At least 20 firefighters killed in hehran high-rise collapse

TEHRAN, Iran The scene unspooled as if in a disaster film: As firefighters fought to control a blaze in one of Tehran’s most prominent high-rise buildings, the structure suddenly collapsed Thursday in a smoldering heap of wreckage all while millions watched on Iranian state television. The state-run channel PressTV said that at least 20 firefighters were confirmed dead and that dozens of people could be trapped beneath the rubble.

Stolen Van Gogh paintings recovered in Italy to head home

In this Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 file photo, Director of Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum Axel Rueger, center, stands next to the paintings ‘Congregation Leaving The Reformed Church of Nuenen’, left, and 1882 ‘Seascape at Scheveningen’ by Vincent Van Gogh, during a press conference in Naples, Italy.

Robinho in Brazil squad for Chape fundraiser versus Colombia

Veteran forward Robinho has been called back into Brazil’s national team for Wednesday’s friendly against Colombia – a match that will raise funds for the families of the victims of the Chapecoense team air crash. The former Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan player has not played for Brazil since the 2015 Copa America.

Nation-Now 24 mins ago 2:59 p.m.Avalanche buries Italian hotel; ‘Many dead’ with at least 30 missing

Italian military soldiers clear out the snow next to a bulldozer on the main road to Amatrice, after an earthquake struck the region, on January 19, 2017. Rescue workers in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, fearful about plummeting night-time temperatures, were in a race against time Thursday searching for survivors after an avalanche of snow, ice and mud flattened a resort hotel with up to 30 guests and staff members inside.

With Little Room to Maneuver, Syria’s Rebels Head for Talks

Syrian rebels are sending more than a dozen representatives next week to the capital of Kazakhstan for talks with government representatives, the first such negotiations between the two sides in a year. But the loss of Aleppo, the election of Donald Trump and the pivot of Turkey toward Russia has left the opposition with very little room to maneuver.

Prosecutors want 3-5 years jail for soldier convicted of manslaughter

Elor Azaria, an Israeli soldier who shot a Palestinian terrorist in Hebron, sits in the courtroom before the announcement of his verdict at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 Military prosecutors are likely to ask that an IDF soldier convicted on manslaughter for shooting a mortally wounded, unarmed Palestinian attacker be sentenced to between 3-5 years in prison in case that has deeply divided the nation, a television report said Thursday. On January 4 the Jaffa Military Court convicted IDF Sgt.

Turkish Parliament Nears Approval of Presidential System Sought by Erdogan

Turkey moved closer to adopting a new constitutional bill extending President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s powers that supporters welcome as a guarantor of stability at a time of turmoil and opponents see as a step towards an authoritarian state. Parliament ratified the first seven of 18 articles in a second round of voting, putting the assembly on track to approve the package as a whole by Friday night.

Beijing To Spend $2.7 Billion On Cleaning Capital’s Air

Part of the money will be used to close or upgrade more than 2,000 polluting factories, replace the use of coal with clean energy on the outskirts of the city and phase out 300,000 high-polluting older vehicles, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing Beijing’s acting mayor, Cai Qi. Authorities are eager to bring about a visible improvement in China’s bad air, especially in the high-profile capital and its surrounding areas.

George Street resident Basil Sujeeun

A DISABLED man and other residents who say they feel intimated by vandals are demanding the installation of CCTV cameras to combat anti-social behaviour in their streets. Basil Sujeeun, who has lived in Newport since 2010, has spoken out over “constant” anti-social behaviour taking place along George Street.

Apology over evidence heard in inquest of Tunisia terrorist attacks

THE families of Britons killed in a terrorist attack in Tunisia have received an apology after they had to sit through “distressing” inquest evidence with no prior warning. The hearing, into the deaths of the 30 British holidaymakers in Sousse in June 2015 – including Blackwood mum-of-four Trudy Jones – began with an apology to the relatives in court yesterday.

Two appear in court over Newport golf club death

The body of Gareth Pugh, 29, of Glynneath was retrieved from a lake within the grounds of the golf club near Wentloog in February TWO men have appeared in court accused of manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of a man at Peterstone Golf Club a year ago. Jonathan Dean Pike, 47, of Sarn Helen, Ystradfellte, Aberdare and Dale Dean Pike, 25, of Chain Walk, Glynneath were present at Cardiff Crown Court.

Obama speaks to Merkel in final call with foreign leader

President Obama spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday in his final conversation with a foreign leader as president. Both leaders agreed maintaining close ties between the U.S. and Europe is “essential to ensuring a a rules-based international order and the defense of values that have done so much to advance human progress in our countries and around the world.”

China Southern Airlines Is A Buy

Shares of China Southern Airlines, the largest Chinese Air Carrier are attractively priced and are trading at a discount from the highs. In a conservative scenario, the shares have about 30% upside if they trade at 5-year average historical forward EV/EBITDA.

Supreme Court justice in Brazil dies in plane crash

In this March 4, 2015, file photo, Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Teori Zavascki attends a session of the Supreme Court in Brasilia, Brazil. Zavascki’s son said that his father was on a plane that crashed off the coast of the city in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.

Valley man testifies brother – sliced open’ the body of an

U.S. Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna’s, back left, attorney Carlos A. Garcia gives his opening statement in Luna’s capital murder trial in Brownsville, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. Luna, 30, was charged along with his two brothers, Eduardo Luna Rodriguez, 24, and Fernando Luna Rodriguez, 35, in the murder in the death of Honduran immigrant Jose Francisco Rodriguez Palacios Paz, 33. The Honduran was found decapitated off South Padre Island in March of 2015.

Bundesliga will be ready to use video review next season

Clear Springs seniors Sierra Cheatham and Tasharian Robinson recently received the type of recognition that head girls basketball coach Pam Crawford saw the potential for each player when she first met them years ago. It took seven tries, but Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell is now in his rightful place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi stepping out of brother’s shadow

Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi follows the Italian Cup, Round of 16 soccer match between Lazio and Genoa at the Rome Olympic stadium Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. Lazio’s Ciro Immobile, top, celebrates after scoring during the Italian Cup, Round of 16 soccer match between Lazio and Genoa at the Rome Olympic stadium Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017.

The Latest: Yale-educated economist takes key European post

President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi speaks during a news conference after a meeting of the governing council in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi speaks during a news conference after a meeting of the governing council in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.

ECB keeps stimulus on high even as economy picks up

President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi waits for the beginning of a news conference after a meeting of the governing council in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi waits for the beginning of a news conference after a meeting of the governing council in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.

Gambia president-elect set for inauguration in Senegal

The streets of Banjul are deserted Wednesday Jan. 18, 2017. Special flights were being organized Wednesday to evacuate British and other tourists from Gambia, where the threat of a regional military intervention loomed as President Yahya Jammeh’s mandate expires on Thursday after he lost elections in December.

Koeman open to moves for Deulofeu and Jagielka

Ronald Koeman would be happy to let Gerard Deulofeu leave Everton – and captain Phil Jagielka could also be nearing the exit door. AC Milan have been in negotiations over a loan move for winger Deulofeu but the terms of the deal have been a sticking point and no agreement has been reached.

Chelsea interest will disappear if Traore loses focus – Karanka

Adama Traore has been warned not to risk losing his place in the Middlesbrough team by getting carried away with Premier League leaders Chelsea’s pursuit of him. The Blues are understood to have registered an interest in the 20-year-old Spanish winger, who only joined Boro from Aston Villa in August, after a series of high-octane individual displays in the top flight.

Of Cranes’ slow start, tourney of few goals

The anxious fans along routes to the different stadiums on match days paint the picture even better. However, that has not reflected well on the field of play thus far Uganda’s squad midfielder Hassan Wasswa, midfielder Geoffrey Kizito, midfielder Mike Azira, defender Joseph Ochaya, goalkeeper Denis Onyango, forward Geoffrey Massa, defender Denis Iguma, midfielder Tony Mawejje, forward Farouk Miya, defender Isaac Isinde and forward Luwagga William Kizito pose for a group picture ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group D football match between Ghana and Uganda in Port-Gentil on January 17, 2017.

Man is cleared of all charges

Two charges of making a threat to kill and two assault charges against a 24-year-old man were dismissed on Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court. Phelim Leathem, Boconnell Lane, Lurgan, was aquitted on all the charges alleged to have happened on May 2 last year.

Dharamshala declared second capital of Himachal Pradesh

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday declared Dharamshala, situated in the snow-capped Dhauladhar range, the second capital of Himachal Pradesh. Camping at Dharamshala these days during the second week of his annual winter sojourn, he made this declaration which said that the State government was mulling over declaring Dharamshala as Winter Capital of the State for two months in a year.

US Lifts Gun Ban

THE United States has resumed the authorisation process for firearm export licences to Jamaica, lifting an almost two-month ban that was imposed in November last year. The US Embassy in Kingston said in a news release yesterday that the State Department has resumed the authorisation process, considering each case on its merits.

Plea in Supreme Court seeking removal of RBI directors over note ban28 min ago

New Delhi, Jan 19: A petition has been filed in Supreme Court seeking removal of the present Board of Directors of Reserve Bank of India for not following its mandate and recommending demonetisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes on the advice of the Centre. The petition said that the central bank has failed to “prepare a plan, feasibility and impact assessment of note-banning and chose to act on the advice of Central Government, without application of mind”.