At least 4 killed, some still missing, in avalanche in India’s Uttarakhand – Al Jazeera English

  1. At least 4 killed, some still missing, in avalanche in India’s Uttarakhand  Al Jazeera English
  2. At Least 4 People Killed, 50 Rescued, 5 Missing After India Avalanche  PEOPLE
  3. India avalanche buries dozens prompting massive search and rescue mission  Fox Weather
  4. Uttarakhand avalanche: Mana villagers saved by ancient wisdom & annual migration  The Times of India
  5. At least 25 trapped after avalanche in Indian mountain state  Reuters
Posted in Uncategorized

Japan battles largest wildfire in decades

More than a thousand people have been evacuated near forest of Ofunato in northern region of Iwate

More than a thousand people have been evacuated as Japan battles its largest wildfire in more than three decades.

The flames are estimated to have spread over about 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) in the forest of Ofunato in the northern region of Iwate since a fire broke out on Wednesday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Continue reading...

Pope Francis spends peaceful night after breathing crisis, Vatican says

Doctors caring for pontiff, 88, are assessing how Friday’s incident will affect his condition, says official

Pope Francis, who has been in hospital for two weeks with pneumonia in both lungs, has spent a peaceful night after suffering a breathing crisis, the Vatican said.

Francis, 88, had suffered an “isolated breathing crisis” that caused him to vomit and provoked a “sudden worsening” of his respiratory condition, the Vatican said.

Continue reading...

English academy chain to improve conditions for Jamaican teachers after strike threat

Union leader describes chain’s record on overseas-trained teachers as ‘Harris Federation’s Windrush’

The National Education Union has claimed a “resounding improvement” in workload and conditions for teachers from Jamaica and other countries at a leading academy chain, as part of a deal ending threats of strike action.

The Harris Federation of schools confirmed it will improve conditions for qualified teachers from Jamaica and others trained overseas, as part of a deal that eases the route for overseas-trained teachers to gain similar qualifications in England.

Continue reading...

Four dead as Cyclone Garance wrecks France’s La Reunion island – Al Jazeera English

  1. Four dead as Cyclone Garance wrecks France’s La Reunion island  Al Jazeera English
  2. Tropical cyclone smashes into French Indian Ocean island, bringing 100-mile-an-hour winds  CNN
  3. Cyclone Garance hits French Indian Ocean island of Reunion; police report 3 deaths  The Associated Press
  4. Several killed as Cyclone Garance slams into France's Reunion Island  FRANCE 24 English
  5. Cyclone Garance kills three as it sweeps through Reunion island  BBC.com
Posted in Uncategorized

PKK declares ceasefire with Turkey after more than 40 years of conflict

Kurdish militant group responds to call from its jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, to lay down arms

Outlawed Kurdish militants have declared a ceasefire with Turkey after a landmark call by the jailed PKK leader, Abdullah Öcalan, asking the group to disband.

It was the first reaction from the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) after Öcalan this week called for the dissolution of the group and asked it to lay down arms after fighting the Turkish state for more than four decades.

Continue reading...