Month: December 2016

Latham shines as NZ makes record score

New Zealand set a record total of 341 for seven to start their one-day international series against Bangladesh in Christchurch. It was the highest score against their opponents in 26 ODI meetings, and equalled the format record at the ground – 341 for nine by Scotland against Canada in a World Cup qualifier.

Red Christmas in Mexico: decapitations and a mass slaying

To continue reading up to 10 premium articles, you must register , or sign up and take advantage of this exclusive offer: MEXICO CITY – Western Mexico’s plague of violence continued on Christmas Day with the discovery of six decapitated heads in one state and the slaying of seven people in another. The Michoacan state prosecutor’s office said the six heads were found in Jiquilpan, a municipality near the state of Jalisco in a region that has been a battleground between competing drug gangs in recent years.

Putin’s Hit Teams Head for Syria

Chechen killers seasoned in the North Caucasus wars are on their way to Syria to take on ISIS – or anyone else deemed dangerous to Kremlin policy. MOSCOW-Dozens of special military units in red berets lined up in the sun, waiting for the transport to move them to what they gently referred to as “Shama,” which in their Chechen mother tongue means the Holy Land in Syria.

The Year in Shocking Celebrity Scandals

With every passing day, the year 2016 has felt more and more apocalyptic, and the entertainment world has spiraled accordingly. A summer of fun, flirty, phallic paparazzi shots gave way to some seriously dark shit-the Kim Kardashian Parisian jewel heist, Kanye’s temporary psychosis, and Brangelina’s heartrending divorce announcement.

Iran says will only pay half price for new Boeing planes

Iran’s official IRNA news agency is reporting the deputy transport minister as saying that his county will only pay half of the announced price for 80 new Boeing planes, given the reductions in its purchasing options. According to the Sunday report, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan says that despite an initial $16.8 billion deal with Boeing to purchase 80 passenger planes, “Regarding the style of our order and its options, the purchase contract for 80 Boeing aircraft is worth about 50 percent of the amount.”

Powerful earthquake shakes Chile, no deaths reported

A powerful earthquake shook southern Chile on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of deaths and only minor known damage. The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake’s magnitude at 7.6 and said it struck at 11:22 a.m. local time near the southern tip of Chiloe Island, about 25 miles south-southwest of Puerto Quello and at a depth of 22 miles .

Israel well aware of UN resolution: Murray McCully

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says the United Nations resolution criticising Israeli settlements in occupied territories should not have been a surprise to Israel. He issued a statement after Israel withdrew its ambassador to Wellington after the Government co-sponsored a controversial UN resolution criticising settlements in the occupied territories.

The Latest: Russia: All causes for plane crash being eyed

The Latest on the crash of a Russian aircraft with 92 people on board en route to Russia’s air base in Syria : Russia’s transport minister says investigators are looking into all possible reasons why a Russian military plane crashed into the Black Sea with 92 people on board, including the option of a terror attack. Earlier, a Russian official had downplayed any suggestion of a terror attack.

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits off Chilean coast

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred off the coast of southern Chile Sunday, 40 km southwest of Puerto Quellon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami threat message for parts of the Pacific Ocean close to the earthquake.

Wind warning issued for all of P.E.I.

Winds forecasted to gust at 90 km/h across province, while blowing snow expected in central and western eastern P.E.I. It is a windy Christmas Day on Prince Edward Island with northwest gusts expected to reach 90 km/h this afternoon. Environment Canada has issued a warning for the entire province that there is a significant risk of strong winds that could cause damage as well as blowing snow.

Russians lay flowers to honor plane crash victims

NO REPORTER NARRATION STORY: Moscow residents started to bring flowers and candles to the headquarters of Alexandrov Ensemble, better known internationally as the Red Army Choir, as well as the charity fund ‘Fair Aid’ to honor plane crash victims. A Russian military plane carrying 92 people, including dozens of Red Army Choir singers, dancers and orchestra members, crashed into the Black Sea on its way to Syria on Sunday , killing everyone on board, Russian authorities said.

Iran Says Will Only Pay Half Price for New Boeing Planes

Iran’s official IRNA news agency is reporting the deputy transport minister as saying that his county will only pay half of the announced price for 80 new Boeing planes, given the reductions in its purchasing options. According to the Sunday report, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan says that despite an initial $16.8 billion deal with Boeing to purchase 80 passenger planes, “Regarding the style of our order and its options, the purchase contract for 80 Boeing aircraft is worth about 50 percent of the amount.”

Ashington man Nick Dunn spends another Christmas in Indian ‘hell hole’ as he awaits appeal

Nick Dunn was hoping to be reunited with his loved ones after four years in India but a decision on his appeal is not expected until New Year Six British ex-soldiers will spend Christmas Day in a “hell hole” Indian jail after their hopes of coming home were dashed again. The six, who a British lawyer says are victims of a miscarriage of justice, hoped their appeal in court last month would allow them to be reunited with their loved ones back home for the first time in four years.

East Dunbartonshire to host National Holocaust Memorial Day

Scotland’s national Holocaust Memorial Day will be hosted next month by East Dunbartonshire – along with a number of other events throughout the week. The Council is working in partnership with Interfaith Scotland and the Scottish Government to raise awareness of the persecution on the theme of ‘How can life go on?’ Bishopbriggs Academy has been chosen as the venue for Scotland’s Holocaust memorial event on Thursday 26 January – the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Essex man fighting for his life in hospital after he was discovered unconscious in a park

Mystery surrounds man, 35, who is fighting for his life in hospital after he was discovered unconscious in a park after his work’s Christmas party Detectives have released an image of a man in a life threatening condition after he was found unconscious in a park after a Christmas party. He had suffered a severe head injury and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where he is currently recovering.

Pope urges peace, comforts terror victims in Christmas message

Pope Francis urged peace around the world in his traditional Christmas address on Sunday, calling for weapons in Syria to fall silent and offering comfort to victims of terrorism. As Europe ramped up security for the holiday just days after the truck attack that left 12 dead at a Berlin Christmas market, the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics said he hoped for “peace to those who have lost a person dear to them as a result of brutal acts of terrorism”.

Tens of thousands flee Christmas Day typhoon in Philippines

Babies, toddlers and old people were loaded onto military trucks in pouring rain in the Philippines on Sunday as tens of thousands fled the path of a powerful typhoon barrelling towards the disaster-prone archipelago. Officials warned of large coastal waves of up to 2.5-metres high, landslides and flash floods as Nock-Ten closed in on the Bicol peninsula and nearby islands.

Israel to do ‘all it takes’ to emerge unharmed by UN vote

Israel pressed forward with promises of retaliation and damage control Sunday following a U.N. vote last week on an anti-settlement resolution that passed thanks to an abstention by the U.S., Israel’s close ally. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it began summoning the ambassadors of countries who voted in favor of the resolution, including those from the permanent members of the Security Council _ Russia, China, the U.K. and France.

The Latest: Putin declares day of mourning for crash victims

The Latest on the crash of a Russian aircraft with 92 people on board en route to Russia’s air base in Syria : Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a nationwide day of mourning for victims of the crash of a Russian plane that plunged into the sea with 92 people aboard. There appeared to be no survivors after the Tu-154 passenger plane operated by the Russian Defense Ministry crashed into the Black Sea Sunday minutes after taking off from Sochi.

Russian plane with 92 aboard crashes int…

A Russian plane headed to an air base in Syria with 92 people aboard, including members of the world-famous Russian army choir, crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday minutes after taking off from the city of Sochi, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. There appeared to be no survivors.

‘Hit by drought, Kashmir nomads shifting closer to urban centres’

Jammu, Dec 25 : Hit by unprecedented dry spell in the higher reaches, nomad tribals in Jammu and Kashmir have started shifting to plain areas close to cities and towns in the Jammu region, a tribal rights body said on Sunday. [NK Business] “Facing extreme deficit of fodder for their animals due to insufficient rainfall, the drought-hit families of Gujjars living in hills of Jammu and Kashmir have started shifting along with their cattle towards the plain areas, nearer to cities and towns, in search of cattle feed and water,” the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, representing nomadic tribals, said in a statement.

Money has lost its ‘anonymity’ after demonetisation: Jaitley

New Delhi, Dec 25 : Describing the currency being deposited in banks following last month’s demonetisation of high-value notes as money that has lost its earlier “anonymity”, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said these funds now available with the banks have strengthened the Indian banking system. [NK Business] “The money that is being deposited in cash form after demonetisation… now the anonymity of that money is gone,” Jaitley said at the DigiDhan Mela event here to promote cashless transactions.