomberg suggested that Ricardel attempted to leverage government resources in an effort to join the group of people traveling with the first lady. Another Reuters source said Ricardel had “sort of alienated” almost everyone in the administration. Her lone ally, the source indicated, is Bolton, her boss. There is no indication President Donald Trump is prepared to act on his wife’s recommendation, but multiple reports this week point to additional staffing shakeups following Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ forced resignation Wednesday. As CNN reported, Trump hinted at administration departures during a news conference following the midterm elections. The president said there was “no great secret” in crafting the right Cabinet and team of support staff, promising transparency with reporters through the process. “As we make changes, we’ll sit down and talk to you about it,” he said. Trump noted that “a lot of administrations make changes after midterms” and advised that he is “very, very happy” with his Cabinet. RELATED: Report: Trump Eyeing New Chief of Staff After Kelly Clashes with Melania “We’re doing a great job,” he said, although he acknowledged future departures are likely. “People leave,” the president said. “They come in, they’re here. It’s a very exhausting job. I love doing it, I must tell you. But it’s exhausting for a lot of people.” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.[SEP]Melania Trump made headlines Tuesday when she publicly called for a staffer at the National Security Council to be fired. The First Lady has asked that Mira Ricardel to be let go from her government job. Ricardel is the top deputy for John Bolton, the National Security Adviser, according to Vox. Reports say that Melania Trump clashed with Ricardel during the First Lady’s well-publicized trip to Africa. Ricardel previous served in the George W. Bush Administration as deputy assistant secretary of defense. She was also part of Trump’s White House transition team. CNN is reporting that Donald Trump has decided to respond to Melania’s request; he will be firing Ricardel. Reportedly, she is being given time to clean out her desk. This is a best-case scenario for Melania, who does not have any official authority inside the White House. Being the First Lady is not an actual job, though some believe this person does have a role to play. The First Lady does not have official responsibilities, and throughout history these women have all navigated the role in their own way. While the President of the United States earns a salary, the First Lady does not, according to Metro. This is not a paid position, though the First Lady is given her own office space and staff within the White House. It’s also not an option to simply refuse to be First Lady. If your husband is elected President, you’re the First Lady and that’s it. Michelle Obama gave up a 6-figure salary to join husband Barack in the White House, and Hillary Clinton resigned as a partner in a law firm when Bill became POTUS. The unwritten rule for First Ladies is that they are the hostesses of the White House. But since the First Lady is not an actual job, the First Lady does not have the power to fire staffers. The best Melania can hope for is that Donald Trump will fire people based on her recommendation — and that seems to be happening right now. In a statement released Tuesday by the First Lady’s communications director, Melania said that Ricardel “no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House,” according to CNN. It’s a pretty strong move. Some media reports are saying that Ricardel has already been escorted off the White House grounds, though a senior official has denied these reports. Insiders say that Melania and Ricardel argued over seating on the plane during the First Lady’s trip to Africa. There was also a disagreement about how to use National Security Council resources.[SEP]On Tuesday afternoon, ABC’s John Santucci reported that office of first lady Melania Trump believed that Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, should lose her job. In a statement, Stephanie Grisham, Melanie Trump’s communication director, wrote, “It is the position of the Office of the first lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House.” It’s highly unusual, perhaps without precedent, for a first lady to try and exert this sort of sway over a national security official. Jennifer Jacobs of Bloomberg reports that Melania Trump and Ricardel quarrelled over seating arrangements in a trip the First Lady made to Africa. Later Tuesday afternoon, Wall Street Journal White House reporter Michael C. Bender tweeted that Ricardel did indeed appear to be out of a job: More than most administrations, the Trump White House has been characterized by court intrigue. As The New York Times recently reported, conflicts between Trump’s wife and his daughter sometimes take up the time of White House chief of staff, John Kelly, who is tasked with mediating between the two women. The newspaper described one such conflict, also related to Melania Trump’s Africa trip: The first lady’s office had asked West Wing officials to give her some space while she was in Africa so she could showcase the work she was doing, according to two people briefed on the discussion. There were widely distributed photographs of Mrs. Trump at several of the stops, including Accra, Ghana, where she was pictured cradling a small child. But two days later, Ivanka Trump posted on her Instagram feed a video filmed by the White House team that had a final image of her with a black child during a tour of storm-struck North Carolina. Someone in the West Wing noticed it, and flagged it for the White House chief of staff, John F. Kelly, who has privately described the Trump children as “playing government” and who was supposed to help manage the relationship between the two women’s offices, according to two people familiar with the conversation. Mr. Kelly discussed the video with Ms. Trump’s staff, according to two people familiar with the talks. A White House official disputed that Mr. Kelly had such a discussion.[SEP]President Donald Trump has reportedly said that Mira Ricardel will be fired from her role in the White House. The reports of the shake-up has come after a statement was released by Melania Trump’s spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham. According to CNN, Ms Grisham today said that the 43-year-old believes Mira Ricardel “no longer deserves the honour” of serving in the current White House. Reportedly, in response to a question about the First Lady seeking the government official's removal, she said: “It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House.” Earlier today, reports surfaced that Ms Ricardel, who is a top aide to John Bolton, could be replaced, just seven months after taking on her role. It came amid allegations that the aide and the First Lady may have feuded. Melania allegedly complained to the President, 72, saying she was unhappy with how she was treated by Ms Ricardel, according to two sources speaking to Reuters. Sources reportedly said Melania explicitly called for the ousting of the aide, after the pair’s dealings regarding her recent trip to Africa “didn’t go well”. Another source said Melania felt that Ms Ricardel had attempted to short-change her with the allocation of US government resources to support her tour. Meanwhile, CNN have reported that a White House official told them that Donald Trump confirmed she would be fired, but she has been given some time to “clear out her desk”. Express.co.uk has contacted a representative for Mira Ricardel, Melania Trump and Donald Trump. Despite the reports, Ms Ricardel was seen standing to the right of the President during a White House ceremony today, to mark Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Melania travelled to Africa last month for her first major solo tour as the First Lady of the United States of America. Her visit was in order to promote her Be Best campaign - which focuses on well-being for youth, and advocating against cyberbullying and drug use. This evening, Melania took to Twitter, to update fans on how she had spent her day. The First Lady posted a series of photos of herself at the White House, in view of her 11.2 million followers. In the snaps, she could be seen smiling as she greeted visitors. Beside the capture, she wrote: “On this World Kindness Day I had fun surprising visitors to the White House! “Thank you to all who come through and visit this magnificent home. #BeBest.” On Sunday, Melania was pictured attending a Remembrance Day service in Paris with her spouse. Melania Trump: Five facts about the USA’s First Lady Mum-of-one Melania can speak more languages than any other First Lady before her: English, French, German, Italian, Serbian and of course her mother tongue, Slovenian. This also makes her the only First Lady whose first language is not English. After Jacqueline Kennedy, Melania is the second First Lady who is a practising Catholic. She met Pope Francis as part of a foreign tour with her husband and stepdaughter Ivanka last year. Melania was a successful model, posing for Sports Illustrated, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and GQ. Her skills aren’t confined to print, and she appeared in a commercial for Aflac, an American insurance company, in 2005. Melania’s parents are Amalija Knavs and Viktor Knavs, and the couple live together in Washington. She has one sister, Ines, who is reported to live in New York and work as an artist. On May 7 2018, Melania launched her flagship campaign as First Lady, BE BEST, which The White House describes as “an awareness campaign focused entirely around the well-being of children”. There are three main strands to the initiative: well-being, social media, and opioid abuse.[SEP]WASHINGTON – In an extraordinary step for a first lady, Melania Trump called Tuesday for the dismissal of deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel, someone who a White House official said she'd never met. "It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she (Ricardel) no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House," said a statement from Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's communications director. The statement from Grisham came minutes after a Diwali event hosted by President Donald Trump that Ricardel attended. Two administration officials said Ricardel, whom National Security Adviser John Bolton appointed this year, has clashed with many staff members, not just the first lady. Ricardel argued with Melania Trump's staff over airplane seating for the first lady's recent trip to Africa, officials said. They accused Ricardel, who wound up not going to Africa, of spreading false stories about the incident. But, Tuesday evening a senior White House official told USA TODAY "Ricardel has never met the first lady." The official added Ricardel serves as one of the highest-ranking women in the administration. As of Tuesday afternoon, officials said that Ricardel has not been fired and still works at the White House. First ladies often lobby their husbands to take certain actions – perhaps most famously when Nancy Reagan urged President Ronald Reagan to dismiss chief of staff Donald Regan in 1987 – but they normally do it behind the scenes. It's unusual for a first lady to issue a public statement about an administration staff member. Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the National Security Council, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Bolton appointed Ricardel to be his deputy in March. She had been serving as an arms control undersecretary in the Commerce Department; she has previously worked in many other government positions at the State Department and in Congress. NBC News also reported that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly may be on the way out, in part because he has "gotten on the wrong side of Melania Trump" – a claim the first lady's office has denied. "Mrs. Trump has a very positive relationship with Chief Kelly and there have never been any issues between the two," Grisham said. President Donald Trump and Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Navtej Singh Sarna shake hands during a Diwali ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House Nov. 13, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Mira Ricardel stands second row, second from right.[SEP]WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is moving to replace his deputy national security adviser after she feuded with first lady Melania Trump, two sources familiar with the matter said, with a spokeswoman for the first lady leaving no doubt about where she stood on the matter. The first lady complained to the president that she was unhappy with how she was being treated by Mira Ricardel, a former Boeing Co (BA.N) executive who worked on the Trump presidential campaign and was picked by National Security Adviser John Bolton to be his deputy earlier this year, two sources told Reuters. “It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House,” Grisham said. Sources said that Melania Trump explicitly asked the president to oust Ricardel after their dealings over the Africa trip “didn’t go well.” The other source said that Melania Trump felt that Ricardel tried to short-change the first lady in terms of U.S. government resources allocated to support her Africa tour. The sources did not elaborate on the clash over resources. The White House and the National Security Council (NSC) did not respond to requests for comment. Ricardel could not be reached for comment. She had a prominent place standing to Trump’s right on Tuesday at a White House ceremony in the Roosevelt Room marking Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. A source familiar with Ricardel’s White House performance said Ricardel also ran afoul of much of the NSC staff and “sort of alienated everyone” except for Bolton, the veteran conservative foreign policy expert who has been her immediate superior. Bolton is currently traveling in Asia with Vice President Mike Pence. One of the sources familiar with the White House intrigue said the tensions began building to a crisis point about a month ago and serious, but apparently unsuccessful, efforts were made to defuse the dispute. Ricardel was also believed to have had a dislike of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, current and former officials have told Reuters.[SEP]WASHINGTON – In an extraordinary move, Melania Trump called publicly Tuesday for the deputy national security adviser to be dismissed. After reports circulated Tuesday that President Trump had decided to remove Mira Ricardel from her post at the National Security Council, Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s spokeswoman, released a statement that said: “It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House.” Shortly before the statement was issued, Ricardel was among a group of administration officials and other individuals who stood behind President Trump at a White House ceremony celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the first lady’s staff and Ricardel had clashed during Mrs. Trump’s visit to Africa in October over such things as seating on the airplane and requests to use the council’s resources. A White House official told the Associated Press that Ricardel wanted to travel to Africa with the first lady but was denied seating on the airplane because there was no room for her and several others who initially expected to make the trip. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss White House personnel matters, said Ricardel then threatened not to send any NSC staff. Ricardel also is known to have clashed with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis over Pentagon political appointee choices since early in his tenure. And Pentagon officials have said privately they believe Ricardel had a hand in spreading rumors this year about Mattis falling from favor with the White House and perhaps departing. Asked by a reporter today about Mrs. Trump’s office saying Ricardel no longer deserves to work in the White House, Mattis said, “I don’t comment on other people’s staffing issues.” A spokesman for the National Security Council had no immediate comment. Mrs. Trump is very protective of her husband and is considered to be an influential adviser, as many first ladies have been with their spouses. She is also one of the most private first ladies in recent memory, which made the public announcement about her displeasure with a top West Wing official all the more surprising. In an interview with ABC News during the five-day trip to Ghana, Mali, Kenya and Egypt last month, the first lady said there are people in the White House whom she and the president cannot trust. She declined to name anyone but said she had let the president know who they are. “Well,” she said, “some people, they don’t work there anymore.” Asked if some untrustworthy people still worked in the White House, Mrs. Trump replied, “Yes.” Anita McBride, who was chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush, said there’s a lesson in the current first lady’s public pronouncement. “The president supports Mrs. Trump’s activities and her work, which should be the signal to the rest of the staff to support her, too,” McBride, who has worked for three Republican presidents, said via email.[SEP] • In an interview that aired Sunday, former first lady Michelle Obama was asked whether her successor, Melania Trump, had ever reached out to her for advice. • “No, no she hasn’t,” Obama responded, raising her eyebrows. • Trump’s spokeswoman said in a statement on Tuesday that if the first lady ever needed advice, she would get it from “her professional team within the White House.” First lady Melania Trump has never reached out to her predecessor, Michelle Obama, for advice. On Sunday, Obama appeared on ABC News’ “20/20” to promote her new memoir, “Becoming.” Her interviewer, Robin Roberts, mentioned that former first lady Laura Bush had offered to give Obama advice anytime she needed it. Obama said she made the same offer to Trump after the 2016 election. When Roberts asked whether the first lady had ever reached out to her, Obama said, “No, no she hasn’t,” and raised her eyebrows. Read more: Michelle Obama said she ‘stopped even trying to smile’ at Trump’s inauguration On Tuesday, Trump’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement that, in short, Trump doesn’t need Obama’s advice. “Mrs. Trump is a strong and independent woman who has been navigating her role as First Lady in her own way,” Grisham said. “When she needs advice on any issue, she seeks it from her professional team within the White House.”

First Lady of the United States Melania Trump calls for the ousting of Deputy National Security Advisor Mira Ricardel.

The Tehran city council has elected a little-known technocrat to the politically sensitive post of mayor, Iranian state media report. Pirouz Hanachi, 54, is the third mayor of Tehran to be elected since reformists swept the city-council elections in May 2017. Hanachi's selection needs to be approved by the Interior Ministry within 10 days in a mostly procedural process. Hanachi, an architecture professor at Tehran University, has previously served as deputy minister at the Roads and Urban Development Ministry. He replaces Mohammad Ali Afshani, who came out of retirement to take the mayor's position in May but had to give up office after a law adopted in September banned retirees from holding official posts. Afshani's predecessor, Mohammad Ali Najafi, who became mayor following the May 2017 polls, resigned in March citing health concerns. With reporting by AP and AFP[SEP]The city council in Iran’s capital on Tuesday elected Pirouz Hanachi, a little-known technocrat, to the politically sensitive post of mayor, state television said. Hanachi is the third mayor of Tehran to be elected by the city council since reformists swept to power in local polls in May 2017. Hanachi, 54, was a deputy mayor after the reformists took office in August 2017. The Interior Ministry has yet to confirm his election, a mostly procedural process. The reformists have promised transparency in running the city following corruption charges against their conservative rivals who controlled the Tehran council for 14 years, AFP said. The post, which has changed hands three times in 18 months, had served as a political springboard for conservative hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president between 2005 and 2013. Another officeholder, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, was unsuccessful in his bids for the presidency.[SEP]Iran state TV: Tehran gets new mayor after 'no-retirees' law TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's state TV says the Tehran city council has elected a new mayor after a law adopted in September banned retirees from being employed in government positions. The report says 54-year-old Pirouz Hanachi was chosen for the post. He is an architecture professor at the Fine Arts Faculty of the Tehran University who also served as the deputy mayor for urban development. Hanachi replaces Mohammad Ali Afshani, who had stepped out of retirement to take the job in April, after Mohammad Ali Najafi resigned over a scandal in which hard-liners criticized him for attending a performance at a primary school that included girls dancing on stage before the audience. Hanachi's selection still has to be approved by the Interior Ministry within a period of 10 days.[SEP]TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s state TV says the Tehran city council has elected a new mayor after a law adopted in September banned retirees from being employed in government positions. The report says 54-year-old… TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s state TV says the Tehran city council has elected a new mayor after a law adopted in September banned retirees from being employed in government positions. The report says 54-year-old Pirouz Hanachi was chosen for the post. He is an architecture professor at the Fine Arts Faculty of the Tehran University who also served as the deputy mayor for urban development. Hanachi replaces Mohammad Ali Afshani, who had stepped out of retirement to take the job in April, after Mohammad Ali Najafi resigned over a scandal in which hard-liners criticized him for attending a performance at a primary school that included girls dancing on stage before the audience. Hanachi’s selection still has to be approved by the Interior Ministry within a period of 10 days. Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.[SEP]SHERIDAN — Mayor Roger Miller and city council members clashed over the contents of a city handbook designed to clarify and define the duties and authorities of city officials during a study session Monday. Council and the mayor have worked on the document for several months and were scheduled to approve it as part of the consent agenda during next week’s council meeting. However, Council President Richard Bridger said he recently became aware of edits Miller had made to the document that changed the definitions of mayoral authority that council had previously agreed upon. “We’ve been through several drafts and iterations of this handbook to get to the point I thought we were at last week,” Bridger said. “However, when I was actually doing Public Pulse [Thurs. Nov. 8], I asked for the most recent version of the Mayor/Council Handbook and I noticed that a lot of edits had been made by the mayor and through a miscommunication, I was not aware of these.” Bridger asked city staff to red line Miller’s edits and presented council with a draft highlighting those changes on Monday. All five members of council said they also were not aware of the changes Miller made until late last week and that the lack of transparency regarding the revisions was more concerning than the content of those revisions. Miller insisted that he asked staff to forward an updated version of the handbook to council after he made changes to it nearly two weeks ago. The changes Miller made attributed more executive authority to the mayor, which he argued were granted by city laws and ordinances. Without those edits, Miller said the document was still unclear in several respects. “What I’m asking council to do is step back, stop with the vitriol and the silliness that you guys are doing in reference to this handbook and actually take time to read it,” Miller said. “Take time to understand it and take time to understand that this is a governing document that should help us run and operate and work through all situations for our city.” City clerk Cecilia Good included the mayor’s revisions in the handbook draft as part of the agenda for Monday’s study session, which was published on Friday, Nov. 9. Still, council members pointed out that the mayor’s changes were not highlighted in the version Good sent out, which gave the appearance that nothing had been changed since council last reviewed the document. “We only got the changes by happenstance,” said Council Vice President Erin Hanke. “If (Bridger) had not been doing Public Pulse, in theory it sounds like this new version just would have been slipped in on the consent agenda, which is both shameful and I worry about the possible illegality of trying to slip a document purposefully past the council.” Following the meeting, Miller said he believes council’s frustration Monday night was a sign of its unwillingness to discuss the extent of mayoral authority under city ordinances. “This meeting was to talk about these types of issues,” Miller said. “They clearly do not want to talk about them still, and again, and that is why they threw, in my opinion, a temper tantrum.” Bridger said, as did other members of council during the meeting, that council had worked with the mayor on the handbook for several months now and was upset that significant changes were made without council’s knowledge. “The way that it was done was sort of underhanded and everybody agreed previously that we were fine with the document that was presented, and the mayor said he was fine with the document that was presented,” Bridger said. During the meeting, Miller agreed he will put the version of the handbook the council agreed with before his revisions on the agenda. He said following the meeting, however, that he still considers that version incomplete and plans to vote against it. “What I’m asking council to do is step back, stop with the vitriol and the silliness that you guys are doing in reference to this handbook and actually take time to read it,” Miller said. “Take time to understand it and take time to understand that this is a governing document that should help us run and operate and work through all situations for our city.” City clerk Cecilia Good included the mayor’s revisions in the handbook draft as part of the agenda for Monday’s study session, which was published on Friday, Nov. 9. Still, council members pointed out that the mayor’s changes were not highlighted in the version Good sent out, which gave the appearance that nothing had been changed since council last reviewed the document. “We only got the changes by happenstance,” said Council Vice President Erin Hanke. “If (Bridger) had not been doing Public Pulse, in theory it sounds like this new version just would have been slipped in on the consent agenda, which is both shameful and I worry about the possible illegality of trying to slip a document purposefully past the council.” Following the meeting, Miller said he believes council’s frustration Monday night was a sign of its unwillingness to discuss the extent of mayoral authority under city ordinances. “This meeting was to talk about these types of issues,” Miller said. “They clearly do not want to talk about them still, and again, and that is why they threw, in my opinion, a temper tantrum.” Bridger said, as did other members of council during the meeting, that council had worked with the mayor on the handbook for several months now and was upset that significant changes were made without council’s knowledge. “The way that it was done was sort of underhanded and everybody agreed previously that we were fine with the document that was presented, and the mayor said he was fine with the document that was presented,” Bridger said. During the meeting, Miller agreed he will put the version of the handbook the council agreed with before his revisions on the agenda. He said following the meeting, however, that he still considers that version incomplete and plans to vote against it.[SEP]Iranians took to the streets of Tehran on Sunday to mark the 39th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The demonstration comes just weeks after anti-government protests rocked cities across the country. It also follows last week's return to an Iranian prison of 81-year-old American hostage Baquer Namazi, after a four-day leave for health reasons. Namazi's son Siamek, 41, is also a hostage. For Americans, the events of 1979 conjure painful memories of 52 U.S. diplomats and citizens being held captive for 444 days, from November 1979 to January 1981. The hostage crisis helped lead to Republican Ronald Reagan's defeat of Democratic incumbent President Jimmy Carter in November 1980. For Iranians, the era represents the overthrow of U.S.-backed Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlav, aka "the Shah of Iran," and the return from exile of Sayyid Ruhollah Mūsavi Khomeini, aka the Islamic ruler Ayatollah Khomeini. Sunday's demonstration, in support of iran's government, included traditional slogans against the United States and Israel. Hundreds of thousands converged on the capital city's central Azadi Square, where President Hassan Rouhani was to address the crowd. In its successes abroad, Iran has helped push back the Islamic State group in Iraq and assisted embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad in regaining strategic ground in his country's long war. Domestically, however, the country's economy still struggles despite its 2015 landmark nuclear deal with world powers. In late December and early January, protests erupted across the country over the economy and later morphed into demonstrations directly challenging the government. The Namazis are not the only Americans being unjustly detained by Iran: Retired FBI agent Robert Levinson has been held since 2007. Princeton graduate student Xiyue Wang was arrested in 2016 while conducting research for his dissertation. Another American, Karan Vafadari, who ran an art gallery in Tehran, was just sentenced for 27 years because of his religious identity. President Donald Trump has vowed to impose sanctions on Iran if the American prisoners are not released immediately. Fox News' Jennifer Griffin and Lucas Tomlinson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.[SEP]After a nearly forty-year ban, hundreds of Iranian women were allowed to attend an international soccer final at a stadium in Tehran on Saturday.[SEP]MANISTEE — Manistee City Council members selected a new mayor and mayor pro-tem during the annual Organizational Meeting on Tuesday night. Roger Zielinski was elected mayor and Lynda Beaton will serve as mayor pro-tem. Zielinski was nominated by council member Dale Cooper, and had supporting votes from council members Jim Grabowski and Erin Pontiac. Beaton was also nominated for mayor, and had votes of support from council members Mick Szymanski and Chip Goodspeed. “I feel honored to be in this chair, this position,” said mayor Zielinski. “I will do everything in my power to do the very best job that I can for the taxpayers in the City of Manistee.” For mayor pro-tem, Beaton was nominated by Goodspeed; Szymanski nominated by Beaton; and In the first round, Grabowski pulled in three votes from Cooper, Zielinski and himself; Beaton voted for Szymanski; and Pontiac, Goodspeed and Szymanski voted for Beaton. In a second round of voting, Beaton was elected mayor pro-tem by a 4-3 vote. “I can’t wait to start a new season on city council. Thanks for all of your support,” said mayor pro-tem Beaton. “Let’s have a good time trying to figure out the problems that faces us.” Council members were also sworn in at Tuesday’s meeting. The newest council member, Szymanski, was recently elected to city council’s 5th district seat with 1,349 votes. On election night, Szymanski said he was honored by the overwhelming support. “I would like to thank all of the people who supported me,” he said, after the election on Nov. 6. “I hope that I live up to their expectations.” Jim Smith, who previously served as mayor and served two terms on city council, ran for re-election to the 5th district seat and received 959 votes. Smith served his last council meeting on Nov. 7, and said he will now take on a new role, which he is looking forward to. Also sworn into council were incumbents Cooper for the 1st district, mayor Zielinski for the 3rd District and Pontiac for the 7th District seat. Each will serve two year terms. On Tuesday, council adopted its guidelines, and no changes were made to those already established. Regular meetings shall be held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, starting at 7 p.m. with work sessions conducted on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Exceptions are made for election dates, Michigan Municipal League conferences and holidays.

The Islamic City Council of Tehran appoints Pirouz Hanachi as the new mayor of Tehran, the third in 18 months.

[SEP]China has built an 'artificial sun' that reaches temperature six times that of the core of our star. The state-of-the-art reactor is designed to replicate the processes of the sun as part of a project to turn hydrogen into cost-effective green energy. It reached a key milestone this week when it hit 180 million F (100 million C) for the first time, which is believed to be the temperature at which nuclear fusion occurs. Scientists across the globe are locked in a race to build the world's first operational nuclear fusion reactor. The victor will unlock a source of near-limitless clean energy worth billions that some believe could save the planet from the climate change crisis. Scientists at the China's Hefei Institutes of Physical Science announced their fusion machine reached hit 100 million C (180 million F) on Tuesday. This is more than six times hotter than the core of the sun, which peaks at around 15 million C (27 million F). Scientists believe that nuclear fusion occurs at 100 million C - causing charged deuterium and tritium particles join together in a huge burst of energy. These particles normally repel each other, and enormous temperatures are required to overcome their opposing forces. The goal of the team's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) is to better understand the process of fusion ahead of building a full reactor. Nuclear fusion reactors work differently to fission reactors because they fuse two nuclei, rather than splitting them. The process promises a vast resource of cheap energy and is far safer than fission, producing almost no dangerous nuclear waste. A practical fusion reactor must not only be capable of sustaining extreme temperatures, but also remain stable at these temperatures for long periods. EAST currently holds the world record for sustaining a reaction in a Tokamak - a poultry 101.2 seconds back in 2017. The Tokamak is the world's most developed magnetic confinement system and is the basis for the design of many modern fusion reactors. It involves light elements, such as hydrogen, smashing together to form heavier elements, such as helium. For fusion to occur, hydrogen atoms are placed under high heat and pressure until they fuse together.[SEP]Chinese researchers reached a new milestone with their ‘artificial sun’ that was designed to replicate the process our natural sun uses to generate energy. In a push to find a major clean energy source, researchers in China have created an artificial sun that can reach temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius, a heat so intense it makes the real sun seem lukewarm by comparison. As China’s sun is an experiment for nuclear fusion, it won’t be launched up into the skies like their fake moon RT reports: The earth-based solar simulator has reached mind-bending temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius, the research team announced Tuesday. Now, that’s hot. For comparison, the real sun’s core is about 15 million degrees Celsius. The Institute of Plasma Physics, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said it has been testing an “artificial sun,” known as the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). The sci-fi-sounding contraption has been designed to replicate the way in which the star at the center of our solar system generates its colossal energy. EAST is a large, donut-shaped machine set inside a round box. Located on Science Island in Eastern China’s Anhui Province, the project is using nuclear fusion to create immense heat; it costs a massive $15,000 a day just to turn on the machine. The goal of the EAST is to understand nuclear fusion and to one day use it as an alternative source of power on Earth. This could pave the way for using clean energy – currently, nuclear energy created through fission leaves a long-lasting toxic waste. The news comes soon after China announced its plans to roll out a series of fake moons to illuminate urban streets at night. The ‘moons’ are actually satellites, and the hope is that they can replace standard street lighting and save energy.[SEP]- China has achieved a true milestone by attaining a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius. This is an unparalleled temperature, and over seven times the estimated temperature of the sun’s core. This is a game breaker, not just a game changer. Beijing - China has achieved a true milestone by attaining a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius. This is an unparalleled temperature, and over seven times the estimated temperature of the sun’s core. This is a game breaker, not just a game changer. Big issues The super-efficient fusion reactor has been a sort of Holy Grail for physicists and engineers for many decades. China’s reactor, in fact, has gone well beyond the parameters for energy production. It’s not necessary to deliver 100 million degrees to provide the sort of power required for electricity generation. 1 million degrees would be quite adequate, and infinitely more efficient than the clunky, extremely toxic 19th century fossil fuel power currently in use. The extremely high level of efficiency required to achieve 100 million degrees, however, takes China’s fusion program to a new, and fascinating, level. This sort of power can be harnessed to produce space vehicle drives, weapons, and less appealingly, potentially catastrophic meltdowns. (Also note that the 100 million degree figure would have to be reached with very small amounts of material, for the sake of both safety and viability of practical research. You don’t just suddenly generate fusion in tons of material. Research of this kind would have to be done in micrograms, easily manageable amounts. Even so, it’s still far more efficient than any previous experimentation.) The mere fact that China was able to safely achieve this very high temperature, on the other hand, points to excellent technology, good safety management, and more to come. Fusion power is an ongoing subject of research around the world. The United States has no less than Future issues If the balance of fusion technology seems to be tilted towards China, you can expect the rest of the world to challenge this situation. Fusion power has almost unspeakable commercial potential, and can deliver another Holy Grail, cheap power, in vast amounts. In the current political environment, that sort of competition may get ugly. Accusations of scientific espionage, real or imaginary, are common. The sheer value of fusion power could cause some rather grim situations, including an “Intellectual Property War” for key technologies. That’s not at all unlikely, and could cause global IP piracy to escalate from its already horrific levels. Militarily, fusion power isn’t an instant option for anyone. Fusion warheads could be destructive, sure, but they could also be own goals. They’d be expensive to make, very hard to hide, and difficult to manage as active warheads. (For example, can you trigger fusion-able materials the same way you can trigger fissionable materials? Probably not, with existing technologies.) A fusion weapons system could also cause a very negative response from other nuclear powers who don’t want to be at a disadvantage against these potentially very high yield, much more powerful, weapons. Technological advantages, however, can play out economically in very different ways. China could become an energy exporter using fusion power. That would be a gigantic cash cow, and also integrate Chinese power supplies with the rest of the world. Goodbye oil, coal, etc., and hello Gung Ho Fat Choy PLC, your friendly global power company. Fossil fuel economies couldn’t compete, on any level, even in theory, with the possible efficiencies of fusion power systems. Fossil fuels require vast infrastructures, massive amounts of raw materials, and an entire global distribution system. Fusion doesn’t require anything but the means to generate fusion reactions. It can ship its power anywhere. If that sounds like a real power struggle, (excuse the expression) with fusion as the only working competitive option, you see the problems. Whole fossil fuel dependent national economies would crash, and the rest of the world would have to reconfigure to fusion. Strong positives for fusion On a much more positive note, fusion power could also deliver the clean energy required to end the global pollution disaster which is killing people worldwide. Fusion can use steam, and/or any kind of secondary pressure or magnetic systems, to drive any type of power system. These types of power systems don’t and can’t generate microparticulate matter, which is the truly toxic part of fossil fuel pollution, or chemical toxins. This clean power would also be able to power electric vehicles, eliminating the endless toxic horrors of vasoconstrictive exhaust fumes which are contributing to any number medical issues, like hypertension and coronary disease, two of the world’s biggest, and most expensive, mass pandemic conditions. Even asthma, another galloping global medical environmental issue, could benefit. (Someone will have to explain to me at some point why epidemiologists never seem to refer to the 16 billion tons of pollutants released in to the air every year as an environmental factor in any type of disease, beyond vague causal associations. Lazy, or too damn gutless to mention the obvious?) Anyway, fusion is now over the horizon in terms of a realistic future technology. It’s been coming for a long time, but this is the first real ray of sunlight in a new day for energy production. Let’s just hope our fearless “leaders” don’t turn it in to another nightmare for humanity. The big breakthrough was achieved by China's Institute of Plasma Physics Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) facility. This level of power is capable of generating enormous amounts of energy for use in power systems. It may also be an emerging answer to China’s hideously difficult fossil fuel pollution problems.The super-efficient fusion reactor has been a sort of Holy Grail for physicists and engineers for many decades. China’s reactor, in fact, has gone well beyond the parameters for energy production. It’s not necessary to deliver 100 million degrees to provide the sort of power required for electricity generation. 1 million degrees would be quite adequate, and infinitely more efficient than the clunky, extremely toxic 19th century fossil fuel power currently in use.The extremely high level of efficiency required to achieve 100 million degrees, however, takes China’s fusion program to a new, and fascinating, level. This sort of power can be harnessed to produce space vehicle drives, weapons, and less appealingly, potentially catastrophic meltdowns.(Also note that the 100 million degree figure would have to be reached with very small amounts of material, for the sake of both safety and viability of practical research. You don’t just suddenly generate fusion in tons of material. Research of this kind would have to be done in micrograms, easily manageable amounts. Even so, it’s still far more efficient than any previous experimentation.)The mere fact that China was able to safely achieve this very high temperature, on the other hand, points to excellent technology, good safety management, and more to come.Fusion power is an ongoing subject of research around the world. The United States has no less than 20 research programs under way. The EU has multiple research organisations involved in its research programs.If the balance of fusion technology seems to be tilted towards China, you can expect the rest of the world to challenge this situation. Fusion power has almost unspeakable commercial potential, and can deliver another Holy Grail, cheap power, in vast amounts.In the current political environment, that sort of competition may get ugly. Accusations of scientific espionage, real or imaginary, are common. The sheer value of fusion power could cause some rather grim situations, including an “Intellectual Property War” for key technologies. That’s not at all unlikely, and could cause global IP piracy to escalate from its already horrific levels.Militarily, fusion power isn’t an instant option for anyone. Fusion warheads could be destructive, sure, but they could also be own goals. They’d be expensive to make, very hard to hide, and difficult to manage as active warheads. (For example, can you trigger fusion-able materials the same way you can trigger fissionable materials? Probably not, with existing technologies.) A fusion weapons system could also cause a very negative response from other nuclear powers who don’t want to be at a disadvantage against these potentially very high yield, much more powerful, weapons.Technological advantages, however, can play out economically in very different ways. China could become an energy exporter using fusion power. That would be a gigantic cash cow, and also integrate Chinese power supplies with the rest of the world. Goodbye oil, coal, etc., and hello Gung Ho Fat Choy PLC, your friendly global power company. Fossil fuel economies couldn’t compete, on any level, even in theory, with the possible efficiencies of fusion power systems. Fossil fuels require vast infrastructures, massive amounts of raw materials, and an entire global distribution system. Fusion doesn’t require anything but the means to generate fusion reactions. It can ship its power anywhere.If that sounds like a real power struggle, (excuse the expression) with fusion as the only working competitive option, you see the problems. Whole fossil fuel dependent national economies would crash, and the rest of the world would have to reconfigure to fusion.On a much more positive note, fusion power could also deliver the clean energy required to end the global pollution disaster which is killing people worldwide. Fusion can use steam, and/or any kind of secondary pressure or magnetic systems, to drive any type of power system. These types of power systems don’t and can’t generate microparticulate matter, which is the truly toxic part of fossil fuel pollution, or chemical toxins.This clean power would also be able to power electric vehicles, eliminating the endless toxic horrors of vasoconstrictive exhaust fumes which are contributing to any number medical issues, like hypertension and coronary disease, two of the world’s biggest, and most expensive, mass pandemic conditions. Even asthma, another galloping global medical environmental issue, could benefit.(Someone will have to explain to me at some point why epidemiologists never seem to refer to the 16 billion tons of pollutants released in to the air every year as an environmental factor in any type of disease, beyond vague causal associations. Lazy, or too damn gutless to mention the obvious?)Anyway, fusion is now over the horizon in terms of a realistic future technology. It’s been coming for a long time, but this is the first real ray of sunlight in a new day for energy production. Let’s just hope our fearless “leaders” don’t turn it in to another nightmare for humanity. This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com[SEP]Chinese researchers pushing to find a major clean energy source have created an incredible artificial sun that can reach temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius – a heat so intense it makes the real sun seem merely lukewarm. The earth-based solar simulator has reached mind-bending temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius, the research team announced Tuesday. Now, that’s hot. For comparison, the real sun’s core is about 15 million degrees Celsius. The Institute of Plasma Physics, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said it has been testing an “artificial sun,” known as the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). The sci-fi-sounding contraption has been designed to replicate the way in which the star at the center of our solar system generates its colossal energy. EAST is a large, donut-shaped machine set inside a round box. Located on Science Island in Eastern China's Anhui Province, the project is using nuclear fusion to create immense heat; it costs a massive $15,000 a day just to turn on the machine. The goal of the EAST is to understand nuclear fusion and to one day use it as an alternative source of power on Earth. This could pave the way for using clean energy – currently, nuclear energy created through fission leaves a long-lasting toxic waste. The news comes soon after China announced its plans to roll out a series of fake moons to illuminate urban streets at night. The ‘moons’ are actually satellites, and the hope is that they can replace standard street lighting and save energy. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story![SEP]China is all about the artificial celestial bodies at the moment. Just weeks after we learnt the country was making a fake moon we're learning that its earth-based sun simulator is producing temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius. The core of the actual Sun reaches around 15 million degrees Celsius so this artificial sun is considerably hotter. But scientists believe that this is around the minimum temperature needed to create conditions suitable for nuclear fusion. At 100 million degrees celsius it's possible to force charged deuterium and tritium particles together to get them to fuse. Usually these particles repel each other, making fusion impossible without massive internal temperatures. Deuterium and tritium are isotopes of hydrogen and there's a plentiful supply available to use. One company Tokamak Energy claims that it's possible to create fusion reactors for power generation by 2030. The goal of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) is to understand nuclear fusion and one day use it as an alternative source of power on Earth. Nuclear fusion could create enormous amounts of power without the risk of a meltdown and with very little dangerous waste creation. Fusion relies on combining two nuclei instead of splitting an atom in the way nuclear fission reactors do. The difficulties of sustaining a reaction on Earth are considerable. EAST needs to be able to survive the massive temperatures and it needs to do so for extended periods of time to be practical for energy generation. EAST currently has the world record for sustaining a reaction in the Tokamak. Scientists achieved what's called a steady-state H-mode for 101.2 seconds back in 2017.[SEP]Chinese researchers pushing to find a major clean energy source have created an incredible artificial sun that can reach temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius - a heat so intense it makes the real sun seem merely lukewarm.The Institute of Plasma Physics, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said it has been testing an "artificial sun," known as the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). The sci-fi-sounding contraption has been designed to replicate the way in which the star at the center of our solar system generates its colossal energy.EAST is a large, donut-shaped machine set inside a round box. Located on Science Island in Eastern China's Anhui Province, the project is using nuclear fusion to create immense heat; it costs a massive $15,000 a day just to turn on the machine.The news comes soon after China announced its plans to roll out a series of fake moons to illuminate urban streets at night. The 'moons' are actually satellites, and the hope is that they can replace standard street lighting and save energy.

China's Hefei Institutes of Physical Science announces that its Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor in Hefei has reached a milestone of 100 million degrees celsius.

Cameroon soldiers have killed at least 30 separatists in two days of intense fighting in the turbulent English-speaking region, a military spokesman has said. The military also freed people held by separatists during its two-day operation in the Mayo Binka area near Nkambe, spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck told the Associated Press news agency on Wednesday. In a separate incident, the mayor of Nwa, a local council in the same region, was killed by suspected separatists, Emmanuel Bunyui, mayor of the nearby town of Ndu, told the Associated Press. "When we hoist the Cameroon flag in the council premises, we are targeted by the armed men who insist that we should instead display their blue and white flag," Bunyui said. Many mayors in English-speaking regions have been targeted by armed separatists, who in 2016 began demanding an independent English-speaking state, which they call Ambazonia. Recently, 79 students and three staff were kidnapped from a school by suspected separatists, and later released. Violent divide Anglophones account for about one-fifth of Cameroon's 25 million population. The conflict has killed more than 400 people since last year and has emerged as President Paul Biya's greatest security problem in his nearly four decades of rule. {articleGUID} The two sides often provide conflicting accounts of the fighting, but both have reported heavier casualties in recent weeks. The army has burned villages and killed unarmed civilians, forcing thousands to flee to French-speaking regions or neighbouring Nigeria. In November last year, Biya declared the crisis a war. Biya was re-elected to his seventh term in October, although few votes were cast in Anglophone regions. Politicians have repeatedly called on Biya to initiate dialogue to stem the violence. The 85-year-old president has refused, repeatedly stating that Cameroon is one and indivisible. The United Nations has condemned both the Cameroon military and separatists for using unnecessary and excessive force. The linguistic divide harks back to the end of World War I, when the League of Nations divided the former German colony of Kamerun between the allied French and British victors.[SEP]YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Cameroon’s military has killed at least 30 separatists in two days of intense fighting in the turbulent English-speaking North West region, a military spokesman said Wednesday. The military freed people held… YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Cameroon’s military has killed at least 30 separatists in two days of intense fighting in the turbulent English-speaking North West region, a military spokesman said Wednesday. The military freed people held by separatists during its two-day operation, military spokesman Col. Didier Badjeck said Wednesday. Fighting was intense in the Mayo Binka area near Nkambe, he said. While no soldiers have been killed, he said the death toll for armed separatists may increase, as fighters escape into the bush. In a separate incident, the mayor of Nwa, a local council in the same region, was found dead Wednesday and he is believed to have been killed by separatists, said Emmanuel Bunyui, the mayor of the nearby town of Ndu. Many mayors in English-speaking regions have been targeted by armed separatists demanding an independent English-speaking state, which they call Ambazonia. “When we hoist the Cameroon flag in the council premises, we are targeted by the armed men who insist that we should instead display their blue and white flag,” Bunyui said. These incidents have highlighted the separatist unrest in Cameroon, which began in 2016, when English-speaking teachers and lawyers in the northwest and southwest staged demonstrations calling for reforms, criticizing what they called the marginalization of the Anglophone population, which accounts for about one-fifth of the country’s 25 million people. Violence increased after factions of separatists armed themselves following a government clampdown on protests in 2017. Armed separatists have vowed to destabilize the regions and hundreds of civilians have been killed and dozens of schools have been burned and teachers threatened. In the past year, more than 1,200 people including separatists, police, military and gendarmes have been killed in the fighting, according to military spokesman Badjeck. Recently 79 students and three staff were kidnapped from a school by suspected separatists, and they have all now been released. More than 100 civilians have escaped the violence and fled to the capital, Yaounde. “I am just going to nowhere. I am afraid,” said Kenneth Kongyu, 19, who joined 75 other people who walked 60 kilometers (37 miles) for two days to escape violence in Ndu, Bunyui’s town. “When they come to the market, they shoot from every angle.” Tatah Oscar, 17, said he is a former fighter. He said many young Cameroonians are joining the separatists because their families have been killed by military “so they don’t have somebody to count on again … I am pleading on the government to try and solve the problem so that we the youths we can go back to school.” Col. Badjeck, however, said “Most of the time the terrorists operate and hide among civilians and the world has an impression that civilians are being killed, but our military is professional.” In November last year, Cameroonian President Paul Biya declared the crisis a war. Biya was re-elected to his seventh term in October, although few votes were cast in war-torn Anglophone regions. Politicians have repeatedly called on Biya to initiate dialogue to stem the violence. The 85-year-old president, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, has repeatedly stated that Cameroon is one and indivisible and that he is not ready to negotiate. The conflict poses a serious challenge for Cameroon, a close U.S. security ally in combating extremism and a new member of the U.N. Human Rights Council. The United Nations have condemned both the Cameroon military and separatists for using unnecessary and excessive force and Amnesty International criticized the “horrific escalation of violence” in English-speaking regions. Nearly a quarter-million more people have fled the ongoing violence, many leaving their homes on foot with their belongings teetering on their heads. Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 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The former French colony has been troubled by unrest since its two main English-speaking areas announced in 2016 that they wished to secede and form a new country called Ambazonia.[SEP]Twenty-five separatists were killed on Tuesday in fighting in a restive English-speaking region of Cameroon, security officials said, according to Daily mail. “Twenty-five ‘Amba Boys’ were killed in three clashes in Mbot,” a village near the town of Nkambe, a source in the capital Yaounde said on Wednesday, confirming a security source in the troubled Northwest Region. “Amba Boys” refers to separatists who last year launched an armed campaign for the independence of Cameroon’s two anglophone regions, which they call Ambazonia.[SEP]Twenty-five separatists were killed Tuesday in fighting in a restive English-speaking region of Cameroon, security officials said Wednesday. "Twenty-five 'Amba Boys' were killed in three clashes in Mbot," a village near the town of Nkambe, a source in the capital Yaounde told the AFP, confirming a security source in the troubled Northwest Region. "Amba Boys" refers to separatists who last year launched an armed campaign for the independence of Cameroon's two Anglophone regions, which they call Ambazonia. The conflict between Anglophone separatists and government forces has killed more than 400 people in western Cameroon since last year and has turned into Cameroonian President Paul Biya’s greatest security problem in nearly four decades of rule. The two sides often provide conflicting accounts of the fighting, but both have reported heavier casualties in recent weeks, with dozens killed. The latest clashes came a week after armed men released more than 80 people, most of them schoolchildren, who were seized in the western city of Bamenda. The central African nation faces a number of security problems, including a Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast. At 85, Biya is one of Africa’s oldest rulers. But while he has kept an iron grip on power for over three decades, in recent years, he spends much of his time abroad, earning the moniker, of the “absentee president". Last month, Biya won his seventh term after a controversial presidential election that saw a crackdown on the opposition during the campaign season. The Anglophone separatist crisis was sparked against the predominantly Francophone central government after authorities violently repressed peaceful protests against perceived marginalisation of the English-speaking minority. The army has burned villages and killed unarmed civilians, according to residents, forcing thousands to flee to French-speaking regions or neighbouring Nigeria. The linguistic divide harks back to the end of World War One, when the League of Nations divided the former German colony of Kamerun between the allied French and British victors.[SEP]YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Cameroon's military says it has killed least 30 separatists in the past few days in the country's restive North West region. Military spokesman Col. Didier Badjeck said Wednesday that figures may increase after intense fighting in the Mayo Binka area. Badjeck said no soldiers died in the fighting. He said the military freed people held by separatists and more than 100 fleeing the violence have arrived in the capital, Yaounde. Hundreds have been killed in the past year in fighting between the military and armed separatists in Cameroon's northwestern and southwestern regions. The trouble started a year ago the government clamped down on peaceful demonstrations by English-speaking teachers and lawyers protesting what they said was their marginalization by Cameroon's French-speaking majority.[SEP]At least 15 people have been killed in a new bout of fighting between Cameroon army troops and separatist rebels, the two sides said on Tuesday, in a rise in violence since President Paul Biya won a seventh term in power in October. The conflict between Anglophone separatists, who want to create an independent state called Ambazonia, and government forces has killed more than 400 people in western Cameroon since last year and has emerged as Biya’s greatest security problem in nearly four decades of rule. The two sides often provide conflicting accounts of the fighting, but both have reported heavier casualties in recent weeks, with dozens killed. Twenty-three separatists have been killed in clashes with government troops since Nov. 10 near the town of Nkambe in Cameroon’s English-speaking Northwest region, while another six have been killed in nearby Ndu, Army representative Didier Badjeck said. Ivo Tapang, spokesman for the Ambazonian Defence Force, one of the main Anglophone secessionist militias, confirmed that fighting had occurred in Nkambe, but disputed Badjeck’s account. He said ADF troops had encircled a government army truck near Nkambe after it was overturned by a roadside bomb on Saturday. “Two of our fighters were killed and we killed 13 of them,” he said. The fighting follows clashes on Oct. 23 that killed at least 10 and up to 30 combatants, according to differing accounts from the two sides that could not be independently verified. Separatist militias launched an insurrection last year against the predominantly Francophone central government after authorities violently repressed peaceful protests against perceived marginalisation of the English-speaking minority. The army has burned villages and killed unarmed civilians, residents have told Reuters, forcing thousands to flee to French-speaking regions or neighbouring Nigeria. Threats by the separatists disrupted voting in Cameroon’s two Anglophone regions during the Oct. 7 election, which Biya won in a landslide to extend his 36-year rule. The linguistic divide harks back to the end of World War One, when the League of Nations divided the former German colony of Kamerun between the allied French and British victors.[SEP]DOUALA, Cameroon - Twenty-five separatists were killed in fighting in a restive English-speaking region of Cameroon, security officials said Wednesday. "Twenty-five 'Amba Boys' were killed in three clashes" on Tuesday in Mbot, a village near the town of Nkambe, a source in the capital Yaounde said, confirming a security source in the troubled Northwest Region. "Amba Boys" refers to separatists who last year launched an armed campaign for the independence of Cameroon's two anglophone regions, which they call Ambazonia. Photos obtained by AFP from a source close to the security services showed about 10 bodies lined up on the ground. Weapons, mainly shotguns, were placed alongside. A source close to the security services said the fighters had set up a base in a school in Mayo Binka, a few kilometres (miles) from Nkambe. Two security officials told AFP that the armed forces did not suffer any losses in the clashes. Eighty percent of Cameroon's population are French speakers while the rest are anglophones, who are concentrated in the country's west, in the Northwest and neighbouring Southwest Regions. Years-long frustration at perceived discrimination fed demands for anglophone autonomy, which were rejected by the central government. In 2017, radicals became ascendant in the anglophone movement and declared an independent state, the Republic of Ambazonia, which is not recognised internationally. They have attacked troops and police and torched schools and other buildings deemed to be symbols of the central state. The government, in response, has launched a brutal crackdown. Fighting in the two regions has killed between 450 to 500 civilians, 185 members of the security forces and hundreds of armed separatists think-tank International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report this month. "The Anglophone conflict is gradually turning into a civil war," it said. According to an October update by the UN's refugee agency OCHA, there are a total of 437,000 people from the anglophone regions displaced within the country, while some 27,000 people have fled to Nigeria.[SEP]Twenty-five separatists were killed in fighting in a restive English-speaking region of Cameroon, security officials said Wednesday. "Twenty-five 'Amba Boys' were killed in three clashes" on Tuesday in Mbot, a village near the town of Nkambe, a source in the capital Yaounde said, confirming a security source in the troubled Northwest Region. "Amba Boys" refers to separatists who last year launched an armed campaign for the independence of Cameroon's two anglophone regions, which they call Ambazonia. Photos obtained by AFP from a source close to the security services showed about 10 bodies lined up on the ground. Weapons, mainly shotguns, were placed alongside. A source close to the security services said the fighters had set up a base in a school in Mayo Binka, a few kilometres (miles) from Nkambe. Two security officials told AFP that the armed forces did not suffer any losses in the clashes. Eighty percent of Cameroon's population are French speakers while the rest are anglophones, who are concentrated in the country's west, in the Northwest and neighbouring Southwest Regions. Years-long frustration at perceived discrimination fed demands for anglophone autonomy, which were rejected by the central government. In 2017, radicals became ascendant in the anglophone movement and declared an independent state, the Republic of Ambazonia, which is not recognised internationally.

The Cameroonian Armed Forces kill at least 30 Ambazonian separatists in two-days of intense clashes in Cameroon's English-speaking region. A mayor in Donga-Mantung is also shot dead.