Day: January 1, 2017

Police took down a Sydney crime syndicate and made ‘the…

Australian police dismantled a major cocaine smuggling ring after a two-and-a-half-year multi-agency operation undertaken with Tahiti, Australian authorities announced on Thursday. Operation Okesi, which began in July 2014, culminated in a Christmas-night seizure of 500 kilograms of cocaine in New South Wales in eastern Australia.

Why target cricket, asks Niranjan Shah

Rajkot:: With the Supreme Court expected to come up with their verdict in the Justice RM Lodha committee’s recommendations to the Board of Control for Cricket in India case today, the Board’s most experienced active administrator, Niranjan Shah asked, “Why single out cricket?” “You can’t just single out cricket. You should make rules and regulations for any sphere in life, not only for cricket.

Ranji Trophy: Shardul Thakur helps Mumbai take escape route, but not safe

Rajkot: Defending champions Mumbai kicked off the New Year with a fighting performance on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Khandheri yesterday. Tamil Nadu ended the day with 261 for six, but they could have been in a better position had it not been for Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur.

The dangers of UN Security Council Resolution 2334

The December 23, 2016, resolution adopted by the UN Security Council regarding Israel’s settlement policy has been received with mixed and even extreme reactions. [ Click to read the text of UN Security Council Resolution 2334 ] The Palestinian leadership, having initiated the resolution, is celebrating its adoption as an affirmation by the international community, including the United States, of its claims against Israel.

The economic war against ISIL: Airstrikes and financial measures aim to deplete militants’ funding

The Islamic State starts the new year with a drastically depleted bank account, counterterrorism officials say, following months of intensified efforts to deprive the Islamists of oil profits and other revenue used to finance military operations and terrorists attacks abroad. Coalition aircraft in the past 15 months have destroyed more than 1,200 tanker trucks – including 168 vehicles struck in a single air raid in Syria in early December – while also using new weapons and tactics to inflict lasting damage on the terrorists’ remaining oil fields, U.S. and Middle Eastern officials say.

State Department to North Korea: Refrain from provocations

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Anna Richey-Allen on Sunday warned North Korea against provocations, after the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, said his country was close to performing a test launch on an intercontinental ballistic missile . During a televised New Year’s Day speech, Kim said, “We are in the final stages of test-launching the intercontinental ballistic missile… Research and development of cutting edge arms equipment is actively progressing and ICBM rocket test launch preparation is in its last stage.”

Another good target for EPA reform

With reform-minded folks in charge of the Executive and Legislative Branches, unelected, unaccountable, un-removable bureaucrats may soon be exerting far less power over our policies, regulations, lives and livelihoods. Energy and climate are high on the fix-it list.

A Valegro Flash Mob, An Exploding Dressage Horse And More: The…

With a horse show happening every weekend, and sometimes multiple major events taking place in locations around the country on the same day, the Chronicle reporters spend countless weekends on the road. But regardless of how many horses we see winning championships and cantering down centerline, a few special moments always leave a lasting impression long after the story is written and the results are old news.

Can’t give information if FM, CEA were consulted before demonetisation: RBI

New Delhi: Were views of the Chief Economic Advisor and the Finance Minister taken before the sudden announcement of demonetisation of high-value currency notes by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8? The Reserve Bank of India feels this query cannot be answered under the Right to Information Act as it does not come under the definition of information under the transparency law. The applicant wanted to know whether the “views of Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were taken before announcement was made.”

Social, relaxed and competitive scene

Former Geraldton resident feels right at home in Upper Horton region, especially with campdrafting and rodeo around this time of year. WHILST the Christmas and New Year period is a time for holidays and the festive season for many people, the scene is a little different for some involved with the rodeo and campdrafting at the Upper Horton Sports Ground.

Tamworth skipper gloves up for Country

Safe hands: Tom Groth takes this catch playing for NSW Country against South Australia at last year’s Australian Country Championships. The Tamworth skipper will on Wednesday begin his ninth campaign with the Bush Blues.

Air Marshal Anil Khosla takes over as AOC-IN-C Eastern Air Command, IAF

Kolkata, Jan 1 : Air Marshal Anil Khosla AVSM VM took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command on Jan 1,2017, officials said. The Air Marshal is an alumni of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned in the fighter stream of Indian Air Force in Dec 79. Air officer has to his credit over 4000 hours of accident free flying mainly on different variants of Jaguar, Mig-21 and Kiran aircraft.

Drug taken by man who died at New Year’s rave fast-tracked for testing

A drug taken by a group at a rave that left one person dead and two others fighting for their lives in hospital has been fast-tracked for testing. Up to 500 people were at the party at Mount Lindesay near the Queensland-New South Wales border on New Year’s Day when emergency services were called to treat five people hallucinating and behaving erratically .

Gregson’s slice of history

On top: Bulli’s Ryan Gregson came from the scratch mark to take out the Burnie Open Mile in Tasmania on New Year’s Day. Picture: Getty Images The Bulli runner, who holds the Australian 1500m record and made the Olympics final in Brazil last year, became the first athlete to win the Burnie Mile from the scratch mark since 1967.

Composite teams into semis

Scott Mathieson skips his compositie team with the confidence of two strong knockout wins on semi-final day in Tuesday’s South Pacific Fours at Fairy Meadow Bowling Club. On track: Scott Mathieson will skip his composite team in Tuesday’s semi-finals of the South Pacific Fours at Fairy Meadow Bowling Club.

Separate New Years’ Day crashes claims two lives

Etelvina Hernandez, 24, of Rio Grande City, and Juan De Dios Cavazos, 46, of Donna, died in separate crashes Sunday morning, according to a release from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Hernandez, who was driving a GMC pickup truck, died at the scene of a crash just before 7 a.m. Sunday on Embassy Road south of Farm-to-Market 755 in Rio Grande City, the release states.

Why tailor Suitsupply isn’t afraid of Hong Kong’s retail decline

Despite the continuing fall in retail sales – the city’s luxury sector suffered a 10.5 per cent drop in the first half of 2016 – Suitsupply has opened its first Hong Kong store in Central, and a big one at that Retailers in Hong Kong’s Central business district have endured more bad news than good over the past year, but the area still has cachet with international brands looking to enter the Hong Kong market. In early December, Dutch tailor Suitsupply opened its first boutique in the city, taking a large space on Ice House Street.

Odisha

Finance executive Sam Patnaik, 32, a resident of Rasulgarh, was elated when the Reserve Bank of India tried to provide relief to the demonetisation-hit people by increasing the ATM withdrawal limit… Police penalised around 150 party revellers in the twin cities last night for drunk driving and rash driving during New Year celebrations. Zero hour saw city party animals letting their hair down at various glitzy locations in the twin cities on New Year’s Eve.

Forces deployed to open highways

Imphal, Jan. 1: In an attempt to reopen routes, the Okram Ibobi Singh government has deployed central forces along the state’s supply lines to provide security to supply trucks. The supply of essential commodities has been disrupted for two months after the United Naga Council imposed an indefinite economic blockade along National Highway 2 and National Highway 37 against the bifurcation of Naga-inhabited areas during the creation of new districts.

New York trains roll on new subway line envisioned in 1920s

In this Dec. 9, 2016 file photo provided by the Office of New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the escalator leading down to the platform to the Second Avenue subway station at 72nd Street in New York is shown. New Yorkers can take their first ride under Manhattan’s far Upper East Side at noon on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017.

Bihar

City parks and major hotspots brimmed with revellers on Sunday as people ventured out with family members, friends and relatives to soak in the festive spirit and usher in… Police claimed to have busted a biker gang, including its kingpin Manish Malik, following the arrest of five people from the Patna College area on Sunday. Several… The stage is all set for the 34th Kalchakra puja to begin with the Dalai Lama conducting ritual preparations at Kalchakra ground on Monday.

Dropouts’ college gift

Daspur, Jan. 1: Two jewellers in Andhra Pradesh, who decades ago dropped out of school in West Midnapore, have purchased land and donated it for a private BEd College back in their home village. Mohan and Kartik, also members of the trust, have donated Rs 10 lakh more to start the construction of the college.

Outsider’s Longford Cup in four-way photo

It’s a long way from the Inter-Dominion final in Perth to the Longford Cup on a country thoroughbred track in Tasmania but Melbourne owner Matt McLellan has made that journey in the past month. TIGHT FINISH: King Manu , ridden by Stephanie Thornton, wins Sunday’s Longford Cup in a four-way photo-finish.

Welsford back to best

Having been conspicuously absent in his last two wheel finals, rising Australia cycling star Sam Welsford hit back with a bang on Sunday to take out his second consecutive Burnie Wheel. Having been conspicuously absent in his last two wheel finals, rising Australia cycling star Sam Welsford hit back with a bang on Sunday to take out his second consecutive Burnie Wheel.

Edmondson claims wheel win trifecta

It was another tough battle, but the class of Olympic cyclist Annette Edmondson shone through again as she took out the 2017 Burnie women’s wheel on Sunday. It was another tough battle, but the class of Olympic cyclist Annette Edmondson shone through again as she took out the 2017 Burnie women’s wheel on Sunday.

Most read online stories in May 2016

Tasmanian man Rye Duval Hunt was declared missing in Rio De Janeiro after disappearing from the city’s international airport on May 21. Mr Hunt and a friend were at Rio De Janeiro International Airport deciding on their next destination when they split after getting into a heated discussion. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed a body found washed up on a Brazil beach on June 9 was Mr Hunt.

New UN leader pledges to promote peace

Antnio Guterres took the reins of the United Nations on New Year’s Day, promising to be a bridge-builder but facing an antagonistic incoming U.S. administration led by Donald Trump , who thinks the world body’s 193 member states do nothing except talk and have a good time. The former Portuguese prime minister and U.N. refugee chief said after being sworn-in as secretary-general on Dec. 12 that he will engage all governments – “and, of course, also with the next government of the United States” – and show his willingness to cooperate on “the enormous challenges that we’ll be facing together.”

Dolphins’ Opponents Set For 2017 Season

The last remaining opponent was determined Sunday when the Tennessee Titans defeated the Houston Texans to clinch second place in the AFC South. Now that the standings have almost been finalized, the Dolphins know their complete list of opponents for the 2017 season.