Japan’s Typhoon Hagibis made landfall south of Tokyo on Saturday evening with heavy rain, which flooded the city and surrounding areas. The death toll has reached 36 and many people are still missing. Emergency workers swung into action, with helicopters plucking people from flooded buildings and police swimming through waters looking for missing people
Continue reading...Category Archives: Asia
Indian navy rescues more than 800 people from train stranded in floodwaters
Mahalaxmi Express stuck for about 12 hours near Mumbai when river burst its banks after torrential rain
Indian navy helicopters and emergency service boats came to the rescue of more than 800 people stranded on a train in floods near Mumbai on Saturday. Some reports have the number of people affected at over 1,000.
The Mahalaxmi Express left Mumbai late on Friday for Kolhapur but travelled only 60 kilometres (37 miles) before it became stranded after a river burst its banks in torrential rain, covering the tracks.
Continue reading...Uzbekistan: who is Gulnara Karimova? – video profile
Gulnara Karimova is the eldest daughter of Islam Karimov, who ruled Uzbekistan for 27 years until his death in 2016. Karimova was one of the richest and most privileged people in post-Soviet Central Asia until her dramatic arrest in 2014. Now her daughter has released footage showing her mother being dragged to prison after violating the terms of her house arrest
Continue reading...‘Slowly the craze will come’: the off-piste plan to get Nepal skiing
Entrepreneurs aiming to set up Nepal’s first ski resort are undeterred by difficult terrain and lack of state support
Along the single icy road leading through the village of Kuri, high in the hills of eastern Nepal, tourists stop to stare at a pair of skis. “Is it a skateboard?” asks one. “Maybe they are ice skates,” suggests another. “No idea,” they agree, before walking off gingerly along the slippery track.
Nepal may have the highest mountains in the world, but you are about as likely to see a skier here as you are a yeti. Nepal sent no athletes to the Winter Olympics last year, and there is not a single ski resort in the country.
Continue reading...A third of Himalayan ice cap doomed, finds report
Even radical climate change action won’t save glaciers, endangering 2 billion people
At least a third of the huge ice fields in Asia’s towering mountain chain are doomed to melt due to climate change, according to a landmark report, with serious consequences for almost 2 billion people.
Even if carbon emissions are dramatically and rapidly cut and succeed in limiting global warming to 1.5C, 36% of the glaciers along in the Hindu Kush and Himalaya range will have gone by 2100. If emissions are not cut, the loss soars to two-thirds, the report found.
Continue reading...9 gay things I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving
In some ways, 2018 has felt like the worst of times: mass shootings becoming a new normal, the continued rise of nationalism, earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires ravaging California, a U.S. Supreme Court that protects homophobia masquerading as freedom of religion, and of course, President Donald Trump. Yes, there has been an abundance of darkness in 2018, but as a gay, black man, I'm thankful for occasional bursts of sunshine.
Trump says U.S. in ‘very strong’ negotiations in Afghanistan
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States was "in very strong" peace negotiations in Afghanistan but he did not known whether they would be successful. "I really think the people of Afghanistan ... are tired of fighting," Trump told reporters after delivering a Thanksgiving holiday message to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, scene of one of America's longest-ever wars.
Trump hints could make first visit to Afghanistan
U.S. President Donald Trump hinted on Thursday he may visit Afghanistan, scene of one of America's longest wars but a country he has yet to visit almost two years into his presidency. Delivering a Thanksgiving holiday message by teleconference to troops in Afghanistan, Trump told a U.S. Air Force general he would see him back in the United States, before adding: "Or maybe I'll even see you over there.
Mayor of Utah city killed in ‘insider attack’ in Afghanistan
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.
Asia and Australia Edition: The Taliban, Khashoggi, India: Your Friday Briefing
Two top leaders in Kandahar Province were assassinated in an attack that narrowly missed the top American commander in the country, Gen. Austin Miller.
Mother seeks owner of treasured 1970s wedding snaps in old projector she bought on eBay
One is delighted! The Queen shares her excitement after Harry and Meghan reveal they're expecting their first child - five months after getting married The royal cover-up: How Meghan used subtle styling tricks to hide her baby bump - from structured coats to peplum tops and clever draping Revealed: How Harry and Meghan told Royal Family of pregnancy at Eugenie's extravagant, star-studded wedding that threatened to upstage their own Windsor nuptials five months earlier Revealed: How Meghan and Harry's baby will be SEVENTH in line to the throne - but WON'T be a prince or princess Is this what Meghan and Harry's first child will look like? Forensic artist uses photos of the couple to predict newest royal baby's features Sears files for bankruptcy after 132 years in business: Iconic retail giant collapses amid plunging sales, massive debts and the dominance of Amazon Thai cave boys hit the ... (more)
Nikki Haley to resign as UN ambassador
Haley's resignation letter obtained by the Washington Post was dated Oct. 3. It included praise of the president for allowing her to be "free to speak my mind on the issues of the day." She also vowed, "I will surely not be a candidate for any office in 2020."
HISTORY, Oct. 9: Public first admitted to Washington Monument
In 1930, Laura Ingalls became the first woman to fly across the United States as she completed a nine-stop journey from Roosevelt Field, N.Y., to Glendale, Calif.
Does Donald Trump deserve to win a Nobel Peace Prize?
Four former U.S. Presidents - Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt - have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Should Donald Trump's name be added to the list? Does Donald Trump deserve to win a Nobel Peace Prize? Four former U.S. Presidents - Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt - have won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Hillicon Valley: Facebook briefing lawmakers on massive breach |…
Welcome to Hillicon Valley, The Hill's newsletter detailing all you need to know about the tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Welcome! Follow the cyber team, Olivia Beavers and Jacqueline Thomsen , and the tech team, Harper Neidig and Ali Breland .
Suspected ricin detected in mail sent to Trump, Pentagon
Previous edition: Former FBI atty Lisa Page admits agency couldn't prove collusion between Trump and Russia before Mueller appointment - testimony An envelope addressed to President Donald Trump contained a substance suspected to be ricin and appeared to be connected to similar envelopes sent to the Pentagon, a law enforcement source told CNN. Two pieces of mail delivered to the Pentagon mail facility on Monday have initially tested positive for ricin, according to a US defense official.
Chinese destroyer imperils Navy ship with ‘unsafe’ move in South China Sea
A Chinese destroyer veered within 45 yards of a U.S. Navy ship Sunday in "an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver" in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, the Navy said. USS Decatur was conducting a routine freedom-of-navigation patrol about 8:30 a.m. near Gaven Reefs when the People's Republic of China destroyer Luyang approached the ship.
RPT-INSIGHT-As Chinese influence grows, Japanese warship visits Sri Lanka
Japan's largest warship, the Kaga helicopter carrier, sailed into Sri Lanka's Colombo harbour this weekend, marking Tokyo's highest profile salvo in a diplomatic battle with China for influence along the region's vital commercial sea lanes. Japan has long provided low-interest loans and aid to Sri Lanka, helping it transform Colombo into a major trans-shipment port tapping the artery of global trade just south of the island that links Europe and the Middle East with Asia.
As Chinese Influence Grows, Japanese Warship Visits Sri Lanka
Japan's largest warship, the Kaga helicopter carrier, sailed into Sri Lanka's Colombo harbor this weekend, marking Tokyo's highest profile salvo in a diplomatic battle with China for influence along the region's vital commercial sea lanes. Japan has long provided low-interest loans and aid to Sri Lanka, helping it transform Colombo into a major trans-shipment port tapping the artery of global trade just south of the island that links Europe and the Middle East with Asia.
Donald Trump on Kim Jong-un: “We fell in love”
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