Temperature in Tamsui records low of 10.9 C

A strong continental air mass has brought with it lower temperatures, with Tamsui recording 10.9 degrees Celsius twice on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, a new low for low lying areas this year, the Central Weather Bureau said. The strongest cold front so far this season sent temperatures as low as 13-14 degrees in northern Taiwan and Yilan in the northeast, 11-12 degrees in coastal areas of those regions and 16 degrees in southern Taiwan, as well as Hualien and Taitung in the east on Wednesday morning, according to the bureau.

70% of plastic bags found to carry false labels: consumer group

Ten out of 14 types of plastic bags sold in grocery stores, convenience stores and shopping centers have been found be carrying false labels marking them as biodegradable and environmentally friendly, the Taipei-based Consumers’ Foundation said Wednesday. The plastic bags in question break into tiny pieces during the natural process of degradation, but are nevertheless promoted as biodegradable, said Ling Young-chien , chief inspector of the foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to consumers’ rights.

Vicky’s Six Brilliant Things to do this Week

THE Emperor and the Nightingale by Neil Duffield, based on The Nightingale by Hans Christian Andersen is showing at Theatre by the Lake until January 14 . This charming tale of China’s young emperor Wu, who is kept a virtual prisoner in his palace by his scheming guardian and told the world outside the Forbidden City is a dangerous place.

Hartlepool youngsters showcase their maths skills Shanghai-style

Year 6 pupils from Eldon Grove Academy, Hartlepool, demonstrated their flair for fractions at an open classroom event under the expert tuition of teachers Huang Wei-yi of the Shanghai Huangpu Luwan No1 Central Primary School and Peng Yu-yun of the First Central Primary School of Jingan District, China. The live lesson, watched by dozens of headteachers from across the North East at Hartlepool College of Further Education, was the culmination of a primary maths global exchange programme.

Israel declassifies documents in 1950s missing children saga

Israel has declassified reams of documents related to a decades-old mystery of young children who disappeared in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Some 200,000 documents were released online Wednesday from past government inquiries into the disappearance of about 1,000 children, mostly Jewish immigrants from Yemen and other Arab countries.

Deadline looms for flood grant applications

Flood-affected residents and businesses across Calderdale are being reminded that time is running out to apply for grants to repair and protect their properties, as the application deadlines are fast approaching. Calderdale was the worst hit area by the unprecedented floods last Boxing Day, with over 2000 residents and more than 1000 businesses flooded.

Deadline looms for flood grant applications

Flood-affected residents and businesses across Calderdale are being reminded that time is running out to apply for grants to repair and protect their properties, as the application deadlines are fast approaching. Calderdale was the worst hit area by the unprecedented floods last Boxing Day, with over 2000 residents and more than 1000 businesses flooded.

LC polls budget won’t go beyond sh10b – Kasaija

“It’s sh10b or nothing,” says Kasaija on whether government is amenable to the idea of increasing the budget for LC polls. PIC: Ben Kumumanya, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, looks on as finance minister Matia Kasaija speaks while appearing before the Parliamentary committee on Local governments on Wednesday.

LC polls budget won’t go beyond sh10b – Kasaija

“It’s sh10b or nothing,” says Kasaija on whether government is amenable to the idea of increasing the budget for LC polls. PIC: Ben Kumumanya, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, looks on as finance minister Matia Kasaija speaks while appearing before the Parliamentary committee on Local governments on Wednesday.

On this day 91 years ago: Obote is born

It is exactly 95 years today since the birth of Apolo Milton Obote, who would years later become Uganda’s president. A son of a tribal chief of the Lango ethnic group, Obote was born in a remote village of Apac district called Akokoro.

On this day 91 years ago: Obote is born

It is exactly 95 years today since the birth of Apolo Milton Obote, who would years later become Uganda’s president. A son of a tribal chief of the Lango ethnic group, Obote was born in a remote village of Apac district called Akokoro.

Second flight recorder recovered from Black Sea crash site

In this image from video and provided by the Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service, ministry diver adjusts a rope on a fragment of a plane engine, to lift it outside in Sochi, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016. The Defense Ministry says search teams have recovered another flight recorder from a military plane that crashed in the Black Sea, killing all 92 aboard.

Dragons boss backs ‘tough as nails’ Blake to make impact after hitting the gym

PACKING A PUNCH: Back row forward Robson Blake, pictured carrying hard against Yorkshire Carnegie for the Dragons Premiership Select XV, has earned a regional deal NEWPORT Gwent Dragons believe they have got an unpolished diamond in Robson Blake with head coach Kingsley Jones tipping the Bedwas back rower to flourish thanks to hitting the gym. The 21-year-old from Powys has signed a contract with the region after impressing in the Principality Premiership for the men from Bridge Field, who he joined last summer from Division One East champions Bedlinog.

Dragons boss backs ‘tough as nails’ Blake to make impact after hitting the gym

PACKING A PUNCH: Back row forward Robson Blake, pictured carrying hard against Yorkshire Carnegie for the Dragons Premiership Select XV, has earned a regional deal NEWPORT Gwent Dragons believe they have got an unpolished diamond in Robson Blake with head coach Kingsley Jones tipping the Bedwas back rower to flourish thanks to hitting the gym. The 21-year-old from Powys has signed a contract with the region after impressing in the Principality Premiership for the men from Bridge Field, who he joined last summer from Division One East champions Bedlinog.

10 Things to Know for Today

A Turkish news agency says Ankara and Moscow are working to ensure that the truce would come into effect at midnight, although there was no immediate confirmation from the Turkish Foreign Ministry. “People relate to aspects of my stories and that’s nice for me because then I’m not all alone with it,” she told The AP in 2009.

10 Things to Know for Today

A Turkish news agency says Ankara and Moscow are working to ensure that the truce would come into effect at midnight, although there was no immediate confirmation from the Turkish Foreign Ministry. “People relate to aspects of my stories and that’s nice for me because then I’m not all alone with it,” she told The AP in 2009.

The Latest: East Jerusalem housing vote delayed

The Latest on the aftermath of the U.S. allowing an anti-settlement resolution to pass through the U.N. security council : A Jerusalem city councilman says a municipal committee has delayed a vote on roughly 500 new homes in Jewish areas of east Jerusalem following a request from Israel’s prime minister. Council member Hanan Rubin told The Associated Press that Benjamin Netanyahu asked to delay Wednesday’s vote so as not to antagonize relations with the U.S. Rubin says the council did not want U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to mention the building in his anticipated policy speech on Wednesday, turning it into a “political issue.”

The Latest: East Jerusalem housing vote delayed

The Latest on the aftermath of the U.S. allowing an anti-settlement resolution to pass through the U.N. security council : A Jerusalem city councilman says a municipal committee has delayed a vote on roughly 500 new homes in Jewish areas of east Jerusalem following a request from Israel’s prime minister. Council member Hanan Rubin told The Associated Press that Benjamin Netanyahu asked to delay Wednesday’s vote so as not to antagonize relations with the U.S. Rubin says the council did not want U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to mention the building in his anticipated policy speech on Wednesday, turning it into a “political issue.”

Philippines Hunts for Crew of Ship Sunk by Typhoon Nock-Ten; AIR Comments

The Philippine coast guard pressed its search Tuesday for 18 crewmen from a cargo ship that sank at the height of Typhoon Nock-Ten, which struck the country on Christmas Day. Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said 14 other crewmen have been rescued and one died after the M/V Starlite Atlantic sank off Mabini town in Batangas province, where the powerful typhoon passed Monday on its way out of the country into the South China Sea.

Philippines Hunts for Crew of Ship Sunk by Typhoon Nock-Ten; AIR Comments

The Philippine coast guard pressed its search Tuesday for 18 crewmen from a cargo ship that sank at the height of Typhoon Nock-Ten, which struck the country on Christmas Day. Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said 14 other crewmen have been rescued and one died after the M/V Starlite Atlantic sank off Mabini town in Batangas province, where the powerful typhoon passed Monday on its way out of the country into the South China Sea.

One in five Swedish men are ‘risky drinkers’

Almost one in five Swedish men are at risk of suffering harmful consequences from drinking too much alcohol, compared to one in eight Swedish women, according to national health statistics. The figures come from Sweden’s Public Health Agency’s national health survey, which interviewed people aged 16-84 in 2013-2016 about their health, and were reported by news agency Siren.

One in five Swedish men are ‘risky drinkers’

Almost one in five Swedish men are at risk of suffering harmful consequences from drinking too much alcohol, compared to one in eight Swedish women, according to national health statistics. The figures come from Sweden’s Public Health Agency’s national health survey, which interviewed people aged 16-84 in 2013-2016 about their health, and were reported by news agency Siren.

Rebels deny Russian claims of regime talks

Syrian youths collect wood from rubble to be used for heating and cooking, on December 27, 2016, in the Damascus rebel-held eastern suburb of Zamalka. / AFP / AMER ALMOHIBANY A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on December 28, 2016, on page 1.

Pivots Instead of Policies in International Affairs

Recently, we see the “pivot” as a mechanism of foreign policy that is growing in significance. The pivot has become the swift adjustment of foreign policy priorities and alignments by individual countries within the context of the dominant multilateral approach of the post-WWII world.

Vernon Philander: Lead of 80-plus will put SA in good stead vs SL in 1st Test

“We knew it was going to be tough scoring here – it’s always tough in PE,” said Vernon Philander A Getty Images South African all-rounder Vernon Philander on Tuesday said that ensuring Sri Lanka ‘s final three wickets to fall in a matter of just 25 runs would prove to be fruitful for the hosts, as they could possible take a good advantage and a healthy lead against the visitors. “A lead of 80-plus will put us in good stead.