MEUREUDU: In the latest update on the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit Indonesia's Aceh province, the death toll has said to have touched 102. A spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the number of deaths spread across three districts in northern Aceh, but concentrated in Pidie Jaya near the epicentre. Addressing a press conference, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 136 people are severely injured and more than 600 have light injuries. He said the death toll "probably will increase", despite the agency only counting one person as officially missing." A joint rescue team is still continuing to search for the victims."
NY cops to act tough on hate crimes
NEW YORK: Officials of New York City have vowed to find and prosecute any and all hate-crime suspects, after a man threatened to kill a policewoman wearing a Muslim headscarf. Police Commissioner James O'Neill said, "If anybody's thinking in New York about engaging in this type of behaviour, just rest assured that you will be identified, you will be arrested, you will be charged." Officer Aml Elsokary was walking with her son in Brooklyn when a man lunged at the boy, threatened to cut her throat and accused the two of being connected to terror outfit the Islamic State. Police noticed a spike in crimes targeting Jews, and Muslims since the election of Donald Trump.
World Bank scraps $100m loan to Pak
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has cancelled its $100 million loan to Pakistan for a natural gas efficiency project as no progress had been made to achieve the development objectives. The project, which was to be carried out by Sui Southern Gas Company in its distribution areas in Karachi, interior Sindh, and Balochistan, looked forward to enhance the supply of natural gas by reducing physical and commercial losses of gas in the pipeline system. However, a lack of interest on the part of the company prompted the cancellation of funds. A report released by the WB said the failure of the project led to its closure, and as a result, the levels of unaccounted-for gas remained high while continuing to drain the precious natural resource.
Millions want to join Mexico girl's b'day
LA JOYA (MEXICO): The invitation to a 15 year old girl's birthday party in Mexico has gone viral with 1.2 million people ready to attend. Rubi Ibarra Garcia and her parents uploaded a video to Facebook inviting friends and family to the party only for it to be shared over 800,000 times. The video shows the girl's grandfather Crescencio Ibarra saying "everyone is welcome" and listing the bands that will play, along with a horse race. A girl's 15th birthday is seen as her coming of age in Mexico and massive celebrations are to be expected. Ibarra said he would not turn anyone away and police are set to be deployed to the town of La Joya to ensure people's safety. Mexican airline Interjet even published a promotion offering 30 per cent discount on flights to San Luis Potosi under the slogan "Are you going to Rubi's party?"
Bus runs over Indian workers in Sharjah
DUBAI: A person was killed and nine others injured, after a bus ran over a group of workers waiting on the side of a road in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Police said the men, eight Indians and two Pakistanis, were waiting on the side of the road in Al Hamriya region for a ride to their accommodation when they were hit by the vehicle. A 34 year old was killed on the spot while the injured were rushed to Khalifa Hospital. Authorities were immediately notified after the accident and a team of patrol, traffic experts, and ambulances were rushed to the spot.
Clooney, Amal in $300m divorce?
LOS ANGELES: Actor George Clooney and wife Amal are reportedly head towards splitsville, having living separately for quite some while. Reports reveal the couple are working their way towards a $300 million divorce. "Amal wanted kids, he didn't. She'll get his fortune and his Lake Como Villa. While they love each other, they might be realising they want different things in life," a source said, adding their "growing divide" is allegedly due to a "long list of grievances" that have brought the relationship to a "perilous crossroads". The source also said, "When George and Amal first got together, their friends thought they were a perfect match. But now some are expecting them to announce a split. George was feeling the mounting pressure" to have children and had reluctantly agreed. "But as I understand it, he's since backed away from that decision and Amal is crushed."
Imran boycotts `Panamagate' probe panel
ISLAMABAD: A hearing into the Pnamagate case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan saw Imran Khan-led Tehreek-e-Insaaf party announcing it will boycott the probe commission to be formed. The SC adjourned the case till the first week of January as differences over formation of a probe commission dominated the proceedings. A five-judge bench is hearing the case after the PTI and four other petitioners approached the apex court alleging that ill-gotten money was used by Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family to buy flats in London. PTI counsel Naeem Bokhari announced the party's decision to boycott the commission to probe the scam.
Turkey vows vengeance as 2 blasts aimed at cops kill 38
ISTANBUL: An offshoot of militant Kurdistan Workers Party claimed responsibility for the twin bombings that killed 38 people, including 30 police personnel, and wounded 155 outside an Istanbul football stadium. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks released a statement on its website saying the weekend blasts were their doing. The attacks took place near the Vodafone Arena, home to the Besiktas soccer team, mere two hours after the match at the stadium. Speaking at the funeral of five of the police officers who lost their lives to the attack, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu had said, "Sooner or later we will have our vengeance. This blood will not be left on the ground, no matter what the price, what the cost."
Truck suicide attack kills 20 in Mogadishu
MOGADISHU: Over 20 people were killed in a suicide truck bombing in Somalian capital of Mogadishu on Sunday. A strike claimed by the Qaida-linked Shabaab group, it remains unclear how many people were in the vicinity of the blast, and the death toll is expected to rise. Police commander Ibrahim Mohamed said, "Our tally indicates that more than 20 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the blast. The bomber targeted a civilian area. There were porters and other small traders in the area when the blast occurred."
Church roof caves in, kills 160 in Nigeria
WARRI (NIGERIA): Over 160 people died after a roof of a crowded church collapsed onto worshippers in southern Nigeria on Saturday. Youth leader Edikan Peters said many other victims were in private mortuaries scattered all over the city of Uyo. People said the Reigners Bible Church was still under construction when it was crowded with worshippers to ordain a bishop. Metal girders crashed and the corrugated iron roof caved in. The state government is all set to launch an investigation to see whether the building standards were compromised. Such incidents occur regularly in Nigeria as endemic corruption is rampant in the region with contractors using sub-standard materials and bribing inspectors to ignore shoddy work or a lack of building permits.
Renzi's foreign minister named Italy's new PM
ROME: Paolo Gentiloni was named Italy's new Prime Minister on Sunday, following Matteo Renzi's resignation after a crushing referendum defeat. Gentiloni, 62, who served as foreign minister under Renzi, was asked by President Sergio Mattarella to form a new Centre-left government capable enough of guiding Italy to elections due in 2018. Soft-spoken as opposed to the hyper-active Renzi, the new PM is expected to bring in his own distinct change in the government. Opposition parties demanded an immediate vote, claiming the new government would be a puppet administration with the former leader pulling the strings from behind the scenes. In a brief statement after meeting the President, Gentiloni said there was an "urgent need for a fully functioning government" to address pressing issues.
Naveed Mukhtar appointed Pak spy master
Islamabad: Within days of taking over as the new Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reshuffled the entire military top brass, most notably bringing in Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar as the new Inter-Services Intelligence chief and Lt Gen Bilal Akbar as chief of general staff (CGS) - positions considered crucial in policy formulations. Commissioned in 1983, Lt Gen Mukhtar is from the armoured corps; before becoming Karachi's Corps commander in September 2014, he was heading ISI's counter terrorism wing in Islamabad. Sources close to military circles believe Mukhtar has first-hand knowledge of security threats and his previous posting at ISI made him an ideal choice for Sharif. At the same time, some believe that with Mukhtar's appointment, the PM would be confident of pursuing independent foreign policy initiatives.
