text:
Difference between revisions of "Travel news"
Latest revision as of 00:50, 12 August 2018
This is Wikitravel's Travel news section, about issues affecting travellers, both positively and negatively. For more general news, see Wikinews.
Yosemite Closed Indefinitely due to the fires
Aug 12
The scope of California's fires is unprecedented and has resulted in the closure of Yosemite National Park as firefighters battle 17 large fires, one of which is the largest fire in California's history. In total, over 14,000 firefighters are battling fires across the state, working to contain widespread fires as new ones appear almost daily. The National Guard sent in over 2,300 people to help contain the fight and international assistance from Australia and New Zealand are on hand to assist. The Mendocino Complex Fire doubled in size in the past few days, making it the largest fire in California's recorded history. The Mendocino Complex Fire is the result of both the Ranch and River Fires combining near Clear Lake to form the largest fire in history. [1]
Romanians in fresh protests after clashes
Aug 12
Thousands of Romanians are again taking part in an anti-government rally in the capital Bucharest, a day after clashes left more than 400 people injured. So far the protest near the government offices has been noisy but peaceful. Similar demonstrations are also reported in other cities including Cluj, Sibiu, Timisoara and Iasi. On Friday, more than 50,000 people took to the streets against what they described as entrenched corruption and low wages. Many of the demonstrators are Romanian expats who have returned from across Europe to voice their anger at the government. [2]
1,600 evacuated as floods hit southern France
Aug 12
According to the interior ministry, a total of 1,600 people, most of them campers, were evacuated as a precaution in Gard and the nearby Ardeche and Drome regions. Several parts of central and south-east France are on flood alert after weeks of blazing temperatures erupted in storms, turning several campsites into mudbaths. Around 17,000 homes in the south-west and north-east were without power.[3]
Ryanair strike hits 55000 passengers across Europe
Aug 12
Ryanair endured its worst one-day strike on Friday after a walk-out by pilots in five European countries disrupted the plans of an estimated 55,000 travellers with the budget airline at the height of the summer holiday season. Ryanair, which averted widespread strikes before last Christmas by agreeing to recognise unions for the first time in its 30-year history, has been unable to quell rising protests over slow progress in negotiating collective labour agreements. In response to unions serving strike notices, Ryanair had announced the cancellations of 250 flights in and out of Germany, 104 to and from Belgium and another 42 in Sweden and its home market of Ireland, where around a quarter of its pilots were staging their fifth 24-hour walkout. The airline expected the travel plans of 42,000 travellers to be hit by the action in Germany alone, with the majority of passengers switched to another Ryanair flight and the remainder either refunded or rerouted. [4]
Portugal wildfires still ongoing
Aug 6
More than 1,150 firefighters battled the blaze in the popular tourist Algarve region today. The fire has injured 25 people as temperatures have soared to 46C (115F) in places, close to Portugal's national record of 47.4C (117.3F). Homes and hotels in the Algarve region have been evacuated as the fire, which began on Friday in Monchique in the Faro district. [5]
Another earthquake hits Indonesia
Aug 6
Another deadly earthquake hits Indonesia in popular tourist island Lombok. Death toll has gone up to 98 and hundreds of homes have been severely damaged. President Joko Widodo has urged for a speedy evacuation and boats have been sent to evacuate more than 1,000 tourists.
Hundreds rescued from Lombok volcano
July 31
More than 500 hikers who were stranded on a mountain on the Indonesian island of Lombok after an earthquake have been safely evacuated. The 6.4 magnitude quake on Sunday triggered landslides around Mount Rinjani, cutting off escape routes. Most of the hikers and guides were able to walk down after a safe route was found for them but some were flown out by helicopter. At least 16 people were killed in the quake and more than 330 were injured. Rescue workers are still waiting to bring down the body of an Indonesian hiker who was killed by falling rocks. A Malaysian tourist also died. The volcano, which rises 3,726m (12,224ft) above sea level and is the second-highest one in Indonesia, is a favourite among sightseers. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because it lies on the Ring of Fire - a horse-shoe-shaped string of volcanoes, earthquake sites and tectonic plates that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.[6]
Indonesia earthquake
July 29
at least 14 dead on tourist island of Lombok. The 6.4 magnitude quake hit the central island of Lombok just before 07:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Sunday. [7]
Seventeen missing in California wildfire
July 29
Seventeen people are missing as a monster wildfire in Northern California spread after killing two firefighters, destroying hundreds of buildings and sending tens of thousands of frantic residents fleeing from their homes. More than 38,000 people in Redding and elsewhere in Shasta County have been ordered to leave their homes from the 32,740-hectare Carr Fire, which has destroyed at least 500 homes and businesses. Officials warned further evacuation orders were possible. Some 3400 firefighters on the ground and in 17 helicopters were battling the fire, which was just five per cent contained as it ripped through Redding, a city of 90,000 people, in California's scenic Shasta-Trinity area.[8]
Powerful storm hits Japan
July 29
A powerful storm has hit Japan, bringing torrential rain and winds of up to 180km/h (110mph). Typhoon Jongdari (or "skylark" in Korean) made landfall on the country's main island, Honshu, at 01:00 (16:00 GMT) on Sunday. Weather officials have since downgraded it to a tropical storm, but warn that heavy rain could trigger landslides. The storm comes less than a month after floods killed more than 200 people, and then a heatwave left dozens dead. [9]
More than 80 dead in Greece wildfires
July 26
There are "serious indications of arson" in one of several Greek wildfires that killed more than 80 people this week, authorities said Thursday. The fires started in the town of Penteli in east Attica on Monday. [10]
More than 200 dead in Syria attacks
July 21
At least 215 people have died in a series of apparently co-ordinated attacks in south-western Syria, local officials and a monitoring group say. Several suicide bombings struck in and around the government-held city of Suweida - the main city in the province - on Wednesday. [11]
Death toll hits 30 as temperature soars in Japan
July 21
A continuing heat wave in Japan has led to temperatures as high as 40C, with the casualties climbing up as more deaths were reported. Public broadcaster NHK reported that until Friday a number of people had been taken to hospital due to heat stroke related symptoms. [12]
Israel carries out strikes as soldier killed
July 21
Israel has attacked military targets in the Gaza Strip, after its soldiers came under gunfire at the border. The Israeli military announced that one soldier had died from his wounds, the first in the most recent clashes. [13]
Storms across East Coast causes thousands of flight cancellations
July 17
Heavy storms in the East Coast has caused more than 1,500 flight cancellations and 4,000 flight delays. The storm zone goes from Maryland to Maine with the Northeast experiencing flash flood alerts. [14]
Ryanair cancels 30 flights as strike hits
July 12
Ryanair is facing its first day of industrial action in Ireland since the airline bowed to pressure from staff and recognised trades unions. The budget airline has cancelled 30 flights on Thursday after the Irish Airline Pilots' Association voted to strike last week. Only flights between Ireland and the UK are affected. However, Ryanair is facing further strikes in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium later in the summer. [15]
Torrential rain & landslides in Japan
July 10
At least 141 people are now known to have died in floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain in western Japan, says the government. It is the highest death toll caused by rainfall that Japan has seen in more than three decades. Rescuers are now digging through mud and rubble in a race to find survivors, as dozens are still missing. About two million people have been evacuated from the region after rivers burst their banks. Authorities have opened up school halls and gymnasiums to those who have been displaced by the rainfall. There remains a risk of landslides, with rain-sodden hilltops liable to collapse. [16]
Suicide bomber kills 10 in Jalalabad
July 10
A suicide bomber blew himself up on Tuesday in the Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing at least 10 people, government officials said, but no militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. [17]
Flights canceled as Taiwan battens down for super typhoon Maria
July 10
Taiwan braced for super typhoon Maria on Tuesday, as airlines canceled flights and the weather bureau warned against landslides and flash floods on the heavily industrialized island. Maria was expected to make landfall late on Tuesday, hitting Taiwan's northern region the hardest, as it moves in a west-northwesterly direction at 30 kph (19 mph), from its location 490 km (305 miles) east of Yilan County, weather officials said. Troops were deployed in some areas, with heavy rain and winds expected into early Wednesday. [18]
July 8
Level two alert has caused an outbreak of drug resistant typhoid in Pakistan. This has led USA health officials to issue travel alert for the country. CDC has also advised that anyone heading to Paskistan or in South Asia should take caution with food and water and to get a typhoid vaccination. [19]
Volano in Bali Explodes
June 27
Mount Agung in Bali erupts for the second time in less than a year causing hundreds of flights to cancel with hundreds of concerned passengers stuck at the airport. Ash cloud of the volcano was reported to reach a height of 2000m after it began to erupt the night of Thursday, June 28th, 2018. [20]
Belize reef taken off endangered list
June 27
World heritage body Unesco has removed the Belize Barrier Reef from its list of endangered World Heritage Sites after nine years. It said the government of the Central American country had taken "visionary" steps to preserve it. The reef is the second largest in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It is home to many threatened species including marine turtles, manatees and the American marine crocodile [21]
Ethiopian Airlines to resume Eritrea flights
June 27
Ethiopian Airlines is to restart its flights to Eritrea for the first time since 1998 when conflict erupted between the two nations over their disputed border, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said.[22]
Air strikes knock out south Syria hospitals
June 27
Air strikes have reportedly put three hospitals out of service in rebel-held south-western Syria, as pro-government forces press on with a major offensive. A medical charity and a monitoring group said the facilities in the towns of Saida, Jizah and Musayfira, east of the city of Deraa, were hit overnight. The strikes came as the army made gains in the region, which borders Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Up to 50,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in the past week. The provinces of Deraa and Quneitra had been relatively calm for almost a year because of a "de-escalation" agreement brokered by the US and Jordan, which support the opposition, and Russia, a key ally of the government. [23]
More than 1,000 Macedonians protest country's name change
June 24
More than 1,000 Macedonians protested on Saturday evening against the change of the name of the former Yugoslav Republic which was agreed with neighboring Greece to end a decades-long dispute. [24]
Lethal grenade attack at Ethiopia rally
June 24
Ethiopian officials say one person has died and dozens more are injured, after an explosion at a huge political rally for the new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Mr Abiy described it as an "unsuccessful attempt by forces who do not want to see Ethiopia united". He was whisked away immediately after the blast, thought to be from a grenade thrown amid thousands of people in Addis Ababa's Meskel Square. [25]
Syria pounds rebel areas in south, thousands flee to border zone
June 24
The Syrian army and allied forces pounded rebel-held areas of the southwest as thousands of civilians fled to safer opposition held areas along the border with Jordan and Israel, aid workers and rebels said. [26]
FBI warns sexual assaults on airline flights
June 20
While sexual assaults on airline flights are relatively rare, reports has shown that there's been an increase in such case in recent years. In 2014, 38 cases of in-flight sexual assaults were reported to FBI. Last year, the number increased to 63 but officials believe the crimes are significantly under-reported. [27]
Thousands of flights to Spain may be cancelled in light of strike
June 20
Many flights to Spain may be cancelled due to Spanish air controllers going on strike. Workers are demanding better shifts to spend more times with their families. There may not be too many flight cancellations but delays. [28]
Hurricane Bud becomes second Category 4 hurricane in Eastern Pacific Ocean
June 12
In over three days in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Bud became a Category 4 hurricane. The hurricane's center is currently about 350 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico moving northwestward. [29]
Guatemala's Fuego volcano errupts
June 4
killing at least 25 people and leaving dazed residents covered in ash as they searched for loved ones. The volcanic eruption Sunday spewed a river of red, hot lava and belched thick clouds of smoke nearly six miles into the air. [30]
Explosive eruption at Hawaii volcano
18 May
An explosive eruption at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has sent ash 30,000ft (9,100m) into the sky. The eruption took place at 04:15 local time (14:15 GMT) on Thursday, and scientists say further activity is likely in the near future. Staff at the volcano observatory and the national park had been evacuated. Since a new zone of Kilauea began erupting almost two weeks ago, lava has wrecked dozens of homes and forced hundreds of people to be evacuated. A red aviation code had already been issued - warning pilots to avoid the potentially damaging ash cloud. The US Geological Survey had warned that an explosive eruption at Kilauea was becoming more likely as the volcano's lava lake was lowering. This increases the risk of steam-powered explosions as the magma meets underground water. Hawaii's emergency management agency advised people in the area affected by ash to stay in their homes if possible. [31]
Emergency health talks as Ebola spreads
18 May
The World Health Organization (WHO) is to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the risk of Ebola spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo. A panel will decide on Friday whether to declare a "public health emergency of international concern", which would trigger a larger response. At least 44 people are believed to have been infected in the current outbreak and 23 deaths are being investigated. Cases emerged in a rural area with one now confirmed in the city of Mbandaka. The city of about one million people is a transport hub on the Congo River, prompting fears that the virus could now spread further, threatening the capital Kinshasa and surrounding countries. [32]
Dozens die as US embassy opening looms
14 May
At least 41 Palestinians have been killed and 1,800 wounded by Israeli troops in clashes on the Gaza border, Palestinian officials say. The violence comes ahead of the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, which has infuriated Palestinians. They see it as clear US backing for Israeli rule over the whole city, whose eastern part Palestinians lay claim to. Top US officials, including President Donald Trump's daughter and her husband, are attending Monday's event. [33]
India toll rises as dust storms continue
14 May
At least 61 people have died in fierce dust storms across four Indian states since Sunday evening, with officials warning of more bad weather to come. High-speed winds and lightning devastated many villages, bringing down homes and leaving dozens injured. The northern state of Uttar Pradesh reported the highest death toll - 38. More than 70 people had died in dust storms in the state earlier in May. India's Meteorological Department had issued a warning on Sunday before the storms hit, warning people to stay within their homes. Wind speeds were around 109 km/h (67mph) accompanied by thunder and lightning, officials said. Air travel in Delhi was also affected, with around 70 flights being diverted from the city's international airport on Sunday night. [34]
Indonesia church bombings kill 11 people
13 May
Suicide bombers have attacked three churches in Indonesia's second-largest city Surabaya, killing at least 11 people. Around 40 others were injured in the attacks, which occurred within minutes of each other. No group has so far said it carried them out. TV pictures showed debris scattered around the entrance of one church. Indonesia, the most populous Muslim-majority country, has seen a resurgence of Islamist militancy in recent months. More than 90% of Indonesians are Muslim, but there are also significant populations of Christians, Hindus and Buddhists. The attack is the deadliest since 2005, when three suicide bombings on the resort island of Bali killed 20 people. [35]
Terror probe launched after deadly Paris knife attack
13 May
A knifeman shouting "Allahu akbar" was shot dead by police in central Paris after he killed one person and injured four, prompting a terror probe. The attack took place near the city's main opera house in an area full of bars, restaurants and theatres which were brimming on a weekend night. Thousands of French troops remain on the streets under an anti-terror operation known as Sentinelle, patrolling transport hubs, tourist hotspots and other sensitive sites. [36]
Burundi village attack leaves 26 dead
13 May
At least 26 people were killed after armed attackers targeted a village in north-west Burundi, amid tensions ahead of a controversial referendum. The group crossed from the Democratic Republic of Congo into Cibitoke province, officials said. They went house to house with guns and knives, burning homes, witnesses said. Correspondents say the attack may have been an attempt to disrupt next week's referendum which could extend the president's term until 2034. President Nkurunziza has ruled Burundi since the civil war ended there in 2005. His attempt to run for a third term in 2015 plunged the tiny central African nation into fresh turmoil. [37]
Nigeria Lassa fever in retreat
13 May
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said Nigeria is no longer at the "critical phase" in dealing with the Lassa fever outbreak. The organisation said in a statement that only a handful of cases had been recorded in the past six weeks.[38]
10 May
Israel says it has struck almost all of Iran's military infrastructure inside Syria in its biggest assault since the start of the civil war there. The strikes came after 20 rockets were fired at Israeli military positions in the occupied Golan Heights overnight. Syria's military said the Israeli "aggression" had killed three people. There was no immediate comment from Iran, whose deployment of troops to Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad has alarmed Israel. [39]
Fresh mass protests rock Nicaragua
10 May
Tens of thousands of Nicaraguans have taken part in fresh anti-government protests in the capital, Managua, and in Matagalpa y Chinandega. Wearing the blue and white of the flag, Wednesday's protesters held pictures of people reportedly killed in last month's demonstrations. Government supporters held a smaller rally in another part of the capital. Last month's unrest began after President Daniel Ortega approved cuts to pensions and social security. [40]
Homes swept away in deadly Kenya dam burst
10 May
At least 32 people have died after heavy rains caused a dam to burst in Kenya, sweeping away homes across a vast area of farmland. The breach happened near the town of Solai, 190km (120 miles) north-west of the capital, Nairobi. The dead are thought to include children and women trapped in mud. The Kenyan Red Cross says it has rescued some 40 people so far. More than 2,000 people are said to have been left homeless. Local officials say the full extent of the damage is not yet clear. There are fears the death toll could rise as the search-and-rescue operation continues. [41]
Lava burns homes on Hawaii´s Big Island
7 May
As of Sunday night (May 6), at least 10 fissure vents were reported in the neighborhood — including two that had opened anew late Saturday night — and at least 26 homes had been destroyed, according to the county civil defense agency. More outbreaks are likely to occur along the rift zone, officials said. [42]
29 April
Thousands of people have fled renewed fighting between the army and ethnic Kachin rebels in Myanmar's northernmost state. Some 4,000 people have been driven from their homes since early April, according to the UN. It comes as a longstanding conflict between the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and government troops escalates. The military is said to be pounding the rebels with airstrikes and artillery. As well as the thousands displaced, there are fears that many people remain trapped in conflict-stricken areas, near the border with China. Aid organisations have urged the government to allow them access. [43]
Thai environment protests
29 April
Over a thousand people gathered in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai to protest against the building of a government luxury housing project on forested land, in one of the largest demonstrations under military rule. The gathering was one of the largest since Thailand's junta took power following a 2014 coup. The junta imposed a ban on public gatherings of over five people and has largely curbed freedom of expression through various orders and used military and police force to block public gatherings. [44]
10 dead as van hits Toronto pedestrians
24 April
Ten people have been killed and 15 injured after a man drove a van into pedestrians in Toronto, police said. The suspect has been named by police as Alek Minassian, 25. A man was arrested several streets away following a tense standoff with officers on the street. Bystander videos appeared to show the driver pointing an object at the officers, who could be heard shouting at him to get down. The man was then detained without any shots being fired. [45]
24 April
The Spanish resort city of Palma, on the island of Majorca, is to ban flat owners from renting their apartments to travellers, becoming the first place in Spain to introduce such a measure. The restrictions follow complaints from residents of rising rents due to short holiday lets through websites and apps. Palma's mayor says the ban, to be introduced in July, will be a model for cities suffering with mass tourism. [46]
Mosul's landmark to be rebuilt
24 April
he United Arab Emirates is to give $50m (£36m) to help rebuild a landmark mosque in the Iraqi city of Mosul blown up by Islamic State militants. The UN's cultural agency said a five-year project would restore and reconstruct faithfully the Great Mosque of al-Nuri and its leaning minaret. The mosque is where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed the creation of a "caliphate" in 2014. The jihadist group destroyed it three years later as Iraqi troops closed in [47]
Total blackout hits 3.4m Puerto Ricans
19 April
Puerto Rico has suffered an island-wide power outage nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria destroyed much of the island's infrastructure and power grid. The US territory's power authority, known as Prepa, said it was working to restore service to almost 3.4 million people within 24 to 36 hours. [48]
13 April
Fierce clashes have erupted again on the Gaza-Israel border, with Palestinian officials reporting hundreds of people injured. More than 30 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire since the start of "Flag Friday" demonstrations two weeks ago. Another man died this Friday, the Palestinian health ministry says. Protesters want refugees to be allowed to return to ancestral land now in Israel. But Israel says the militant group Hamas, which dominates Gaza, is orchestrating the demonstrations in order to launch attacks. [49]
14 killed in brutal crime spree in Cancun
13 April
Cancun is making negative waves as it's been reported that 14 people have been killed in 36 hours. Mexico's most popular tourist town has been hit by a record number of killings in one day as a result from drug trafficking gangs stepping up violence fueled by the U.S. opioid epidemic. [50]
Plane crash kills hundreds in Algeria
11 April
At least 257 people have died after a military plane crashed in northern Algeria, the defence ministry says. The incident happened shortly after the aircraft took off from Boufarik military airport near the capital Algiers in the morning. Most of the dead are army personnel and their families, according to the defence ministry. Ten crew members were also killed. It is not yet clear what caused the crash. [51]
Trump lifts travel ban on Chad
11 April
US President Donald Trump has lifted the controversial travel ban his administration imposed on Chad about six months ago. The central African state had improved the sharing of information about "suspected terrorists", and had taken steps to make its passports more secure, a White House statement said. Chad had criticised the ban, saying it was being unfairly targeted. Citizens from seven other countries are still banned from entering the US. They include Somalia, Libya, Iran, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela. [52]
April snow disrupts flights in New York and New Jersey
02 April
3 inches fell across the city, disrupting commutes, grounding flights, and postponing the Yankee's home opener According to Port Authority offictals, 91 flights were canceled and 113 delayed out of LaGuardia Airport. Newark_(New_Jersey) saw 22 cancellations and 110 delays and JFK axed 26 flights, with another 74 set back by the weather. [53]
Orange snow baffles eastern Europeans
26 March
People in eastern Europe have been wondering at the appearance of orange-tinted snow. Pictures of the snow have been posted on social media from Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. Meteorologists say the phenomenon is caused by sand from Sahara desert storms mixing with snow and rain. It occurs roughly once every five years but concentrations of sand are higher than usual this time. People have complained of sand in their mouths. [54]
Skiers and snowboarders from resorts near the Russian city of Sochi sent pictures of the unusual scenes.
Russian shopping centre inferno kills 64
26 March
At least 64 people have died in a fire that tore through a shopping and entertainment complex in the Siberian coal-mining city of Kemerovo. Many of the victims are children, Russian officials say, with 10 people still listed as missing. Kemerovo, a key coal-producing area, lies about 3,600km (2,200 miles) east of Moscow. [55]
Jet makes history on flight from Australia
26 March
The first scheduled non-stop flight between Australia and the UK has touched down in London's Heathrow Airport. Qantas Flight QF9 completed its 14,498km (9,009-mile) journey from Perth in just over 17 hours. It is part of ambitious plans by Qantas to add ultra long-haul flights to its schedules. The Australian flag carrier's Chief Executive, Alan Joyce, has called the new service a "game-changing route". Other carriers, including Emirates and United Airlines, have also flown non-stop journeys greater than 14,000km. In 2017, United Airlines launched a route from Los Angeles to Singapore, offering the longest-distance non-stop flight available from the US. But Singapore Airlines has provided the world's longest flight, travelling more than 15,300km from Singapore to New York on a direct route that was discontinued in 2013. [56]
Deadly Bombing in Kabul
21 March
The Ministry of Public Health has confirmed 29 people were killed and 52 wounded in Wednesday's deadly bombing in PD3 in Kabul. This came after the Ministry of Interior confirmed a suicide bomber detonated his explosives close to the Ali Abad Hospital and Kabul University at around mid-day. [57]
Plane crashes at Kathmandu airport
12 March
A plane has crashed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. The plane, operated by US-Bangla, a Bangladeshi airline, veered off the runway while landing on Monday afternoon, causing a blaze. The plane had 67 passengers and four crew on board, officials say. There are casualties but the number has not been confirmed. Seventeen people on board have been rescued so far, the authorities say. All flights in and out of the airport have been cancelled, the Kathmandu Post reports. [58]
Fresh anti-Muslim attack in Sri Lanka
12 March
A Muslim-owned restaurant was vandalised in Sri Lanka Sunday despite a nation-wide police alert against hate crimes after last week's ethnic riots provoked a state of emergency, officials said. Hundreds of Buddhist monks and activists staged demonstrations in Colombo denouncing the anti-Muslim attacks and urging authorities to take strong action against the perpetrators. Police said nearly 150 people, including the main instigator, have been arrested over last week's unrest. [59]
Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after Buddhist-Muslim clash
6 March
Sri Lanka declared a nationwide state of emergency for 10 days on Tuesday to stop the spread of communal violence, a government spokesman said, after clashes erupted between majority Buddhists and members of the minority Muslim community. Tension has been growing between the two communities in Sri Lanka over the past year, with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam and vandalizing Buddhist archaeological sites. [60]
Papua New Guinea rattled by magnitude 6.0 aftershock
6 March
Strong aftershocks have rocked Papua New Guinea's remote and rugged highlands, as the death toll climbed to 55 from a 7.5-magnitude earthquake a week ago, and is expected to rise further. Three aftershocks of magnitude greater than 5.0 shook the mountainous Southern Highlands, about 600km northwest of the capital Port Moresby, the US Geological Survey said, including a shallow magnitude 6.0 quake [61]
Violence tears through Zimbabwe opposition
6 March
At least 15 people are believed to have been injured after fighting broke out between rival factions in Zimbabwe's main opposition party. Supporters of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) vice president Thokozani Khupe clashed with supporters of Nelson Chamisa in Bulawayo. [62]
28 Feb
China's smog-prone port city of Tianjin issued its first level 2 "orange" pollution alert this year effective from March 1, the city government said in a statement on its website. Pollution is expected to blanket the city and nearby regions, including Beijing and Hebei, until March 4. No time was given for the alert to be lifted. Emergency measures will be enforced on transportation and at industrial plants. China has four levels of pollution alerts, graded from red to blue. [63]
Papua New Guinea quake
28 Feb
Up to 14 people were killed in landslides and by collapsed buildings during a powerful earthquake in the remote Papua New Guinea highlands, police and a hospital worker said on Tuesday, with unconfirmed reports of up to 30 dead. The 7.5 magnitude quake that rocked the region early on Monday also damaged mining and power infrastructure and led ExxonMobil Corp to shut its $19 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, the country's biggest export earner. [64]
Attack on Yemen counter-terrorism base
25 Feb
At least 14 people were killed and 40 wounded when Islamist car suicide bombers and gunmen tried to storm the headquarters of a counter-terrorism unit in the southern port city of Aden, security and medical sources said. Islamic State, in a statement carried by its Amaq news agency, claimed responsibility for what it described as two "martyrdom operations" targeting the camp in Tawahi district in south-western Aden. The agency provided no immediate evidence for the claim. Security sources said two suicide bombers detonated two cars laden with explosives at the camp's entrance while six gunmen tried to storm the facility. [65]
UN approves 30-day ceasefire in Syria
25 Feb
The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow aid deliveries and medical evacuations. However, some of the biggest jihadist rebel groups, and their associates, are not covered by the truce, raising questions about its real impact. The Eastern Ghouta rebel enclave near Damascus has been bombarded by government forces for the past week. And air strikes began soon after the vote in New York, activists said. The vote had been delayed several times since Thursday as members struggled to come to an agreement. Some 500 people are said to have been killed by government forces in the enclave since last Sunday while rebels fire on Damascus has reportedly killed at least 16 civilians. [66]
Explosion at US embassy in Montenegro
22 Feb
There has been an explosion at the US Embassy in Montenegro, the government says. An unidentified attacker threw an explosive device into the embassy compound in the capital Podgorica, before killing himself, it tweeted. It said the device thrown was likely a hand grenade. No other injuries have been reported. The US embassy issued a security alert, advising people to stay away from the mission. [67]
Bomb blast in northeast Myanmar city Lashio
22 Feb
A bomb blast killed two bank employees and injured 22 other people in Myanmar's northeastern city of Lashio, the government and the military said. Police said an investigation was under way but would not elaborate on whether there were any suspects in the attack. Lashio is in Myanmar's restive Shan State where several ethnic insurgent groups are fighting the Myanmar military. [68]
At least 15 dead in air strike in northern Yemen
22 Feb
At least 15 people were killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition air strike in northern Yemen, residents said. They said the aircraft hit two cars transporting passengers and a truck on a main road south of the Saada provincial capital. They said 15 people died in the strike while several others were wounded. [69]
Weekend snowstorm, drenching rain to pound eastern US
Feb 4
A fast-moving storm will bring drenching rain on its southeastern flank and accumulating snow on its northwestern flank in the eastern United States Saturday night through Sunday night. However, the storm is forecast to be potent enough to produce urban flooding, deliver enough snow to shovel and plow and cause substantial travel delays. [70]
Protesting French fishermen block ports
25 Jan
French fishermen have blocked the ports of Calais and Boulogne in protest at so-called pulse fishing, which uses electrified nets to stun fish. Fishing boats stopped ferries entering or leaving Calais while a roadblock stopped traffic at Boulogne. Calais is a major link between the UK and France used by thousands of tourists and lorries every day. [71]
Passengers killed in Mali landmine blast
25 Jan
The number of people killed after a vehicle drove over a landmine in central Mali has increased to 24, local residents have told the news agency AFP. The army had earlier put the figure at 13, according to Reuters news agency. [72]
Uruguay farmers hold mass protest
25 Jan
Tens of thousands of Uruguayan farmers held a protest in the city of Durazno to demand more government support for their industry. Agriculture is key to the economy of Uruguay, which is one of the world's largest cattle exporters. [73]
Tokyo hit by heaviest snow since 2014
22 Jan
Tokyo saw its heaviest snow in four years on Monday, with authorities urging evening commuters to hurry home and prompting those behind the wheel to brace for traffic disruptions.The heavy snow in the capital prompted the Meteorological Agency to issue a warning to all of Tokyo's 23 wards at around 2:30 p.m. — the first official heavy snow warning since February 2014.The transport ministry even issued an "emergency" announcement Sunday urging people to refrain from leaving their homes unless necessary. On Monday evening, about 50 cars were stranded on the Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay due to heavy snow, NHK reported. The Sankei Shimbun said the bridge had been closed due to car accidents caused by the snow, leaving as many as 300 cars in gridlock.At the same time, the Yurikamome Line — which also traverses Tokyo Bay — came to a halt after a train reportedly failed to make it up a slope due to snow on the track. The line was still stopped as of 9 p.m. [74]
Delta to Get Tough on Emotional Support Dogs
22 Jan
Delta Air Lines has announced that starting March 1, passengers will need to upload documentation at least 48 hours in advance of any flight for all pets who plan to travel uncaged.Essentially, Delta passengers can bring on board three types of animal—a service dog or pet, which has been officially trained and provides assistance to passengers with disabilities; an emotional support pet, which is not required to receive any training, but is deemed essential to passengers who require emotional comfort; and caged or kenneled pets. Pets in the first two categories are not one and the same, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA,) which says that emotional support "[describes] animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA."[75]
Afghan forces end 12-hour hotel siege
21 Jan
Afghan security forces say they have regained control of a luxury hotel in Kabul after it was stormed by gunmen. At least five civilians were killed and six were injured in the siege, the interior ministry said on Sunday. All three of the attackers have been killed, a ministry spokesman said. More than 150 people were rescued. The gunmen burst into the Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday evening, shooting at guests and staff and detonating grenades. Special forces battled to secure the hotel and rescue people trapped inside, ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said. He added that one foreigner was among those killed. The rescued guests included 41 foreigners. Saturday's siege came just days after the US embassy in Kabul issued a warning about hotels in the city. "We are aware of reports that extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul," the embassy wrote in a public security alert published Thursday, though it highlighted another hotel near the international airport as a possible target. "These groups may also be targeting public gatherings/demonstrations, government facilities, transportation, markets, and places where foreigners are known to congregate." [76]
Deadly unrest over Honduras election
21 Jan
One protester has been killed in clashes in Honduras between riot police and demonstrators who dispute the result of November's presidential poll. Police fired tear gas and cleared roadblocks made of burning tyres across the country. The death occurred in the northern town of Saba. The protest was organized by supporters of the defeated opposition candidate. [77]
Yellow fever emergency in Brazil state
21 Jan
Brazil's south-eastern state of Minas Gerais has declared a public health emergency following a deadly outbreak of yellow fever. At least 15 people have died there since December. Many areas, including the state capital Belo Horizonte, have been affected. A mass vaccination programme is in place in three southern states. But queues have formed outside clinics in Rio and Sao Paulo amid concerns that vaccines could run out. In neighbouring Argentina, there have also been long queues for the vaccine in Buenos Aires and other cities as thousands of prospective tourists prepare to travel to Brazil for carnival. The WHO recommends that travellers to Sao Paulo state get a yellow fever vaccine before visiting. [78]
Germany in huge clean-up after storm
20 Jan
Rail services are getting back to normal in Germany as trees and other debris are cleared from lines hit by a severe storm that claimed eight lives. Three people died earlier in the Netherlands in accidents caused by hurricane-strength winds. Fallen trees and other debris are still blocking many railway lines in Germany. Work went on all night to clear them. The storm has moved east into Poland. It was the most powerful storm to hit Germany for 11 years. [79]
Quake hits Gulf of California, Mexico says no damage reported
20 Jan
A powerful earthquake that struck in the Gulf of California shook buildings and sent people running outdoors across parts of northern Mexico, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured at 6.3 magnitude, after initially reporting it at 6.6. The epicenter was 48 miles (77 km) north-northeast of the town of Loreto in the state of Baja California Sur, the USGS said. [80]
The world's longest underwater cave has been discovered near the city of Tulum
17 Jan
The new discovery connects two previously known flooded caves into one 215-mile-long stretch. [81]
3 Jan
Thousands of protesters from India's low-caste Dalit community have disrupted key transport services in the country's financial capital, Mumbai. Several local trains have been delayed or cancelled, buses have been damaged and schools are shut. Similar disruptions have also been reported from other parts of the western state of Maharashtra. Dalit groups are protesting against violence involving right-wing Hindu groups in Pune city. More than 100 protesters have been arrested since then. The state authorities have appealed for peace. [82]]
Deadly US cold snap expected to worsen
3 Jan
A deadly cold snap that has left the US shivering in record-breaking temperatures for the New Year is expected to worsen in the coming days. Several deaths have been blamed on the deep freeze, which is forecast to heap more snow on the East Coast this week, the National Weather Service said. Tourists visiting Niagara Falls have posted photos of the waters freezing. The cold was expected to ease temporarily on Wednesday before the frigid temperatures return on Thursday. The US National Weather Service tweeted: "Arctic air mass will bring a prolonged period of much-below-normal temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills to the central and eastern US over the next week." Schools in the eastern and central US have announced closures. The central US has borne the brunt of the frigid temperatures since the snap began around Christmas. [83]
Clashes break out at Iran protests
31 Dec
Some anti-establishment protests happening in Iranian cities have turned violent. They began three days ago - initially in protest at falling living standards - and are the biggest show of dissent since huge pro-reform rallies in 2009. Demonstrators have ignored a warning by Iran's interior minister to avoid "illegal gatherings". Two demonstrators are reported dead in Dorud after sustaining gunshot wounds in a video posted on social media. [84]
Brutal cold breaks record across US
31 Dec
Bitter cold continues to blanket the northern United States and Canada as forecasters warn that the deep freeze will continue into the start of 2018. International Falls in the US state of Minnesota - the self-proclaimed "Icebox of the Nation" - saw temperatures drop to -37F (-38.3C). New Hampshire's Mount Washington, home of the "worst weather in the world", set a new low record at -34F (-36.6C). Parts of Canada are colder than the North Pole or Mars, officials say. [85]
Wave of protests hits Iranian cities
30 Dec
Anti-government demonstrations that began in Iran on Thursday have now spread to several major cities. Large numbers reportedly turned out in Rasht, in the north, and Kermanshah, in the west, with smaller protests in Isfahan, Hamadan and elsewhere. The protests began against rising prices but have spiralled into a general outcry against clerical rule and government policies. A small number of people have been arrested in Tehran, the capital. [86]
Kabul suicide bomb attack kills dozens
28 Dec
At least 41 people have been killed and more than 80 wounded in a suicide bomb attack in the Afghan capital, Kabul. A Shia cultural organisation was the target but the Afghan Voice news agency was also hit. So-called Islamic State said it was behind the attack. IS has been behind a number of attacks on Shia targets across the country in recent months. [87]
Snow emergency in Erie after huge storm
28 Dec
A record-breaking snowfall of more than 60 inches (150 cm) has hit the Pennsylvanian city of Erie over the Christmas period, with even more said to be on the way. The city has declared a citywide emergency as a result of the storm, which began on Sunday. New York, northern Ohio and northern Michigan are also heavily hit. Forecasters say the extreme weather is caused by very cold air passing over the unfrozen Great Lakes. [88]
Thousands stranded by airport power cut in Atlanta
18 Dec
Passengers at the world's busiest airport faced a second day of disruption on Monday after a power cut led to hundreds of cancellations. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport lost power on Sunday, affecting tens of thousands of people. Passengers were left in darkened terminals or on board planes. Power was restored overnight and a handful of passenger flights resumed just after 06:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Monday. Hundreds of other flights, however, were cancelled. The airport is the world's busiest, handling more than 250,000 passengers and almost 2,500 flights every day. But during its first hour of operation on Monday morning, fewer than a dozen commercial flights departed. [89]
Dozens dead in Ethiopian ethnic clashes
18 Dec
At least 61 people have been killed in clashes between different ethnic groups in Ethiopia's Oromia region since Thursday, officials said. It is not clear what caused the latest violence between ethnic Somalis and Oromos. But it comes after soldiers shot dead 16 ethnic Oromos at a protest, reports Reuters news agency. Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regions share a long internal border and in the past have fought over grazing land. [90]
Ryanair pilots in Ireland suspend strike plans
18 Dec
Ryanair pilots have suspended a pre-Christmas one-day strike, union bosses have announced. The Impact union, which represents Irish-based pilots, has agreed to meet Ryanair's management on Tuesday ahead of the planned action on Wednesday. It follows Ryanair's decision on Friday to recognise unions, in a bid to avert strikes across its European operations. The airline has offered to recognise trade unions for the first time after pilots in Ireland, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal threatened walkouts. [91]
Chile village destroyed by landslide
18 Dec
Fifteen people are missing in the remote village of Villa Santa Lucía in the country's lake region, popular with tourists. President Michelle Bachelet has declared a state of emergency in the area. Thousands remain without electricity and cut off from the rest of Chile. The village is near Corcovado National Park, popular with tourists for its volcanoes, fjords and forests. [92]
Bali volcano activity prompts 'red warning'
November 11th
Airlines have been issued a "red warning" about the danger of volcanic ash in the skies close to Bali after Mount Agung emitted a thick plume of smoke reaching 4,000m (13,100 feet). [93]
Three dead after Colombia mudslide
November, 11th
Three people have died and 32 have been injured after a mudslide swept through the town of Corinto in Colombia's south-west Cauca province. Emergency workers said the La Paila river burst its banks and swept mud, boulders and branches through the town's centre. More than 200 families in the town are affected and thousands of people have been evacuated. Mountainous areas of Colombia are often hit by landslides. [94]
Tensions as Paris suburb tries to stop Muslim street prayers
November, 11th
Tensions erupted as French officials and residents of a Paris suburb tried to block Muslims from praying in the street — a dispute that reflects nationwide problems with mosque shortages. No one was hurt in the skirmishes in Clichy-la-Garenne, but both sides appeared to be digging in their heels in the dispute over prayer space in the town. A few dozen worshippers tried to pray anyway but retreated to a less visible spot, seeking to avoid confrontation with the protesters. But the demonstrators squeezed them toward a wooden wall. [95]
U.S. sets new restrictions on travel to Cuba
November, 8th
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government made it tougher on Wednesday for Americans to book trips and do business with Cuba, making good on a pledge by President Donald Trump to roll back his Democratic predecessor's move toward warmer ties with Havana.[96]
Boycott, shooting and tear gas mar Kenya election re-run
27 Oct
Kenyan opposition supporters skirmished with police and threw up burning barricades in pockets of the country on Thursday, seeking to derail President Uhuru Kenyatta's likely re-election with a low voter turnout. The election commission said that more than one in 10 polling stations failed to open. Voting was delayed until Oct. 28 in four of Kenya's 47 counties - all in the opposition-supporting west - due to "security challenges". The repeat election is being closely watched across East Africa, which relies on Kenya as a trade and logistics hub, and in the West, which considers Nairobi a bulwark against Islamist militancy in Somalia and civil conflict in South Sudan and Burundi. In the western city of Kisumu, police used tear gas and fired live rounds over the heads of stone-throwing youths heeding opposition leader Raila Odinga's call for a voter boycott. Gunfire killed one protester and wounded three, a nurse said. [97]
More tropical downpours hit the Caribbean
27 Oct
This year's very active hurricane season threatens to throw up another spell of damaging weather over the next few days. Nicaragua is currently bracing for the possible formation of a tropical storm as a clutch of storms continues to gather in the western Caribbean. The showers and thunderstorms associated with a broad area of low pressure have gradually become more organised recently.The storms have gathered just off Nicaragua's eastern coast, and according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), their proximity to land is likely to limit development, at least for a while. [98]
Anti-Uber strike turns violent in Bogota
October 24rd
Thousands of taxi drivers in the Colombian capital Bogota have blocked roads and clashed with police in protest at hail services such as Uber. Yellow cabs lined the streets of the city as drivers objected to what they said was an unfair advantage awarded to app-based services. The protesters are calling for more regulation on technology companies like Uber and Cabify, who they say are not obliged to pay insurance.The strike caused major disruption. [99]
Vaping to be banned in New York public places
October 24rd
Vaping is being outlawed in indoor public spaces in the US state of New York. A new rule, which will come into law in 30 days, will mean that the practice will be treated the same as smoking normal cigarettes. Vaping will be banned in places including restaurants, bars and offices. New York was one of the first states to ban cigarettes in indoor public spaces in 2003. [100]
Typhoon rips through Japan
October 23rd
A powerful typhoon caused flooding and landslides along the Pacific coast of Japan, killing at least two people. Typhoon Lan made landfall in central Japan around 3 a.m. Monday and swept across Tokyo before heading out to sea several hours later off northeastern Japan. Heavy rains inundated neighborhoods in Wakayama prefecture, south of Osaka. Domestic flights were canceled and some of Japan's high-speed "bullet" trains, as well as other trains, were suspended. Parts of expressways were closed as a precaution for possible flooding. [101]
Myanmar fire guts iconic hotel
October 19th
A massive fire has destroyed an iconic luxury hotel in the city of Yangon in Myanmar, killing one person. Two others were injured in the blaze at the Kandawgyi Palace. The hotel, which was largely made out of teak and built in a traditional Burmese style, was a local landmark popular with tourists. It took hundreds of firefighters several hours to put out the blaze. More than 140 guests were evacuated.[102]
Ukraine protesters clash with riot police
October 19th
Four people have been injured in clashes between riot police and demonstrators demanding major reforms in Ukraine's capital Kiev.The protesters are calling for an anti-corruption court to be set up, MPs to lose their immunity from prosecution, and changes to the electoral system. They vowed to stay on, putting up tents and blocking the main road outside the parliament building in central Kiev.[103]
40 dead as California blazes worsen
October 15th
Forty people have died and hundreds are still missing in California after six days of wildfires that have devastated swathes of countryside and destroyed thousands of homes. California's governor said it was "one of the greatest tragedies" the state had ever faced. More than 10,000 firefighters are battling 16 remaining blazes. Winds of up to 70 km/h (45mph) brought them to new towns, forcing many more people to evacuate. One of the worst-affected areas is the city of Santa Rosa, in the Sonoma wine region, where 3,000 people were evacuated on Saturday.It is the most lethal outbreak of wildfires in the state's history. More than 100,000 people have been displaced. and whole neighbourhoods have been reduced to ash. [104]
Somalia bomb attack
October 15th
The death toll from two bomb attacks, one of which tore through a busy junction outside the Safari Hotel in the heart of Somalia's capital Mogadishu, has risen to 85. It has become one of the deadliest attacks in the country since Islamist militants launched an insurgency in 2007. Police said a truck bomb exploded outside the Safari Hotel at the K5 intersection, which is lined with government offices, restaurants and kiosks, flattening buildings and setting vehicles on fire. A separate blast struck the Medina district two hours later. [105]
First flight lands on remote St Helena
October 15th
The first scheduled commercial airline service to the remote British island of St Helena in the south Atlantic has touched down safely.The virgin flight, an SA Airlink service from South Africa, ends the island's long-standing reliance on a ship which sailed every three weeks. It is hoped that the service, funded by the UK, will boost tourism and help make St Helena more self-sufficient. It is chiefly known as the island to which French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled after his defeat in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and where died. [106]
Argentine Airlines suspends flights to Venezuela
October 15th
Argentine Airlines has become the latest carrier to suspend flights to the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. The company said it had concerns over security in Venezuela because of increasing criminal violence and political uncertainty. It joins dozens of airlines who have taken similar action. Iata, the trade body for the world's airlines, says Venezuela is becoming increasingly isolated.[107]
California wildfires
October 9th
At least 10 people are dead as more than a dozen wildfires ravage through California. The Governor of California Jerry Brow has declared a state of emergency in eight counties, including the famous "wine country" region Napa. [108]
Monarch Airlines ceases operations
October 2nd
Canceled flights stranding thousands of passengers and about 300.000 future flights canceled. [109]
50 dead after shooting on Las Vegas Strip
October 1st
The gunman in the mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip has been identified. Police responded after reports of shots being fired from the Mandalay Bay toward the Route 91 Harvest festival around 10:08 p.m. Sunday. [110]
Spanish officers ATTACK Catalan police amid explosive unrest
October 1st
Violence erupts in the controversial independence referendum in Spain. [111]
Canadian police investigate car and knife attack as terrorism
October 1st
Edmonton, a car and knife attack on a police officer outside a football game and a high-speed chase of a moving van that left four people injured are being investigated as acts of terrorism, Canadian authorities said Sunday. [112]
Puerto Rico endured a day of punishing winds and life-threatening flooding
21 Sept
from Hurricane Maria, which was the third hurricane to pummel the Caribbean in as many weeks. It may be without power for months. [113]
We messed up pilot holidays, says Ryanair
17 Sept
Ryanair cancelled 82 flights on Sunday after admitting it had "messed up" the planning of its pilots' holidays. The budget airline said on Saturday that it will cancel 40-50 flights every day for the next six weeks. Marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said affected customers with bookings up to 20 September had been informed. "We have messed up in the planning of pilot holidays and we're working hard to fix that," he said. Most of the cancellations are due to a backlog of staff leave which has seen large numbers of the airline's staff book holidays towards the end of the year. The airline is changing its holiday year, which currently runs from April to March, to run from January to December instead. Rynanair said the shift meant it had to allocate annual leave to pilots in September and October. The cancellations could affect up to 285,000 passengers, who will be offered alternative flights or refunds. [114]
London Underground blast
17 Sept
A second man has been arrested by detectives investigating Friday's terrorist attack at Parsons Green, which left 30 people injured when a homemade bomb exploded during peak hour. The homemade bomb that partially exploded at the Parsons Green station was concealed in a bucket within a shopping bag, and went off about 8:20am as the train was carrying commuters from the suburbs, including many school children. Officials said the bomb was intended to do grave harm to commuters, and analysts said the injuries would have been far worse had the entire device exploded. The Islamic State group has claimed one of its units planted the bomb on the train. [115]
Fresh protest in St Louis
17 Sept
New protests have broken out in the US city of St Louis, where a white former policeman was found not guilty of murdering a black suspect in 2011. Hundreds have marched in the Missouri city for a second day, chanting "Black lives matter!" More than 33 protesters were arrested and 11 police officers were injured in Friday night's scuffles. Crowds marched through a shopping centre in the Des Peres suburb, blocking one major road. [116]
Mexico´s strongest earthquake in century strikes off southern coast
8 Sept
The quake, which President Enrique Peña Nieto said measured 8.2, struck in the Pacific, about 87km (54 miles) south-west of Pijijiapan. It killed at least 33 people so far. [117]
Severe damage has been reported in Oaxaca and Chiapas states.
Hurricane Irma has killed at least 9 people so far
7 Sept
Six in the island of Saint Martin and two in Saint-Barthélemy (St. Barts). Irma is heading to Florida.
{{newsitem|Floods in Texas | 28 Aug| Catastrophic flooding is hitting Houston as tropical storm Harvey continues to stall over land. It has dumped as much as 26 inches (66cm) of rain in some counties in the past 72 hours and much more is expected until Friday. }
Thousands flee deadly violence in Myanmar
26 Aug
Thousands of people have fled their homes following two days of violence in a deepening crisis in the state of Rakhine in Myanmar. Members of the Muslim Rohingya minority escaped to the border with Bangladesh, but Bangladeshi border guards are turning them back. Violence erupted when Rohingya fighters attacked 30 police stations on Friday and clashes continued on Saturday. More than 100 people, mostly insurgents, have been reported killed.
Hurricane Harvey makes Texas landfall
26 Aug
Hurricane Harvey has made landfall in Texas with winds of up to 130mph (215 km/h) battering coastal areas. The storm, which has even stronger gusts, is expected to be the worst to hit Texas for 12 years. Up to a 40in (1m) of rain is expected to fall. President Trump has signed a disaster proclamation for the state, which will free up federal aid for the worst-affected areas. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has warned of record flooding in multiple regions. The category four storm has already brought down trees in Corpus Christi and thousands of residents have boarded up their homes and fled. [119]
Air strike hits Yemen
26 Aug
At least nine people, including children, have been killed after an air strike hit a residential area of Yemen's capital, Sanaa. Witnesses said two buildings in the south of the city, which is controlled by Houthi rebels, had been destroyed. Saudi-led forces have been fighting Shia Houthis - backed by Iran - for the last two years. Thousands of civilians have died. The country is on the brink of famine and facing a cholera outbreak. [120]
Canadian wildfire sends hundreds fleeing
25 Aug
The latest wildfire to scorch the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) has forced the evacuation of around 1,100 people. The blaze is about 20km (12 miles) east of Kelowna town in Okanagan Valley. So far no structures or homes are believed affected by the fire, which broke out on Thursday afternoon. More than one million hectares (10,000 square km) have burned in the province this wildfire season, making it the worst in BC's recorded history. There are over 150 wildfires currently burning across the western province. A state of emergency declared in the province on 7 July was recently extended to 1 September. [121]
Hurricane Harvey: Texas
23 Aug
Hurricane Harvey, powered by the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters and poised to strike the United States as a major hurricane, swept toward Texas on Friday. High winds and dozens of inches of rain were expected to begin battering coastal and inland communities. [122]
Typhoon Hato: Hong Kong issues highest warning, halts trading
23 Aug
Hong Kong upgraded the storm warning to the highest for the first time in five years and cancelled its stock exchange morning trading session as Severe Typhoon Hato drew closer to the financial centre. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and schools and most businesses in the Asian financial hub closed. [123]
Ischia (Italy) earthquake
22 Aug
An earthquake measuring at least 4.0 magnitude hit the popular Italian tourist island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples, causing several buildings to collapse. One woman has died and seven people are missing following the quake, police have said. [124]
Dozens of civilians killed in Raqqa
22 Aug
US-led coalition air strikes have killed dozens of civilians in the Syrian city of Raqqa over the past 24 hours, activists and state media say. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 42 had died in attacks on areas held by so-called Islamic State. [125]
Falling tree kills 13 on Portuguese island of Madeira'
15 Aug
A falling tree has killed at least 13 people and injured 49 at a religious ceremony on the Portuguese island of Madeira. A video shows the tree crashing down on a crowded square in a suburb of the main town, Funchal, spreading panic among people enjoying the festivities. Reports suggest the tree which fell was an oak that was about 200 years old.[126]
Barcelona attack
17 Aug
Twelve dead and at least 50 injured as van crashes into crowds in Ramblas tourist area. [127]
Falling tree kills 13 on Portuguese island of Madeira'
15 Aug
A falling tree has killed at least 13 people and injured 49 at a religious ceremony on the Portuguese island of Madeira. A video shows the tree crashing down on a crowded square in a suburb of the main town, Funchal, spreading panic among people enjoying the festivities. Reports suggest the tree which fell was an oak that was about 200 years old.[128]
Sierra Leone mudslide kills hundreds as houses are buried'
14 Aug
At least 179 people have been killed in a mudslide near Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, the Red Cross says. A hillside in the Regent area collapsed early on Monday following heavy rains, leaving many houses covered in mud. A BBC reporter at the scene says many people may have been asleep when the mudslide occurred.[129]
Burkina Faso At least 18 killed in restaurant terror attack'
14 Aug
Security forces in Burkina Faso have ended an operation against terrorists who attacked a Turkish cafe in the capital Ouagadougou Sunday that left 18 dead including two attackers, the communications minister Remis Dandjinou said Monday. In a press briefing he said searches of the neighborhood around the restaurant were still continuing. Dandjinou said there were several nationalities among the victims. [130]
{{newsitem| Monsoon floods ravage [[Nepal], India at least 175 people killed |14 Aug|At least 175 people have died, and thousands have fled their homes as monsoon floods swept across Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Three days of relentless downpours sparked flash floods and landslides that have killed at least 80 people in Nepal, 73 across northern and eastern India and 22 in Bangladesh. Al Jazeera's Subina Shreshtha, reporting from Janakpur in Nepal, said that at least six million people were affected by the floods in the country's southern plains known as Terai. [131]}}
Mexico Hurricane Franklin weakened to tropical storm'
10 Aug
Franklin weakened to a tropical storm after it made landfall in eastern Mexico early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said. It hit the eastern coast as a hurricane, threatening to bring torrential rains and strong winds to a region prone to flash floods and mudslides. A few hours later, the Atlantic season's first hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm, forecasters said.[132]
North Korea missile strike on Guam plan 'ready by mid-August'
10 Aug
North Korea says a plan that could see it fire four missiles near the US territory of Guam will be ready in a matter of days. State media said Hwasong-12 rockets would pass over Japan and land in the sea about 30km (17 miles) from Guam, if the plan was approved by Kim Jong-un.[133]
Protests in Kenya turn deadly
9 Aug
At least three people have been killed in post-election violence in Kenya after opposition leader Raila Odinga claimed "massive" fraud in Tuesday's vote.[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/kenya-police-protesters-clash-poll-fraud-claim-170809081850902.html
Powerful earthquake in China
9 Aug
At least 19 people were killed and 247 more injured late Tuesday after a powerful earthquake struck a popular tourist area in southwest China, according to state media.[http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/08/asia/china-earthquake/index.html
6 soldiers injured in France in a possible terror attack
9 Aug
French police are hunting a driver who rammed a car into a group of soldiers in Paris early Wednesday morning have shot, wounded and arrested a man on a highway north of the city. France's counter-terror unit is investigating the attack, in a suburb of northwest Paris, which left six soldiers injured, three seriously, according to Paris police. The soldiers' injuries are not life-threatening. [http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/09/europe/paris-soldiers-hit-vehicle/index.html
North Korea and US tensions rise
9 Aug
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tried to ease concerns that the U.S. was heading toward a military confrontation with North Korea after President Donald Trump rattled global markets with his warning that he could unleash "fire and fury" against Kim Jong Un's regime. [134]
3 Dead Amid Vote in Venezuela
30 Jul
After an explosion at Altamira square during clashes against anti-government demonstrators in Caracas, Venezuela. The explosion injured several officers and damaged several of their motorcycles.
France wildfires force mass evacuation
27 Jul
Wildfires in south-eastern France have forced the evacuation of 10,000 people overnight, officials say. Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to battle the fires near Bormes-les-Mimosas, in the country's Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. France earlier asked its EU neighbours for more help fighting the fires. Some 4,000 hectares (15.4 sq miles) of land have burned along the Mediterranean coast, in the mountainous interior and on the island of Corsica. One of the worst fires is raging in an area near the popular resort of Saint-Tropez. [136]
Avianca suspends flights to Venezuela
27 Jul
Airline Avianca says it will stop flying to Venezuela from next month due to operational and security reasons. The Colombian company is the latest to suspend its flights to the South American country amid a growing economic and political crisis. Aeroméxico, Air Canada, Alitalia, Latam, Lufthansa and United Airlines have already stopped their flights. Avianca, which has operated in Venezuela for 60 years, says the move comes into effect on 16 August. The airline, one of the biggest in Latin America, said customers who had bought tickets for flights departing after that date would be reimbursed fully. Airlines still operating flights to Venezuela include Air France, Iberia, Air Europa and TAP, but Venezuelans have complained about the increasing difficulty of getting flights in and out of the country. [137]
Israel relents on holy site stand-off
27 Jul
Muslim leaders have lifted a boycott of a key holy site in East Jerusalem after Israel removed the last of the security measures which had led to uproar. They urged Palestinians to re-enter the compound on Thursday for the first time since the crisis erupted two weeks ago. The last remnants of Israel's recently installed security apparatus were taken away on Thursday morning. Palestinians had fiercely objected to the measures introduced after the killing of two Israeli policemen. They had refrained from entering the Old City complex known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount in protest over what they saw as an Israeli attempt to exert control over the contested site. [138]
States of emergency declared as flooding hits South Island
22 Jul
A ferocious storm has buffeted the lower South Island of New Zealand overnight, with three states of emergency declared in Christchurch, Timaru and Otago and the city of Dunedin accessible only by air.
Killer earthquake hits Turkey and Greece
21 Jul
At least two people are dead and 200 injured after an earthquake hammered a popular tourist spot in Turkey – registering a magnitude of up to 6.7 and sparking a tsunami. The earthquake's epicentre occurred close to the Turkish town of Bodrum and the Greek holiday island of Kos. [139]
Tourists and locals flee Adriatic fires
19 Jul
Montenegro has appealed for international help to fight forest fires as neighbouring Croatia battles to stop flames reaching its second city, Split. Fires have raged along the Adriatic coast for days, prompting dozens of tourists and residents to flee the Lustica peninsula in Montenegro. A shopping centre in Split had to be evacuated as the flames grew nearer. Government ministers have headed to Split for an emergency meeting. The flames were whipped up by a storm late on Monday and some areas on the outskirts of Split were evacuated. Roads to the south of the city were reportedly cut off by the fires. Tourism officials in Croatia said no visitors to the region had been harmed and they expected the fires to be brought under full control as the winds decreased. [140]
Torrential rain leaves Istanbul awash
19 Jul
Commuters in Istanbul faced quite a major challenge getting to work after torrential rainfall caused major flooding in the city and turning roads into rivers. Pedestrians were left to wade their way to dry land and the authorities urged people not to leave home if possible [141]
Chilean capital hit by rare snowfall
16 Jul
A rare snowfall in the Chilean capital Santiago has caused disruption and blackouts, leaving thousands of residents shivering in the dark. About 250,000 people were hit by power cuts, officials said, mostly caused by snow-laden trees falling on cables. One death was reported - of a worker trying to clear ice - and two other people were injured by a fallen power line, Chilean media said. Meteorologists say it was the heaviest snowfall in Santiago since 2007. It came as the city and surrounding region were enduring an unusually cold snap. As well as the power cuts, the weather has caused traffic disruption in the capital and several sporting fixtures have been postponed. Forecasters say lighter amounts of snow are still expected to fall. [142]
Teens held over London acid attacks
16 Jul
Two teenagers have been arrested after acid was thrown in people's faces in five attacks over one night in London. Two moped riders attacked people in a 90-minute spree in Islington, Stoke Newington and Hackney on Thursday, stealing mopeds in two of the attacks. An eyewitness said he heard a victim, who he believed was a delivery driver, "screaming in pain". One victim suffered "life-changing injuries". Police are looking at whether moped theft was the motive for the attacks. Officers said they were linking the attacks and boys aged 15 and 16 have been arrested on suspicion of robbery and causing grievous bodily harm. [143]
Record rainfall and flood hit Paris
10 Jul
A two-hour storm unleashed 54mm (2.1in) of rain on Sunday night in Paris, the equivalent of 27 days of rainfall. Weather services say 49.2mm fell in one hour, the French capital's heaviest July deluge on record. Flooding closed 20 metro stations and three were still shut as commuters made their way to work on Monday morning. Parts of Switzerland were hit by violent winds and hail storms that also caused flooding at the weekend. Forecaster Patrick Galois said that radar images suggested the central-western regions of Poitou, Berry and the northern Limousin could easily top 100mm in a matter of hours. A dozen storm alerts were in force on Monday as the weather front moved east. [144]
Fire hits London's Camden Lock Market
10 Jul
A huge blaze broke out overnight at Camden Lock Market in north London. Seventy firefighters and 10 fire engines were sent to the site, which is a popular tourist attraction, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. A fire officer at the scene said the fire began in a building containing a number of businesses. It affected a small section of the area and many stalls and shops were "operating and welcoming visitors and customers as usual", the market said. London Ambulance Service was called in, but confirmed it had not treated any patients. Major fires have hit the sprawling market area twice before in recent years, in 2008 and 2014. [145]
Rio's slave wharf becomes heritage site
10 Jul
A wharf in Rio de Janeiro where nearly a million African slaves are estimated to have landed has been declared a World Heritage site by the UN cultural organisation, Unesco. The Valongo wharf operated for three centuries and became the biggest entry point for African slaves in Brazil. Its remains were discovered during renovation work for the 2016 Olympics.[146]
Canada province battles 180 wildfires
10 Jul
A state of emergency has been declared by the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) as it battles over 180 wildfires. The federal government says it is monitoring the situation closely and is ready to provide assistance upon request. CBC News reported that an estimated 7,000 people had been forced from their homes. The fires threaten several communities in BC's central interior region. [147]
Three car bombs hit Damascus, killing 8 people
2 Jul
Three car bombs exploded in the Syrian capital Damascus, state media reported, killing 8 people and wounding 12 in one of the blasts. It was the biggest attack in the city since a series of suicide attacks in March. Syrian government forces, which have defeated rebel fighters in several suburbs of Damascus over the last year, are currently battling insurgents in the Jobar and Ain Tarma areas on the capital's eastern outskirts. [148]
Trump travel ban comes into effect
2 Jul
People from six mainly Muslim countries and all refugees now face tougher US entry due to President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban. t means people without "close" family or business relationships in the US could be denied visas and barred entry. Lawyers took up positions at US airports, offering free advice. But there was no sign of the chaos that affected travellers when the first version of the ban was brought in at a few hours' notice in January. That is because the executive order does not affect people who already have valid visas or green cards. The Department of Homeland Security said it expected "business as usual at our ports of entry". The rules apply to people from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, as well as to all refugees. [149]
Indigenous art to illuminate Sydney icon
2 Jul
A vibrant animation telling stories of indigenous Australia will be projected on to the Sydney Opera House every night at sunset. The seven-minute show, beginning on Wednesday, will turn the works of five prominent indigenous artists into a permanent part of the city's skyline. The show, Badu Gili, means "water light" in the language of the site's traditional owners, the Gadigal people. Organisers say it celebrates time-honoured stories with contemporary art. [150]]
Kashmir cable car accident
25 Jun
At least seven people have been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir when the wire supporting a cable car snapped in the high-altitude tourist resort of Gulmarg, officials say. The cable car was sent crashing to the ground, killing everyone in it. Scores of people are reported to be trapped in other cable cars amid high winds. A rescue operation continues. The cable is reported to have snapped after a tree was blown over in the gales. The dead include two children. The cable-cars at Gulmarg are among the highest in the world. [151]
China landslide leaves 120 missing
24 Jun
More than 120 people are missing after a landslide in Sichuan province in south-western China, state media say. About 40 homes were destroyed in Xinmo village in Maoxian county, after the side of a mountain collapsed. Rescue teams are frantically searching for survivors trapped beneath rocks dislodged by hours of heavy rainfall. Five people are confirmed dead. Landslides are a regular danger in mountainous regions of China, especially during heavy rains. In 2008, 87,000 people were killed when an earthquake struck Wenchuan county in Sichuan province. In Maoxian county itself, 37 tourists were killed when their coach was buried in a landslide caused by the earthquake. [152]
Airport excludes pesto from liquid ban
24 Jun
In an era of high-security air travel, many a passenger has fallen foul of the rules banning liquids on planes. But now an Italian airport has decided to waive the 100ml maximum limit - as long as the liquid is pesto. More than 500 jars have made it through since Genoa's Cristoforo Colombo airport launched the "Il pesto è buono" (Pesto is good) scheme on 1 June. The cost? A donation to Flying Angels, which flies sick children abroad for treatment. Pesto - a popular pasta sauce made with basil, cheese, and pine nuts - is a local speciality in Genoa. Tourists with pesto jars of up to 500g can ask for a special sticker in exchange for a €0.50 (£0.44; $0.55) charity donation - although the airport says many are donating more. [153]
Danger map reveals health threat zone
24 Jun
South America is a hotbed of potential viruses that could be the next major threat to the world's health, according to "danger maps". The EcoHealth Alliance in New York looked at mammals, the viruses they harbour and how they come into contact with people. It revealed bats carry more potential threats than other mammals. The researchers hope the knowledge could be used to prevent the next HIV, Ebola or flu. Some of the most worrying infections have made the jump from animals to people - the world's largest Ebola outbreak seemed to start in bats, while HIV came from chimpanzees. [154]
Saudis 'foil suicide attack' in Mecca
24 Jun
Saudi Arabia says it has foiled a "terrorist action" against the Grand Mosque in Mecca - Islam's holiest site. A suicide bomber blew himself up when security forces surrounded the building he was in, the interior ministry says. The building collapsed, injuring 11 people, including police officers. Five other suspected militants have been taken into custody, officials say. Millions of Muslims from around the world have gathered in Mecca for the end of Ramadan. Saudi officials released no further details about the foiled attack. [155]
Death toll from Pakistan attacks climbs to 73
24 Jun
A Pakistani official says the death toll from twin bombings at a crowded market in the northwestern town of Parachinar has risen to 55, bringing the overall death toll from three separate attacks on Friday to 73. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a sectarian Sunni extremist group, claimed the bombings in Parachinar, a Shiite-dominated town. [156]
Iraqi forces attack Mosul's Old City
18 Jun
Iraqi forces say they have launched an assault on Mosul's Old City, the last district held by so-called Islamic State. Special forces are advancing on the district from the west and federal police are on the southern front, a statement said. The UN says as many as 100,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the densely populated Old City. [157]
Three killed in Colombia blast
18 Jun
Three women have been killed in the Colombian capital, Bogotá, in what the authorities say was a terrorist attack. An explosion occurred at a shopping centre in the busy Zona Rosa area. Eleven other people were injured in the attack. Bogota's mayor Enrique Penalosa said that one of those who died was from France. The authorities say they believe the explosion was caused by a small bomb in a ladies toilet. [158]
Huge Portugal forest fire
18 Jun
killed at least 43 people, most of whom burnt to death in their cars, and injured scores of others, the government said Sunday (June 18). [159]
12 Jun
Ukrainians have celebrated the introduction of visa-free travel to the European Union with special events. President Petro Poroshenko hailed the "fall of the paper curtain" at a gathering in the capital Kiev. He also opened a symbolic visa-free door to Europe, and met Slovak President Andrej Kiska, at the Uzhgorod border checkpoint. However, Ukrainians who want to work in the EU still need to obtain a working visa. Travellers departing from Kiev's international airport were treated to music and dance. The visa-free scheme allows Ukrainians with a biometric passport to enter the Schengen area - including some non-EU areas such as Switzerland and Iceland, but not the UK or Ireland - without a visa for up to 90 days. [160]
Blasts rock besieged city in Philippines
12 Jun
Bomb blasts rocked Marawi City in the southern Philippines as the national flag was raised to mark independence day, almost three weeks after hundreds of Islamist militants overran the town and hunkered down with civilians as human shields. Rescue workers, soldiers and firemen sang the national anthem and listened to speeches as three OV-10 attack aircraft darted through the cloudy sky, taking it in turns to drop bombs on areas where fighters are still holed up. [161]
Syrian army and allies step up bombing of rebels in Deraa city
12 Jun
The Syrian army and Iran-backed militia forces have escalated attacks against a rebel-held part of the southern city of Deraa, a possible prelude to a large-scale campaign to wrest full control of the city. The intensive raids and bombing strikes mainly pounded the southern part of Deraa, strategically located on the border with Jordan and where the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad erupted six years ago. [162]
IS suicide bomb kills at least 20 in Iraq
10 Jun
A suicide bomber has struck a market in Iraq in a town near the Shia holy city of Karbala, killing at least 20 people. IS has long mounted a violent campaign against Iraqi Shia, denouncing them as heretics. The group has increased its attacks on civilians in big cities in Iraq as increasingly loses territory. Its main stronghold of Mosul is expected to be recaptured soon. [163]
Orlando shooting
5 Jun
Police in the US state of Florida say there have been "multiple fatalities" in a shooting in Orlando. The shooting happened early on Monday morning in the east of the city, the Orlando Sentinel newspaper reports. [164]
Rival marches held in tense Portland
5 Jun
Hundreds of "Trump Free Speech Rally" demonstrators were confronted by a far larger gathering of counter protesters. The stand-off came amid tensions in the city over the fatal stabbing on a train of two men who tried to help teenagers apparently targeted by racial abuse. [165]
London terror attack
3 Jun
Seven people were killed in central London when three attackers drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and launched a knife attack in Borough Market. [166]
Dozens killed in Kabul explosion
31 May
A powerful vehicle bomb has hit the diplomatic area of the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least 80 people and injuring 350. It struck near Zanbaq Square in the heavily fortified zone, with civilians said to be the main casualties. The morning rush-hour blast created a massive crater and blew out windows and doors hundreds of metres away. The Taliban have denied carrying out the attack. There has been no word so far from so-called Islamic State. [167]
Kenya opens first railway for a century
31 May
Kenya has opened a major new railway between the port city of [Mombasa]] and the capital, Nairobi, 18 months early. President Uhuru Kenyatta said during the launch that the $3.2bn (£2.5bn) Chinese-funded line signalled a new chapter in the country. He warned that he would authorise the execution of vandals after four people were arrested damaging sections of a guardrail. It is Kenya's biggest infrastructure project since independence. Kenya has opened a major new railway between the port city of Mombasa and the capital, Nairobi18 months early.President Uhuru Kenyatta said during the launch that the $3.2bn (£2.5bn) Chinese-funded line signalled a new chapter in the country. He warned that he would authorise the execution of vandals after four people were arrested damaging sections of a guardrail. It is Kenya's biggest infrastructure project since independence. [168]
Deadly Cyclone Mora batters Bangladesh
30 May
Cyclone Mora has hit the south-eastern coast of Bangladesh, killing at least five people. Hundreds of houses were fully or partly damaged, the officials said. Significant damage is reported in refugee camps housing Rohingya Muslims from neighbouring Myanmar. The authorities have moved hundreds of thousands of people to shelters. Cyclone Mora will move northwards past Chittagong, weakening as it moves further inland and downgrading from a Category One hurricane to a tropical storm, tracking website Tropical Storm Risk forecasts. Parts of eastern India are expected to be affected later on. [169]
Baghdad hit by suicide attack
30 May
Two car bomb attacks in the heart of the Iraqi capital Baghdad by so-called Islamic State have killed at least 26 people and wounded dozens, sources say. The first happened just after midnight (21:00 GMT on Monday) at an ice cream shop in the Karrada district, where a crowd had broken their Ramadan fasts. A few hours later there was a second blast near the Shuhada Bridge, about 6km (4 miles) to the north in Shawaka. IS said both bombings had targeted "gatherings" of Shia Muslims. The Sunni jihadist group considers them apostates subject to punishment by death. [170]
Severe storm in Moscow region
30 May
Sixteen people were killed when a severe thunderstorm hit Moscow and the region around the Russian capital on Monday, officials say. Hundreds of trees were toppled, and about 150 people needed medical help. It was the deadliest storm in the city for more than 100 years, Russia's Interfax news agency reported. The winds of up to 110 km/h (70 mph) were described by meteorologists as extremely rare for the city, and caused structural damage to buildings. Electrical cables were reportedly damaged as Moscow was lashed with high winds, hail and torrential rain. The city's investigative committee said that "hurricane winds" had blown down trees across the city, killing five pedestrians. [171]
Philippines Marawi terror attack, 1/3 of country under martial law
24 May
At least 21 killed as Isis-linked militants rampage through Philippines city, killing a Roman Catholic priest and parishioners seized and the police chief beheaded Philippines.
Manchester terror attack
23 May
22 dead after blast at Ariana Grande concert. Attack was carried out by a lone suspect carrying a bomb, Manchester Police said. [172]
Montreal declares floods emergency
8 May
A state of emergency has been declared in the Canadian city of Montreal due to flooding caused by torrential rains and melting snow. The measure was declared on Sunday afternoon and will remain in place for 48 hours, city officials said. Across the province of Quebec, in Canada's east, nearly 1,900 homes have already been flooded across 126 towns and cities, authorities say. Some 1,200 troops have reportedly been deployed to help evacuate people. The emergency was declared in Montreal after three dikes gave way in the city's north. The flooding is not limited to Quebec, and unusually high rainfall has also caused flooding in the province of Ontario. Lake Ontario has reached a water level not seen since 1993 in southern Ontario, the Canadian Press news agency says. Warmer temperatures has also caused snow to melt in British Columbia in Canada's west, combining with the rain to cause flooding and mudslides. [173]
Hannover evacuates 50,000 over WW2 bomb
8 May
About 50,000 people in Hannover have been evacuated from their homes while experts defuse three British bombs dating from World War Two. The operation is the second largest of its kind carried out in Germany, and has affected around a tenth of the city's population. The buildings evacuated included seven care homes, a clinic and a Continental tyre plant. [174]
Venezuela unrest death toll rises
7 May
A 20-year-old Venezuelan protester died after being shot in the head, authorities said, taking fatalities from a month of anti-government unrest to at least 37 as the opposition geared up for more demonstrations. Another 717 people have been injured and 152 are still in jail from the hundreds rounded up in widespread unrest around the volatile South American OPEC nation of 30 million people, according to the office's latest tally. There has been violence and widespread looting this week in Valencia, a once-bustling industrial hub two hours from the capital by road. [175]
Environmental protesters swarm outside White House
30 Apr
A sea of protesters swarmed in front of the White House on Saturday to voice displeasure with President Donald Trump's stance on the environment and demand that he rethink plans to reverse the climate change policies backed by his predecessor. The Peoples Climate March, the culmination of a string of Earth Week protests that began with last Saturday's March for Science, coincides with Trump's 100th day in office. [176]
Dozens held at Russian anti-Putin rallies
30 Apr
Russian authorities have detained dozens of protesters at rallies demanding that President Vladimir Putin should not seek re-election next year. At least 30 people were reported to have been held in St Petersburg and more than 16 in the southern city of Kemerovo. Activists in some other cities were kept away from protests, reports said. [177]
Violence erupts after Brazil strike
29 Apr
Violence has erupted in Brazil at the end of the country's first general strike in more than 20 years. Buses and cars have been set on fire in Rio de Janeiro's city centre. Road blocks set up by activists were also ablaze and shops were vandalised. For most of the day the strike had been largely peaceful. Many people stayed at home and shops, schools and banks remained closed across the country. Unions called the strike in protest at proposed pension reforms. [178]
Three countries get first malaria vaccine
24 Apr
The world's first vaccine against malaria will be introduced in three countries - Ghana, Kenya and Malawi - starting in 2018. The RTS,S vaccine trains the immune system to attack the malaria parasite, which is spread by mosquito bites. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the jab had the potential to save tens of thousands of lives. But it is not yet clear if it will be feasible to use in the poorest parts of the world. The vaccine needs to be given four times - once a month for three months and then a fourth dose 18 months later. This has been achieved in tightly controlled and well-funded clinical trials, but it is not yet clear if it can be done in the "real-world" where access to health care is limited. Each country will decide how to run the vaccination pilots, but high-risk areas are likely to be prioritised. Despite huge progress, there are still 212 million new cases of malaria each year and 429,000 deaths. Africa is the hardest hit and most of the deaths are in children. [179]
Venezuela protest death toll rises
24 Apr
A woman who was injured during a pro-government march in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, has died, ombudsman Tarek Saab said on Sunday. Ten people have been killed in pro- and anti-government demonstrations this month so far. Another 11 people died on Friday when a bakery was looted in Caracas. Tension has risen sharply in Venezuela following a controversial decision on 29 March by the country's Supreme Court to take over the powers of the opposition-dominated National Assembly. [180]
Somalia drought fuelling piracy
24 Apr
ught and famine, a top US army officer has said. General Thomas Waldhauser, head of US Africa Command, said there had been half a dozen attacks in the last month. About three million Somalis face food insecurity and a national disaster was declared last month. Piracy was rampant off the Somali coast until increased patrols by European naval forces contained the problem. Somalia is one of four countries in Africa and the Middle East identified by the United Nations as currently at risk of extreme hunger and famine. The humanitarian crisis is the result of drought that has been partly caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon which has affected east and southern Africa but all four countries are also suffering from conflict. [181]
US military dropped powerful non-nuclear bomb on ISIS
9 Apr
The bomb was dropped on targets in Afghanistan Thursday. This is the first time this type of weapon has been used in battle, according to US officials. Officials said the target was an ISIS cave and tunnel complex and personnel in the Achin district of the Nangarhar province, a remote area in the country's east which borders Pakistan. [182]
Egypt church blast kills at least 13
9 Apr
At least 13 people have been killed in an explosion at a church in northern Egypt, state media say. The blast targeted the St George Coptic church in the city of Tanta, north of Cairo. A number of television channels said at least 40 people had been injured in the Palm Sunday attack. The cause of the explosion is not yet known but Egypt's Christian minority has often been targeted by Islamist militants in recent years. [183]
9 Apr
Three people were killed and more than a dozen injured on Sunday when police clashed with protesters during a by-election in Srinagar in India's disputed Kashmir region, an official said. Separatist factions in Kashmir had called for a boycott of the by-polls, resulting in heightened security and low voter turnout when the polling began. In Budgam district, police used tear gas to counter stone-pelting protesters, but was then forced to open fire, killing three people, a senior police official told Reuters. Overall, more than a dozen people were injured during the clashes across central Kashmir on Sunday, the official said. [184]
Five dead after truck rams pedestrians on Stockholm street
7 Apr
Parliament and the Stockholm subway are in lockdown, a Swedish Security Police spokesman told Swedish public radio. [185]
Colombian landslide destroys town
2 Apr
Landslides have killed at least 206 people in south-west Colombia and left many more injured, aid officials say. Hours of heavy rains overnight caused rivers to burst their banks, flooding homes with mud in Putumayo province. The Red Cross said that at least 220 were missing, and another 202 were injured. President Juan Manuel Santos, who travelled to the area, said troops had been deployed as part of a national emergency response. He declared a state of emergency in the region. Reuters news agency said more than 1,100 soldiers and police officers had joined the rescue effort. One army officer said the main local hospital was struggling to cope. [186]
France carnival explosion injures many
2 Apr
At least 18 people were injured when a bonfire exploded at a carnival held in northern France. The blast occurred at the end of the Yellow Carnaval in Villepinte, north-east of Paris, on Saturday afternoon. Video posted on social media showed the bonfire blowing up seconds after being ignited, sending debris flying. A mother and her child are among those seriously injured and the town's mayor was also hurt, Le Parisien newspaper reported. Agence France-Presse said an initial investigation had been opened by prosecutors, but the cause of the explosion was not yet known. [187]
Protesters burn parliament in Paraguay
2 Apr
Demonstrators in Paraguay have set fire to the country's parliament during violent protests against a bill that would lift presidential term limits. One activist was killed by a blow to the head which the opposition blamed on a rubber bullet fired by police. Protesters were photographed smashing in windows of the congress building in the capital, Asuncion, on Friday night and setting fire to the interior. [188]
Many feared dead in Indonesia landslide
2 Apr
At least 11 people are feared dead after a landslide triggered by heavy rain in Indonesia's East Java province. The landslide struck Banaran village in Ponorogo district early on Saturday, damaging 30 homes, the national disaster agency said. Security forces and emergency teams are clearing the mud to look for victims. Residents are being evacuated. Saturday's landslide hit as people were harvesting ginger at the foot of a hill, officials said. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy seasonal rains are common in Indonesia. Many people in the 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains. [189]
Great Barrier Reef storm damage likely
29 Mar
Cyclone Debbie is likely to have damaged Australia's already beleaguered Great Barrier Reef, experts have said. The cyclone struck the Queensland coast as a category four storm, carrying winds of up to 263km/h (163 mph). Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said some damage on land was not as widespread as first anticipated. Marine experts said they expected to find damage to the reef's ecosystem, although it would not rival widespread destruction caused by coral bleaching. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said it had not yet been able to assess potential damage caused by the storm. [190]
Measles outbreak across Europe
29 Mar
Measles is spreading across Europe wherever immunisation coverage has dropped, the World Health Organization is warning. The largest outbreaks are being seen in Italy and Romania. In the first month of this year, Italy reported more than 200 cases. Romania has reported more than 3,400 cases and 17 deaths since January 2016. Measles is highly contagious. Travel patterns mean no person or country is beyond its reach, says the WHO. For good protection, it's recommended that at least 95% of the population is vaccinated against the disease. [191]
Floods kill four in Peru's north
29 Mar
Four people have drowned after the river Piura burst its banks in the north of Peru and caused extensive flooding. More than 500 people were evacuated from rooftops in the town of Catacaos after flood water levels rose to 1.80m (5ft 9in). Hundreds of residents are still waiting to be taken to safety, local media reports. The Piura river flooded after 15 hours of heavy rains on the weekend. Gen Jorge Chavez of the National Emergency Operations Centre (COEN) said the rains had been the heaviest in almost a decade. [192]
Twin bombings target crowd in Bangladesh
26 Mar
Six people - two police officers and four civilians - have been killed in twin bombings in north-eastern Bangladesh, officials say. The blasts in Sylhet occurred near an apartment building where commandoes have been trying to flush out a group of suspected Islamist militants. Earlier many civilians were evacuated from the block of flats. The suspects have refused to surrender. Dozens of people were injured in the twin explosions on Saturday [193]
Hundreds arrested in Belarus protests
26 Mar
Police in Belarus have arrested hundreds of people during protests against a so-called "social parasites" tax on the under-employed. Thousands defied a ban to protest, taking to the streets of Minsk and other cities. Demonstrators shouted "Fascists!" at riot police. There have been weeks of sporadic protests against a $230 (£185) levy on those unemployed for six months. [194]
Laptop ban on flights comes into effect
25 Mar
A ban on laptops and tablets in cabin baggage on flights from Turkey and some countries in the Middle East and North Africa to the US and UK has come into effect. Officials say devices "larger than a smartphone" must travel in the hold because of an increased risk that they could contain explosives. At least one airline is allowing devices to be used up until boarding. The US ban covers eight countries, while the UK restrictions apply to six. Nine airlines from eight countries - Turkey, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait - are affected by the US ban. They operate about 50 flights a day to the US. [195]
Fierce clashes persist in Syria
23 Mar
The Syrian army and rebels, including jihadist groups, fought in the capital Damascus and north of Hama on Thursday after the insurgents' biggest offensive for months, underscoring the bleak prospects for peace talks which resume later in the day. The offensive seems unlikely to reverse 18 months of steady military gains by the government, culminating in December's capture of the rebel enclave in Aleppo, but it has shown the army's difficulty in defending many fronts simultaneously. Increased fighting in recent weeks despite a ceasefire brokered in December by Russia and Turkey casts further doubt on peacemaking efforts in Geneva, where talks resume on Thursday after making little progress in recent rounds. [196]
Mass evacuations after Ukrainian depot blast
23 Mar
Some 20,000 people are being evacuated after a series of explosions at a massive arms depot in eastern Ukraine described by officials as sabotage. The base in Balakliya, near Kharkiv, is around 100km (60 miles) from fighting against Russian-backed separatists. The dump is used to store thousands of tonnes of ammunition including missiles and artillery weapons. Rescue teams are overseeing a huge evacuation effort for people living in the city and nearby villages. The total area of the dump spans more than 350 hectares, the military says. [197]
Parliament shooting in UK
22 Mar
Knifeman shot by police after charging through Westminster gates and stabbing officer. [198]
Fire in heart of Bukit Bintang burns hotel to the ground
21 Mar
Kuala Lumpur - The city's glitzy shopping and entertainment district of Bukit Bintang was brought to a standstill today when fire broke out at a budget hotel here. [199]
US to appeal against travel ban ruling
18 Mar
The US government has said it will appeal against a ruling by a judge in Maryland that has blocked President Donald Trump's latest travel ban. Department of Justice officials have filed legal notices announcing their intention to challenge the block. The 6 March order placed a 90-day ban on people from six mainly Muslim nations and a longer ban on refugees. But judges in Maryland and Hawaii questioned the legality of the ban, which critics say is discriminatory. Their blocking rulings earlier this week were warmly welcomed by civil liberties groups and rights campaigners. [200]
Tourists die in Canadian avalanche
The bodies of two US tourists have been located in Alberta, Canada, after they were caught in an avalanche in the Banff National Park. The bodies were recovered on Friday morning at around 10:30 (16:30 GMT), Parks Canada said. The two tourists, who came from Boston, were caught in the avalanche on either Saturday or Sunday. [201]
Ethiopia rubbish landslide kills 48
13 Mar
At least 48 people have been killed in a landslide at a vast rubbish dump on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, officials say. They say dozens of people are still missing since the landslide on Saturday night at the Koshe landfill. A resident said 150 people were there at the time. A number of makeshift houses are now buried under tonnes of waste. The area has been a dumping ground for Addis Ababa's rubbish for more than five decades. [202]
Berlin strike set to ground 650 flights
13 Mar
Ground staff at Berlin's two main airports have kicked off a 25-hour strike, which is expected to force the cancellation of more than 650 flights. The disruption at the Tegel and Schoenefeld airports began at 4 am (0300 GMT) on Monday morning. Ground crews have already walked out several times over the past few weeks amid a tense dispute over pay. On Friday, a similar strike led to nearly 700 flights being grounded at the two airports.[203]
Dutch warn citizens after Erdogan threat
13 Mar
The Netherlands has warned its citizens over travel to Turkey as a row between the countries shows no sign of abating. Germany, Austria and the Netherlands blocked Turkish attempts to hold rallies in those countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed retaliation, accusing them of "Nazism". On Monday, the Dutch foreign ministry issued a new travel warning, urging its citizens in Turkey to take care and noting the new "diplomatic tensions". The warning to "avoid gatherings and crowded places" came as Turkey's foreign ministry lodged a formal protest with the Dutch envoy. [204]
Clashes in Rotterdam
12 Mar
Dutch riot police have clashed with protesters in Rotterdam, amid a diplomatic row that saw a Turkish minister escorted out of the country. Water cannon and police on horseback were used to disperse about 1,000 people outside the Turkish consulate. The minister was trying to win support among expatriates for a referendum on expanding Turkish presidential powers. The Dutch government says such rallies would stoke tensions days before the Netherlands' general election. [205]
Damascus twin bombing kills 40 Iraqis
12 Mar
A twin bomb attack in Syria's capital, Damascus, has killed 40 Iraqis and wounded 120, Iraq's government says. The attack was near the Bab al-Saghir cemetery, which houses Shia mausoleums, with those targeted said to be pilgrims arriving by bus. Sunni militants often target Shias but attacks in the capital are uncommon. A nationwide truce brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran took effect on 30 December after talks in Kazakhstan, but sporadic attacks continue.[206]
9 Mar
Nigeria has closed its main airport in the capital, Abuja, for six weeks to allow badly needed repairs to be carried out. It comes after airlines threatened to stop flying there because of safety concerns over the state of the runway. From now, those wishing to travel to Abuja are being encouraged to instead fly to the northern city of Kaduna, 190km (120 miles) away. But all but one international airline has refused to fly there. Ethiopian Airlines is currently the only company offering international flights to Kaduna, which has been hit recently by a spate of kidnappings. The government has set up a dedicated Abuja Airport Closure website, where passengers can book free bus tickets for the two-hour journey by road. [207]
9 Mar
Countries targeted under a new US travel ban passed by President Donald Trump have attacked the move, along with the United Nations. On Monday, President Trump signed a new executive order placing a 90-day ban on people from six mainly Muslim nations. The order was presented as a means to strengthen US national security against terror threats. On Tuesday however, two of the countries, Sudan and Somalia, said the move was unjustified. The directive, which includes a 120-day ban on all refugees, takes effect on 16 March. It follows a previous order, which was blocked by a federal court, that sparked confusion at airports and mass protests. [[208]]
Death toll from Kabul hospital attack rises to 49
9 Mar
The death toll from an attack on a military hospital in Kabul by gunmen dressed as medics has risen to 49 with dozens wounded, a senior health official said on Thursday. Salim Rassouli, director of Kabul hospitals, said 49 people had been killed in the attack on the Sardar Mohammad Khan military hospital on Wednesday, with at least 63 wounded. Some uncertainty remained over the exact figure and one security official said more than 90 people had been wounded. Earlier estimates had put the number of dead at more than 30 with 50 wounded. Gunmen went through the 400-bed hospital, shooting doctors, patients and visitors and battling security forces for several hours in a sophisticated operation claimed by Islamic State. Survivors told of barricading themselves in hospital rooms to escape the gunmen who were armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades and who began their attack after a suicide bomber blew himself. [209]
United States President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban
5 Mar
The new executive order bans immigration from six Muslim-majority countries, dropping Iraq from January's previous order, and reinstates a temporary blanket ban on all refugees. The new travel ban comes six weeks after Trump's original executive order caused chaos at airports nationwide before it was blocked by federal courts. It removes out language in the original order that indefinitely banned Syrian refugees and called for prioritizing the admission of refugees who are religious minorities in their home countries. That provision drew criticism of a religious test for entry and would have prioritized Christians over Muslims fleeing war-torn countries in the Middle East.[210]
Somalia drought claims dozens of lives
5 Mar
Somalia's Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Haire, says 110 people have died from hunger in a single region in the past 48 hours amid a severe drought. The figure for the south-western Bay region is the first official death toll announced during the crisis. The full impact of the drought on the country is still unknown. Humanitarian groups fear a full-blown famine will follow. Currently, almost three million people in Somalia face food insecurity. Local news outlet Alldhacdo reported dozens of deaths due to cholera in the town of Awdinle, also in the Bay region. The disease is often spread due to lack of clean drinking water. [211]
Rainstorms and mudslides leave 4 million people in Santiago-Chile without clean drinking water
23 Feb
Rainstorms and landslides in Chile have contaminated a major river forcing the authorities to cut off drinking water to at least four million people in the capital, Santiago. Officials said the water supply from the Maipo river would be cut to most of the city until the water flowed clear. At least three people have been killed and 19 are missing as rivers overflowed and bridges were washed away. [212]
Mogadishu-Somalia Car bomb wounded at least four soldiers
23 Feb
Soldiers reportedly chased the driver before he detonated the explosives."We received information of the car bomb and we pursued it, but he blew up while we were chasing him," [a] security officer said. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the explosion. In the past, al-Shabab has taken responsibility for blasts and gun attacks in the capital. [213]
NASA-United States announced 7 new planets.
23 Feb
Scientists are pondering the possibilities after this week's announcement: the discovery of seven worlds orbiting a small, cool star some 40 light-years away, all of them in the ballpark of our home planet in terms of their heft (mass) and size (diameter). Three of the planets reside in the "habitable zone" around their star, TRAPPIST-1, where calculations suggest that conditions might be right for liquid water to exist on their surfaces—though follow-up observations are needed to be sure. [214]
US-backed Iraqi security forces in Mosul have stormed the city's airport and a nearby military base
22 Feb
Counterterrorism service (CTS) troops and elite interior ministry units known as Rapid Response forces descended on the airport early on Thursday and the nearby Ghazlani military complex, CTS spokesman Sabah al-Numan told state TV. [215]
Hundreds of migrants storm Ceuta fence
18 Feb
Several hundred migrants have stormed a six-metre (20 ft) security fence that separates Morocco from Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa. Police said security cameras showed around 600 migrants, some with shears and clubs, breaking through one of the gates. More than 300 reportedly made it across the razor wire barrier. Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish territory in North Africa, have the EU's only land borders with Africa. As a result, they are popular crossing points for migrants hoping to reach a new life in Europe. [216]
Baghdad car bomb kills at least 48
18 Feb
At least 48 people have been killed in Baghdad in the third blast in the Iraqi capital in three days, security and medical sources say. A car packed with explosives blew up near car dealerships in the Shia area of Bayaa in the south of the city. More than 50 people were injured. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed the attack, saying it targeted "a gathering of Shias". At least 24 people were killed in other attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday. Baghdad saw a wave of deadly suicide attacks by IS in the first few days of 2017, but the number had dropped until recently. [217]
Four dead in French ski resort avalanche
14 Feb
Two teenage boys are among four French snowboarders killed in an avalanche at the ski resort of Tignes in France. The snowboarders, led by an instructor, died when the wall of snow swept through an off-piste area just after 10:30 local time (09:30 GMT) on Monday. It had been feared more people had been caught up in the disaster. But Albertville Deputy Prefect Nicolas Martrenchard later told Agence France-Presse that "the definitive death toll is four victims". [218]
Congo police open fire on separatists in capital Kinshasa
14 Feb
Police in Democratic Republic of Congo launched an assault on the residence of the leader of a separatist religious sect in Kinshasa early on Tuesday and fired live ammunition and tear gas at his supporters. Violence has surged across Congo in recent weeks after President Joseph Kabila refused to step down when his constitutional mandate expired in December, raising fears the country could slide back into civil war. Police have clashed with BDK members several times in the past few weeks in their native Kongo Central province in the southwest, but the spread of violence to Kinshasa, several hundred kilometers (miles) away, marks a serious escalation. [219]
Angola stadium stampede kills 17
12 Feb
At least 17 people have been killed in a stampede at a football stadium in the northern Angolan city of Uige, local officials say. Hundreds more were reported to have been injured when supporters stormed the gates after failing to gain entry. Some of those who fell became trapped and suffocated at the venue on Friday, a medical official said. Witnesses said the crowd trying to gain access would have taken the stadium past its 8,000 capacity. [220]
Nearly 100 bushfires rage in Australia
12 Feb
Rural areas of Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state have been evacuated as wildfires rage across the state, threatening homes and closing roads. Some 97 fires were burning across the state, with 37 uncontained, the Rural Fire Service said. One person had been flown to hospital in Sydney after suffering burns, the authorities said. A heatwave has seen temperatures in some areas hit records while fast winds from the desert were fanning flames. More than 2,000 firefighters, many of them volunteers, were battling the fires. [221]
Baghdad's Green Zone hit by rockets
12 Feb
Several rockets have hit the high security Green Zone in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, hours after clashes at a protest left at least five dead. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies in Baghdad. Earlier on Saturday, thousands of protesters, demanding electoral reform, tried to storm the area. Police fired tear gas. At least 200 people are reported to be hurt. The protesters, mostly supporters of the Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, want changes to the electoral commission that oversees elections. [222]
Huge Greece evacuation over WW2 bomb
12 Feb
At least 70,000 people in the Greek city of Thessaloniki are being evacuated so that a 500lb World War Two bomb can be defused, officials say. It is thought to be one of the largest wartime bombs to be found in urban Greece in addition to being one of the largest mass evacuations. The bomb was discovered during road works last week and is due to be disposed of on Sunday. Officials say it is too degraded to tell if it is German or an Allied bomb. Residents within a radius of about 2km (1.2 miles) of the bomb will be compelled to evacuate the area between now and Sunday morning, security officials have said. [223]
Kenya declares national drought disaster
12 Feb
Kenya's president has declared the drought, which has affected as much as half the country, a national disaster. Uhuru Kenyatta appealed for international aid and said the government would increase food handouts to the most needy communities. Kenya's Red Cross says 2.7 million people face starvation if more help is not provided. Other countries in the region have also been hit by the drought, blamed on last year's El Nino weather phenomenon. In Somalia, nearly half the population is suffering from food shortages and the UN says there is a risk of famine in several parts of the country. During the last drought on this scale in 2011, famine killed about 250,000 Somalis. [224]
Indonesian Sinabung volcano erupts seven times in less than 24 hours
5 Feb
The ash spewed from the volcano was carried by winds to Berastagi, a tourist town in the Karo highlands south-east of the volcano. [225]
Protests in Romenia
5 Feb
Massive rallies were held across the nation on Sunday, including at Victory Square in the capital of Bucharest. [226]
Trump's travel ban
31 Jan
World leaders and prominent figures have blasted US President Donald Trump's temporary ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States as divisive, illegal, insulting and discriminatory. Trump signed an executive order Friday barring citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan from entering the country for 90 days and suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days. The order indefinitely bans entry of those fleeing from war-torn Syria. [https://cnn.com
Ukraine set to evacuate flashpoint town
31 Jan
Ukrainian officials are preparing for a possible evacuation of the eastern frontline town of Avdiivka amid renewed fighting with pro-Russian rebels. If evacuation takes place, officials say up to 8,000 people could be removed each day from the government-held town, which has no water or electricity. The Kiev government said seven of its soldiers died in clashes on Sunday and Monday, and fighting is continuing. Each side blames the other for the upsurge in violence. It erupted despite an attempt to renew a ceasefire last month. Ukrainian forces say the outbreak began when rebels launched an attack on Avdiivka, which borders land controlled by the separatists. [227]
Chile battles against devastating fires
25 Jan
Residents and emergency services have been fighting the worst wildfire in Chile's modern history. A series of fast-spreading fires, mostly in Chile's central region, have forced thousands from their homes, and one town, Santa Olga, has been completely destroyed. [228]
Italy avalanche death toll rises to 14
24 Jan
Rescuers working through the night pulled five more bodies from the wreck of a hotel in central Italy that was razed by an avalanche last week, bringing the death toll to 14, the national fire brigade said on Tuesday. The latest bodies - three men and two women - were recovered hours before families of victims were due to hold the first funerals of those killed in the avalanche. Eleven people so far have been rescued from in and around the hotel in the Gran Sasso national park, some of them surviving for two days under ice and rubble. But 15 people are still missing after a wall of snow crashed into the four-storey building last Wednesday, hours after earthquakes shook the region. [229]
Roadside bomb kills at least four soldiers in Somalia town
24 Jan
At least four soldiers were killed and five wounded on Tuesday when a roadside bomb that Islamist insurgents said they planted exploded outside a military camp in a town near Mogadishu, officials said. The blast in Afgoye, about 30 km (18 miles) southwest of the capital, took place a day after the al Shabaab group carried out a raid in the same town that was repulsed by government troops. [230]
Holidaymakers flown out of Gambia
18 Jan
Thousands of UK tourists are being returned from The Gambia after the Foreign Office issued new travel advice amid a state of emergency. Also tourists from other countries have or are in process of being evavuated from the area. [231]
Catastrophe in central Italy on day of four big quakes
18 Jan
The president of Italy's Marche region has talked of a "catastrophe" and appealed for aid as four quakes above magnitude 5 struck in one day. The Lazio region was also affected on Wednesday and the tremors were felt in the capital, Rome. [232]
Big chill continues to grip Europe
14 Jan
Much of Europe continues to be hit by icy weather with strong winds and powerful storms causing traffic chaos, power cuts and travel delays. Electricity supplies to nearly 350,000 homes in France were temporarily cut, while severe flood warnings are in place on England's east coast. As Germany prepares for more heavy snow, forecasters say the worst of the weather is heading eastwards. Freezing conditions continue in the Balkans and Turkey. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the cold weather was responsible for countless road accidents and school closures in addition to cancelled flights. Some countries are suffering some of the heaviest snowfall in many years, with the Danube river and Bosporus sea strait closed to shipping. [233]
Afghan officials probe attacks as death toll rises past 50
11 Jan
Afghan security officials began investigating Tuesday's attacks in the capital Kabul and the southern city of Kandahar as the death toll climbed to over 50, including five diplomats from the United Arab Emirates. The Ministry of the Interior raised the death toll from the Kabul attack to 38, with 86 wounded, while 13 people were confirmed dead in Kandahar, where the diplomats were killed while on a visit to open an orphanage. The violence highlights the precarious security situation in Afghanistan, which has seen a steady increase in attacks since international troops ended combat operations in 2014, with record numbers of civilian casualties. [234]
Chile worried about bat plague
11 Jan
Chile's health authorities have warned people to be wary of an increasing number of bats appearing in homes across the country. The Institute for Public Health said it had been sent 70 bats within the first week of January, three of which tested positive for rabies. It said that while bats are active in spring and summer, there seemed to be more this January due to a heat wave. Health officials said their presence in houses was "potentially risky". There are 11 species of bats in Chile, some of which live very close to humans, the Institute of Health said in a statement [in Spanish] on its website. [235]
Five dead in Florida airport shooting
7 Jan
Five people have been shot dead by a gunman at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida, officials say. It happened at the baggage claim area in Terminal 2, just before 1300 local time (1800 GMT), the airport confirmed. Eight people were injured. The gunman, believed to be an Iraq war veteran, was taken into custody. Hundreds of people were standing on the tarmac outside the terminal as dozens of police cars and ambulances rushed to the scene. Fort Lauderdale is a major tourist hub in the greater Miami area that typically sees an average of 80,000-100,000 passengers every day. Nearby Miami International Airport announced that "extra security measures" had been put in place "out of an abundance of caution". [236]
Baghdad suicide car bomb blast kills 35
03 Jan
At least 35 people have been killed in a suicide car bomb attack in a busy square in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, security and medical sources say. Sixty-one other people were injured by the blast in the predominantly Shia Muslim eastern district of Sadr City. Another car bomb later exploded in the car park of the nearby Al-Kindi hospital, killing three people. The jihadist group Islamic State said it carried out both attacks, targeting a "gathering of Shia" in the first. [237]
Massive Fire in Valparaiso, Chile
03 Jan
A large fire broke out in the coastal Chilean city of Valparaiso on Monday evening, burning at least 100 homes, prompting the evacuation of about 400 people and sending plumes of smoke high in the air. Chilean Interior Minister Mahmud Aleuy said in televised remarks that 19 people had been slightly injured, including 16 suffering from respiratory issues. Power was initially cut to about 47,000 customers in the region, but had been restored to all but 350, he said. Dozens of fire brigades from Valparaiso and neighboring municipalities were deployed to fight the blaze, and investigators had been sent in to determine the cause of the fire, according to the government.
Istanbul new year Reina nightclub attack leaves 39 dead
01 Jan
A gunman opened fire in Reina nightclub at about 01:30 local time (22:30 GMT), as revellers marked the new year. At least 69 people were being treated in hospital, the minister added. Four were said to be in a serious condition. [238]
Queues in India as rupee deadline passes
31 Dec
There have been long queues outside many banks in India as people tried to deposit discontinued banknotes ahead of a deadline that has now passed. An estimated 40% of cash dispensers are empty, meaning people are unable to withdraw new notes to replace the old ones they have handed in. There has been widespread disruption since Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in November that 500 and 1,000 rupee notes would no longer be legal. The move was meant to curb corruption. It has divided opinion, especially over how the ban was implemented. Early last month the government scrapped the 500 and 1000 rupee notes to crack down on undeclared money and fake cash. Deadlines for spending the notes or swapping them for new currency have already passed. [239]
Clashes reported in Syria despite truce
31 Dec
Fighting between government and rebel forces has been reported in parts of Syria despite a nationwide truce coming into force early on Friday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said there had been fierce clashes and air strikes in northern Hama province. It added that rebel-held Wadi Barada near Damascus was also bombarded. But the military denied doing so. [240]
31 Dec
Israel has issued a warning of imminent "terrorist attacks" on tourists in India, advising its citizens to avoid public places during the New Year celebrations. A statement from the Counter-Terrorism Bureau urged particular caution in the south-west of India. It said travellers should shun crowded areas like beach parties, clubs, and markets. India is a popular tourist destination for Israelis. Young visitors from Israel often travel to areas like Goa to relax after completing their compulsory military service. In a unusual move, the warning was published on Friday evening in Israel, after the start of the Jewish Sabbath when government offices close for business. [241]
DR Congo floods leave 50 dead
29 Dec
At least 50 people have died and thousands have been left homeless after severe flooding in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Torrential rain caused the Kalamu river, which flows through the city of Boma, to burst its banks on Tuesday. The bodies of some of the victims had ended up in neighbouring Angola, after being carried away by the surge, a local governor said. Locals said that some areas of the city were buried in up to a metre of mud. [242]
Colombia kidnappings down 92% since 2000
29 Dec
Police in Colombia say the number of people kidnapped has fallen 92% since 2000. The head of the counter-kidnapping police force, Fernando Murillo, said 188 people had been abducted in 2016. Colombia was for years the world's kidnapping hotspot with human rights groups estimating that almost 33,000 people have been seized since 1970. A peace deal with Colombia's main rebel group and improved security have led to the "historic shift", police said. Gen Murillo said that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) had not kidnapped a single person in 2016. The Farc signed a peace deal with the government in November ending 52 years of armed conflict. [243]
Shallow quake of magnitude 5.8 hits Nevada
28 Dec
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 struck 29 km (18 miles) west south west of Hawthorne, Nevada, in the United States on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey said. The quake's depth was about 19 km, according to the USGS website, which also reported an aftershock of magnitude 5.7, given at a depth of 0.0 km. [244]
Mass sackings in Bangladesh after protest
28 Dec
At least 1,500 garment workers in Bangladesh have been sacked after a week of protests over pay, say police. Dozens of factories supplying major Western brands were forced to close after a mass walkout and subsequent demonstrations in the Ashulia district. Police said factories opened on Tuesday with many now back at work, but they also detained several labour leaders. [245]
Blast in Kabul wounds member of parliament
28 Dec
A bomb attack targeted a member of Afghanistan's parliament in the capital, Kabul, on Wednesday, wounding him and several other people, officials said. Fakori Behishti, a member of parliament from Bamyan province, and his son were wounded in the blast, an official with the parliament's security department said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which destroyed the vehicle in which Behishti was traveling, badly damaged other vehicles and shattered the windows of nearby shops. Last week, another member of parliament was targeted by a suicide bomber who killed seven people. The member of parliament survived. [246]
Berlin lorry deaths terrorist attack
20 Dec
German police are investigating a "probable terrorist attack" after a man ploughed a lorry into a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48. The driver, reportedly a Pakistani asylum seeker who entered Germany last year, is being questioned. "We have to assume this was a terrorist attack", said German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a short statement on Tuesday. [247]
Plan to scrap Pakistan's 5,000 rupee note
20 Dec
Pakistan's Senate has recommended scrapping the country's 5,000 rupee ($48; £38.50) banknote, despite government opposition. A resolution, which is not binding, has called for the government to remove the notes to "reduce illicit money flow". Two months ago, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised the country by scrapping 1,000 rupee and 500 rupee notes overnight, The move led to acute currency shortages in India. [248]
Venezuela's leader defends currency move
20 Dec
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says his decision to scrap the nation's most-used banknote has allowed it to triumph over its enemies. The withdrawal of the 100-bolivar note has prompted protests and looting in several states as the supply of ready cash rapidly ran out. But Mr Maduro said taking millions of notes out of circulation had smashed the black market. He has, however, postponed the withdrawal until early January. Nevertheless, some businesses were reportedly still refusing to accept the 100-bolivar notes, even though they remain legal tender until the new year. [249]
20 Dec
The US embassy in Ankara and its consulates in Istanbul and Adana have closed for normal operations after an individual approached the embassy and discharged a firearm, the embassy says. [250]
20 Dec
The Syrian army is calling on the last remaining rebels to leave eastern districts of Aleppo, as the evacuation of their besieged enclave continues. Soldiers reportedly broadcast messages by loudspeaker on Tuesday, warning that they would enter the areas on Tuesday. But one rebel official said the fighters would only leave once all civilians who wanted to had done so. The Red Cross says 25,000 people have been evacuated since a ceasefire deal halted the army's offensive a week ago. It is not known exactly how many are still waiting to leave eastern Aleppo, but the UN special envoy to Syria estimated on Thursday that about 40,000 civilians and 10,000 rebels were there. [251]
Turkish bus hit by a deadly blast
16 Dec
A suspected car bomb in Turkey has killed 13 soldiers aboard a bus and wounded 48 more, the Turkish army says. The blast destroyed a bus carrying soldiers who had been allowed to visit a local market. An army spokesman said civilians may also have been injured. Images from the scene showed the bus reduced to a smouldering wreck with a massive hole punched in one side. The explosion comes a week after 44 people were killed by a bomb attack in Istanbul claimed by Kurdish militants. [252]
Hopes rise for Aleppo evacuation
15 Dec
Rebel sources said a new truce had been in effect from 03:00GMT and evacuations would take place early on Thursday. Sources from the Syrian military, the pro-government Hezbollah and Russian media said preparations were under way. One convoy of ambulances did try to leave but was shot at and had to turn back, rebel sources said. Rebel fighters and civilians had been due to leave the city early on Wednesday, but a ceasefire collapsed. [253]
Suicide car bomb explodes at checkpoint in Mogadishu
15 Dec
A suicide car bomb exploded on Thursday at a checkpoint near Somalia's national theater in the capital Mogadishu, killing the bomber, police said. There was no immediate word on whether anybody else was killed or injured in the blast, which witnesses said had been followed by gunfire. The national theater stands about 500 meters (yards) away from the presidential palace. [254]
Japanese tourist dies at Australia's Great Barrier Reef
14 Dec
An elderly Japanese woman has died while snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef, in the fourth tourist death at the Australian attraction in a month. BBC News
Six held in UK anti-terrorism raids; bomb disposal called in
12 Dec
Police said they had arrested six people in anti-terrorism raids across central England and London on Monday, with bomb disposal officers later dispatched as officers carried out searches. Detectives detained four men from Derby and another in Burton upon Trent in central England while a woman was also arrested in London on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. BBC News
Bomb attack near Cairo Coptic cathedral kills at least 25
11 Dec
A bomb explosion in the Coptic Christian cathedral complex in the Egyptian capital Cairo has killed at least 25 people, officials say. Dozens of others were injured in the blast in a chapel adjoining St Mark's cathedral during a Sunday service. BBC News
10 Dec
A twin bomb attack on police officers outside a football stadium in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, has killed 38 people and injured many more. A car bomb hit a police vehicle and a suicide bomber detonated a suicide vest in quick succession late on Saturday. BBC News
Rio Proposes Tax for Tourists to Help Them When They Are Mugged
9 Dec
The mayor elect of Rio de Janeiro is promoting a new idea to bolster tourism in his crime plagued city, levying a new tax on tourists, then using the proceeds to reimburse visitors who are mugged. New York Times
No survivors after plane crash in northern Pakistan mountains
7 Dec
There were no survivors after a plane carrying 47 people crashed into a mountain in northern Pakistan on Wednesday, the airline's chairman said, as recovery operations continued late into the night at the remote crash site. The military said 40 bodies had been recovered and rescue efforts involved about 500 soldiers, doctors and paramedics. The bodies were shifted to the Ayub Medical Center in nearby Abbottabad, about 20km (12 miles) away. Reuters
7 Dec
Nearly 100 people were killed and hundreds injured in Indonesia on Wednesday when a strong earthquake hit its Aceh province and rescuers used earth movers and bare hands to search for survivors in scores of toppled buildings. The Aceh provincial government said in a statement 93 people had died and more than 500 were injured, many seriously. Reuters
Electrical fault temporarily halts rail links with Paris
7 Dec
An equipment failure temporarily halted all rail traffic on Wednesday at the Gare du Nord station in Paris, including the international Eurostar and Thalys train links, the SNCF state rail company said. Traffic gradually began returning to normal more than two hours after being affected by "an electrical problem," the spokesman said. Reuters
Flood kills at least 13 people in central Vietnam
5 Dec
Floods brought by torrential rain since late November have killed at least 13 people in central Vietnam while more heavy rain is expected in coming days, the government and state media said on Sunday. Six people have died in floods in Binh Dinh province since Thursday and another four were killed in Quang Ngai province, while more than 10,000 homes in the two provinces were submerged, the government said. Reuters
Gunman takes hostages in Paris travel agency robbery
2 Dec
A gunman has taken hostage about half a dozen people at a travel agency in southern Paris in what appears to be a robbery, a police source said on Friday. Armed police are on the scene, the source said, adding that the incident did not appear to be terrorism linked. The travel agency, which is used in particular by Asian customers who deal in cash transactions, has previously been held up, the source added. Reuters
UN alarm as thousands flee Aleppo fight
29 Nov
Up to 16,000 civilians have been displaced by the Syrian government's advance into besieged rebel-held areas of the city of Aleppo, the UN says. Humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said thousands more were likely to flee if the fighting continued to spread and intensify in the coming days. He expressed concern about their fate, calling the situation deeply alarming. Troops and militiamen have retaken more than a third of the rebel-held eastern half of Aleppo since the weekend. Overnight, at least 18 people were killed in government air strikes on the remaining rebel-held areas, including 12 in the Shaar district near the new northern frontline, according to a UK-based monitoring group. BBC
US wildfires threaten resort towns
29 Nov
Mandatory evacuations are under way in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, after wildfires set many houses and a hotel ablaze. The fires also threatened Dollywood, a theme park owned by the county music icon and actress Dolly Parton, and an aquarium housing thousands of animals. There are fears that a storm system approaching the area will fan the flames, and that the forecast rain will not be enough to quell them. Several southern states are battling wildfires after months of drought. The wildfires, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, are reportedly growing increasingly unpredictable and dangerous. The Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge has evacuated guests from some of its properties, but so far no structures have been damaged, a spokesperson said. BBC
Costa Rica deaths as Hurricane Otto hits
25 Nov
A number of people are dead or missing in Costa Rica after Hurricane Otto made landfall as a Category Two storm. Otto, the southernmost hurricane on record to hit Central America, struck a sparsely-populated area of southern Nicaragua on Thursday. Neighbouring Costa Rica had ordered 4,000 people from the Caribbean coast. At about the same time the storm hit, a powerful earthquake shook Nicaragua and El Salvador, briefly triggering a tsunami alert. The 7.0 magnitude quake in the Pacific Ocean was about 120km (75 miles) off the coast of El Salvador. There were no reports of damage or casualties but residents were initially advised to evacuate coastal areas. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later said the threat had passed. Media in Nicaragua said one woman died of a heart attack after hearing the tsunami warning. Meanwhile, in Costa Rica, president Luis Guillermo Solis said an unknown number were dead or missing after the hurricane. The country had not been directly hit by a hurricane since records began in 1851. BBC
Ancient city is discovered in Egypt
25 Nov
Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed what they describe as a city that dates back more than 5,000 years, containing houses, tools, pottery and huge graves. It lies by the River Nile, close to the Temple of Seti the First in Abydos. Experts say the size of the 15 newly discovered graves indicates the high social standing of those buried. It is believed the city was home to important officials and tomb builders and would have flourished during early-era ancient Egyptian times. The discovery comes at a time when the country is trying re-energise its tourism industry, which has suffered amid militant violence since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011. BBC
Riot in Bulgaria's largest refugee centre
25 Nov
Some 1,500 migrants have clashed with police in Bulgaria's largest refugee centre, two days after the facility was sealed off following reports of an alleged infection outbreak. Officials said the claims were false. The Harmanli centre is home to 3,000 people, mostly Afghan refugees. Protesters threw stones at riot police, who used water cannon to disperse them. Some 13,000 migrants are still stranded in Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest country. In an attempt to prevent illegal crossings, the country built a fence on its border with Turkey and reinforced its border controls. BBC
Attack on Shia pilgrims in Iraq kills 77
25 Nov
Some 77 people, most of them Shia pilgrims from Iran and Afghanistan, have been killed in a truck bomb attack in Iraq, officials say. The blast struck at a petrol station and restaurant near Hilla, some 100 km (60 miles) south of Baghdad. Bus loads of pilgrims had stopped there on their way home from commemorating Arbaeen in the holy city of Karbala. Some 40 people were wounded. The jihadist group Islamic State said it carried out the attack. BBC
Lufthansa cancels 900 flights amid strike
23 Nov
Lufthansa has cancelled almost 900 flights after it lost an eleventh-hour legal bid to halt a pilots strike. The two-day strike over pay began at midnight local time, with Lufthansa saying about 100,000 passengers will be affected. Flights by Lufthansa's other airlines including Eurowings, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines are not affected, the airline said. The industrial action is part of a long-running pay dispute at Lufthansa. BBC
Hurricane Otto threatens Central America
23 Nov
A storm in the Caribbean has been upgraded to a hurricane and is threatening Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua, forecasters say. They warned that Hurricane Otto may have winds of 90 mph (145km/h) when it makes landfall early on Thursday. At least four people have already died in Panama in severe weather caused by the approach of the storm. The hurricane is moving west at 2 mph (4km/h) after being almost stationary throughout Tuesday, experts say. The US National Hurricane Center says Otto is now blowing at about 75 mph (120km/h) as it approaches northern Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua. The governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica have issued a hurricane watch from Costa Rica's southern border to the city of Bluefields in Nicaragua. There is also a likelihood of dangerous surf and rip current conditions over the next few days along the coasts of Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, officials say. BBC
Bolivia schools close due to drought
23 Nov
Authorities in three Bolivian regions have called an end to the school year two weeks early as the country suffers from a severe and prolonged drought. Three reservoirs which supply the largest city, La Paz, are almost dry, and water rationing is in effect until further notice. More than 125,000 families are thought to be affected, with some communities only receiving water every third day. President Evo Morales declared a national state of emergency on Monday. BBC
21 Nov
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 hit northern Japan on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, issuing tsunami advisories for much of the nation's northern Pacific coast. The epicenter of the earthquake, which was felt in Tokyo, was off the coast of Fukushima prefecture at a depth of about 10 km, the agency said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injury. Reuters
Kabul mosque suicide attack kills dozens
21 Nov
A suicide bomber has killed at least 27 people in a suicide attack on a Shia Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, police say. Another 35 were wounded in the blast at the Baqir ul Olum mosque. The attacker was on foot and blew himself up among crowds inside the building, one report said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Afghanistan has largely been spared levels of sectarian violence seen by Pakistan and Iraq. Shia make up about 15% of the population in Afghanistan. An attack in July, claimed by so-called Islamic State, killed 80 people at a Shia protest march in Kabul. BBC
India rail crash raises concerns of underinvestment
21 Nov
Indian rescue workers concluded their search of the mangled carriages of a derailed train on Monday, bringing the number of passengers killed in the disaster to at least 142 and the injured to more than 200. Sunday's derailment in the state of Uttar Pradesh was India's deadliest train crash since 2010 and has renewed concern about the poor safety standard of the state-run network, which is a lifeline for millions of Indians but has suffered from chronic underinvestment. Police at the accident site said rescue teams had finished their search for bodies buried in the 14 carriages that derailed in the early hours while most of the more than 500 passengers were asleep. Reuters
Zika virus no longer an emergency- WHO
18 Nov
The mosquito-borne Zika virus will no longer be treated as an international medical emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared. By lifting its nine-month-old declaration, the UN's health agency is acknowledging that Zika is here to stay. The infection has been linked to severe birth defects in almost 30 countries. These include microcephaly, where babies are born with abnormally small heads and restricted brain development. BBC
Thousands of Indonesians expected to rally against rising intolerance
18 Nov
Thousands of Indonesians are expected to rally on Saturday against what they see as growing racial and religious intolerance in the world's largest Muslim-majority country. Religious leaders, human right groups and other organizations will join the parade in central Jakarta, spokeswoman Umi Azalea said by telephone. The movement was not political but aimed at "celebrating Indonesia's diversity", Azalea said. Reuters
Train to Peru's Machu Picchu suspends service due to threat of protest
17 Nov
PeruRail, the company that takes hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors to the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu each year, suspended service indefinitely on Thursday due to the threat of violent protests. PeruRail said in a statement it would run a few trains to evacuate tourists who are already at the site, one of South America's most popular tourist attractions, and will refund tickets that have been purchased. Reuters
At least four dead in mall fire in Peru before global summit
16 Nov
At least four people died in a fire in a movie theater at a popular seaside mall in Lima on Wednesday, authorities said, ahead of a global summit bringing together presidents from the United States, Russia, China and Japan this week. The government of Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said the fire at the Larcomar shopping center appears to have been started by a short circuit. Reuters
Cuba pardons 787 prisoners after pope's call for mercy
15 Nov
Cuba has pardoned 787 convicts in response to Pope Francis' Holy Year call to all heads of state for acts of clemency, the ruling Communist Party newspaper Granma reported on Tuesday. Those pardoned include women, youths, people who are ill and "other categories," according to Granma. A list of names has not been made public. Cuba, which has denied that it has political prisoners, said those convicted of murder, rape, child abuse and drug trafficking would be excluded from the pardons. Reuters
New Zealand begins evacuating tourists from quake-hit town
14 Nov
New Zealand emergency services and defense personnel began evacuating hundreds of tourists and residents from the South Island town of Kaikoura on Tuesday, a day after a powerful earthquake hit the region, killing two people. The 7.8-magnitude tremor, which struck just after midnight on Sunday, destroyed historic farm homesteads, sent glass and masonry toppling from high rises in the capital Wellington and cut road and rail links throughout the northeast of the South Island. Reuters
A powerful earthquake has struck New Zealand's South Island
13 Nov
A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake has struck New Zealand's South Island, killing at least two people. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.4 quake hit just after midnight (11:02 GMT on Sunday), some 95km (59 miles) from Christchurch. It was felt as far afield as the capital Wellington on the North Island, 120 miles (200km) away. A tsunami arrived about two hours later. Officials warned everyone along the eastern coast to head inland or for higher ground. BBC
India rupees, chaos at banks continues after ATMs reopen
11 Nov
Long queues continue outside banks and several ATMs have run out of cash in India, three days after 500 ($7) and 1,000 rupee notes were withdrawn as part of anti-corruption measures. The BBC visited many ATMs of big banks in Delhi and Mumbai but found them either shut or not dispensing cash. Reuters
Riots, demolitions leave 30,000 homeless in Nigeria's megacity, rights group says
10 Nov
Some 30,000 residents of the Nigerian megacity Lagos have become homeless because of state-ordered demolitions and riots among slum dwellers competing for jobs and space, residents and a rights group said on Thursday. The violence highlights the challenges of a rapidly rising population unable to provide enough jobs and housing for its 180 million people. Many end up trying to migrate to Europe by boat from lawless Libya. Reuters
Anxious world leaders seek clarity on Trump policies
9 Nov
World leaders offered to work with Donald Trump when he takes over as U.S. president, but expressed anxiety over how he will handle problems from the Middle East to an assertive Russia and whether he will carry out a number of campaign threats. Several authoritarian and right-wing leaders hailed the billionaire businessman and former TV show host, who won the leadership of the world's most powerful country against the odds in Tuesday's election. Reuters
At least seven killed in London tram accident; driver arrested
9 Nov
At least seven people were killed and more than 50 injured when a tram overturned on Wednesday morning in south London, police said and later confirmed the driver had been arrested. Early indications were that the tram was travelling too fast on a sharp bend, investigators said. Reuters
Millions of Americans turn out on Election Day to pick the next U.S. president
8 Nov
After a long and exceptionally negative campaign, Americans by the millions voted on Tuesday for their next president as opinion polls showed Democrat Hillary Clinton with a narrow lead over Republican Donald Trump. In a battle that focused on the character of the candidates, Clinton, 69, a former U.S. first lady, senator and secretary of state, and Trump, 70, a New York businessman, made final, fervent appeals to voters late on Monday to turn out at the polls. Reuters
India scraps 500 and 1,000 rupee bank notes overnight
8 Nov
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the existing 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes will be withdrawn from the financial system overnight. The surprise move is part of a crackdown on corruption and illegal cash holdings, he said in a nationwide address on television. BBC
Ten killed in floods in northern Haiti
8 Nov
Floods triggered by heavy rains have killed at least 10 people in northern Haiti, officials say. Officials said 300mm (almost one foot) of rain had fallen in just 48 hours. The flooding comes just over a month after Hurricane Matthew devastated large parts of the country and killed more than 500 people. Many neighbourhoods of Cap-Haitien are flooded. BBC
Floods kill 15 in Vietnam, thousands evacuated
7 Nov
Floods in Vietnam's central, central highland and southern provinces have left 15 people dead and six missing and displaced thousands, the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said on Monday. Flooding from very heavy rain brought by cold air and a tropical low pressure system last week have blocked roads, destroyed more than 200 houses and inundated more than 40,000 other houses in 12 provinces, the department said in a report. Reuters
Magnitude 6.4 quake shakes central Chile; no damage, injuries reported
4 Nov
TA 6.4-magnitude quake rattled central Chile on Friday, shaking buildings in the capital, but authorities said there were no immediate injuries or damage to infrastructure or mines reported. Chile's emergency office Onemi called it a "major" seismic event, and said it was evaluating whether any damage had taken place. The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the quake was about 45 miles (72 km) northeast of Talca and around 119 miles south of Santiago, at a depth of about 56 miles. Reuters
Pakistan express train collision kills at least 20
3 Nov
TA long-distance train collided into stationary coaches in the Pakistani port city of Karachi on Thursday, killing at least 20 people, hospital officials said, in the country's second major rail collision in less than two months. Television footage showed mangled and overturned carriages, and media reported rescuers were working to free people trapped in the wreckage. Reuters
1 Nov
The U.S. embassy in New Delhi issued a security message to American citizens in India on Tuesday to be vigilant following reports that Islamic State may be planning to attack targets there. "Recent Indian media reports indicate ISIL's desire to attack targets in India," the advisory said, warning of an increased threat to places frequented by Westerners such as religious sites, markets and festival venues. Reuters
Italy struggles in quake aftermath
31 Oct
Thousands of people in central Italy have spent the night in cars, tents and temporary shelters following the fourth earthquake in the area in three months. The 6.6-magnitude quake - Italy's strongest in decades - struck close to the region where nearly 300 people were killed by a quake in August. This time no-one appears to have died in the quake near the town of Norcia, but about 20 people were injured. More than 100 aftershocks were registered overnight into Monday. These included one with a magnitude of 4.2. BBC
Delhi chokes after Diwali fireworks
31 Oct
Angry residents of the Indian capital, Delhi, are sharing images of smog, one day after Diwali celebrations saw huge quantities of fireworks set off. Levels of particulate matter in the air hazardous to health rose to nearly 10 times the safe limit of 100. Authorities had warned that Delhi faced a polluted Diwali because of factors like humidity and wind speed. Diwali, the most important Hindu festival in north India, celebrates the victory of good over evil. Fire crackers are regularly set off during the festivities but tend to worsen air quality. Delhi's local government announced last week that it would install air purifiers near roads in an effort to cut the effects of air pollution. BBC
Nepal drains dangerous Everest lake
31 Oct
Nepal's army says it has finished draining a dangerous glacial lake near Mount Everest to a safe level. The Imja glacial lake, at nearly 5,000m (16,400ft) high, was in danger of flooding downstream settlements, trekking trails and bridges. The lake, which was originally 149m deep in places, has had its water levels lowered by 3.4m after months of painstaking work, officials say. Imja is one of thousands of glacial lakes in the Himalayas. Many of the lakes are said to be filling up fast because of accelerated melting of glaciers amid rising global temperatures. Last year's earthquake in Nepal is also feared to have further destabilised Lake Imja. BBC
Air strike kills 17 in Yemen
29 Oct
At least 17 civilians were killed in Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz on Saturday by a Saudi-led coalition air strike that struck a house, local officials and residents said. The raid targeted a house in the al-Salw district, the sources said, an area of Taiz where Houthi rebels and government forces backed by the coalition are fighting for control. Taiz is Yemen's third largest city with an estimated pre-war population of 300,000. The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting Houthi rebels and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who hold much of the north of Yemen including the capital Sanaa, since March 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power. The exiled Hadi on Saturday rejected a U.N. peace proposal to end the turmoil saying the deal would only be a path to more war and destruction. Reuters
29 Oct
Syrian rebels including jihadists counter-attacked the army and its allies aiming to break a weeks-long siege on eastern Aleppo, insurgents said. The assault, employing heavy shelling and suicide car bombs, was mainly focused on the city's western edge by rebels based in the countryside outside Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, said more than 15 civilians had been killed and 100 wounded by rebel shelling of government-held western Aleppo. State media reported that seven civilians were killed. There were conflicting accounts of advances in areas on the city's outskirts. Aleppo, Syria's biggest pre-war city, has become the main theater of conflict between President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Iran, Russia and Shi'ite militias, and Sunni rebels including some supported by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the United States. Reuters
Thousands protest in South Korea
29 Oct
Thousands of South Koreans rallied in Seoul on Saturday demanding the resignation of President Park Geun-hye, as a crisis deepened over allegations a friend exerted inappropriate influence over her and interfered in state affairs. The street protest came as prosecutors investigate presidential aides and other officials to determine whether they broke the law to allow Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, to wield undue influence and gain financially. Angry Koreans say Park betrayed public trust and mismanaged the government, and has lost a mandate to lead the country. About 8,000 people attended the rally, according to police, organized by a group of left-leaning civic groups. Organizers said up to 30,000 people took part in the march through the capital. Reuters
Clashes in CAR leave 25 dead - UN
29 Oct
Twenty-five people have been killed in two days of violence in the Central African Republic, the UN peacekeeping mission has said. On Thursday, 15 people died in clashes between Muslim fighters of the former Seleka militia and the Christian vigilante anti-Balaka group, it said. Six police officers and four civilians died in an ambush on Friday. The Central African Republic has been wracked by conflict along religious and ethnic lines since 2013. BBC
World's largest marine park created in Antarctic Ocean
28 Oct
Twenty-four countries and the European Union agreed on Friday to create the world's largest marine park in the Antarctic Ocean, covering a massive 1.55 million square km (600,000 square miles) of ocean. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, meeting in Hobart, Australia, said the Ross Sea marine park would be protected from commercial fishing for 35 years. The sanctuary will cover more than 12 percent of the Southern Ocean, which is home to more than 10,000 species including most of the world's penguins, whales, seabirds, colossal squid and Antarctic tooth fish. Reuters
Rescued migrants sing and dance after reaching Italy
28 Oct
Migrants broke into song and dance or clapped their hands with delight on Thursday as they were brought to Italy on a search and rescue ship after their rubber boats capsized at sea. The Responder, a vessel run by the Migrant Offshore Aid station, carried 347 people from Syria, Libya, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Togo, Pakistan and Morocco to mainland Italy on Thursday. Reuters
Strong earthquakes hit central Italy; no deaths reported
26 Oct
Two strong earthquakes rocked a wide area of central Italy on Wednesday, striking fear among residents rattled by a deadly tremor in August, but there were no reports of casualties. The quakes, which struck about two hours apart, caused the collapse of several old structures, including a number of historic rural churches that were empty at the time. The second quake was measured at 6.0 magnitude by the U.S. Geological Survey and the first measured 5.4. Reuters
24 Oct
Brazil's government is considering waiving visas for visitors from the United States, Japan, Canada and Australia to boost tourism, and could eventually extend the plan to include China, a tourism ministry spokesman said on Monday. Brazil's President Michel Temer is keen to draw more foreign investment and visitors to Brazil to help pull Latin America's largest nation from its worst recession since the 1930s Great Depression. Reuters
24 Oct
France began clearing the sprawling "Jungle" migrant camp on Monday as hundreds gave up on their dreams of reaching Britain, a tantalizingly short sea crossing away. Following sporadic outbreaks of unrest overnight, the migrants chose instead with calm resignation to be relocated in France while their asylum requests are considered. By lunchtime more than 700 had left the squalid shanty-town outside Calais on France's northern coast for reception centers across the country. Hundreds more queued outside a hangar, waiting to be processed before the bulldozers move in. Reuters
Anti-IS forces attack town near Mosul
23 Oct
Kurdish forces have carried out new attacks on positions of so-called Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq to retake the town of Bashiqa, near Mosul. Kurdish Peshmerga commanders said they made large advances into IS territory and secured part of a highway that will limit IS's freedom of movement. Turkey joined the fight against IS on Sunday, directing artillery fire at jihadist positions in Bashiqa. BBC
France prepares to demolish Calais camp
23 Oct
French officials are preparing for the clearance of the "Jungle" migrant camp in Calais, due to start on Monday. Authorities say some 7,000 people live in the camp in squalid conditions. They will be offered placements in refugee centres across France. But there is concern that some migrants will refuse to go because they still want to get to Britain. The UK has begun to accept some of the estimated 1,300 unaccompanied children from the camp. BBC
London City airport declared safe after 'chemical incident'
21 Oct
London City airport was declared safe on Friday after hundreds of passengers had to be evacuated and two were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties in an incident that police suspect was caused by CS gas. The airport was briefly closed as police and firefighters in protective equipment swept the terminal building of the airport with chemical detectors after several people were taken ill, some of them coughing violently. Reuters
South African police disperse student protesters outside Zuma's office
20 Oct
Police in Pretoria used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of students gathered outside South African President Jacob Zuma's offices on Thursday as yet another protest over the high cost of university education turned violent. Weeks of demonstrations calling for the scrapping of university fees, prohibitive for many black students, have highlighted frustration at enduring inequalities in South Africa more than two decades after the end of white minority rule. Reuters
Toxic leak from US air force base
19 Oct
An air base in the US state of Colorado says it has accidentally released 150,000 gallons of toxic contaminated water into the sewer system of the nearby city of Colorado Springs. Peterson Air Force base said the water contained perfluorinated compounds or PFCs, a component of firefighting foam. It did not say how high the levels of chemicals were. A spokesman said the spillage did not affect the city's drinking water supply but was discharged into a creek. BBC
Police van rams Manila anti-US protesters
19 Oct
A police van has rammed protesters in the Philippines capital Manila as a demonstration outside the US embassy turned violent. Footage showed protesters surrounding the van and hitting it with batons taken from police. The vehicle then drives into the crowd several times, injuring a number of people. Hundreds had met to demand the US end its military presence in the country. President Rodrigo Duterte has queried long-standing ties with the US. BBC
Hundreds flee Mosul ahead of battle
19 Oct
Some 900 people have fled the Iraqi city of Mosul and crossed the border into Syria, the UN refugee agency says. This is the first large group of civilians confirmed to have escaped since the Iraqi government began its offensive to liberate Mosul from the so-called Islamic State (IS) on Monday. Up to 1.5 million are thought to be in Mosul, with up to 5,000 IS fighters. There are fears the militants will use the civilians as human shields as Iraqi forces get closer to Mosul. BBC
Samsung Reps Assist Travelers at SFO Following Recall
18 Oct
Samsung representatives are standing by at SFO(San Francisco International Airport) in case people bring their potentially dangerous Galaxy Note7's to the airport. SFO says Samsung reps are now located in front of security checkpoints. Customers can go there to swap out their recalled phones or get a refund. Right now, Note7's are banned on all U.S. flights after several reports of fires. ABC 7 News
EU should prepare for jihadists
18 Oct
The European Union should be prepared for returning jihadists if the so-called Islamic State (IS) is driven out of its Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, the EU's security commissioner warns. Iraqi forces launched what is expected to be a lengthy offensive on Monday. As many as 5,000 IS fighters are believed to remain in Mosul. BBC
Hitler house in Austria to be demolished after long row
17 Oct
The house in Austria where Adolf Hitler was born is set to be demolished to stop it becoming a focal point for neo-Nazis. The future of the former guesthouse has been widely debated, with opinion torn between razing it or changing its use. The argument was further complicated after its owner refused to sell. But Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said a committee of experts had decided that the house should be demolished, reported Austrian newspaper Die Presse. BBC
Hurricane Nicole batters Bermuda
14 Oct
Hurricane Nicole has roared across Bermuda, tearing roofs from buildings and uprooting trees, before moving out into the Atlantic Ocean. The storm had weakened from a Category Four to a Category Three, but still had maximum sustained winds of more than 205km/h (125mph). Teams are out clearing roads and repairing buildings and power lines. Last week Hurricane Matthew devastated parts of Haiti, killing hundreds of people. BBC
As Thais mourn, tourists cautioned against behaving badly
14 Oct
Embassies in Thailand have advised tourists to respect the feelings of the Thai people following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a man seen as a father-figure in the country. King Bhumibol, who was the world's longest-reigning monarch, died on Thursday aged 88, sparking an outpouring of grief. The government has declared one year of official mourning and asked Thais to wear black and avoid "festivities" for 30 days. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, however, has called on businesses to stay active. The cabinet declared a government holiday for mourning on Friday but the Stock Exchange of Thailand and banks operated normally. Britain's Foreign Office said in a travel advisory those traveling to Thailand had to be respectful of people's feelings. "You should respect the sensitivities of the Thai people at this time; access to entertainment, including restaurants, bars and shopping areas may be restricted and you should behave respectfully when in public areas," it said. Reuters
Colombia extends ceasefire with Farc
14 Oct
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has extended a ceasefire with Farc rebels until the end of the year to give more time to save a peace deal. The accord, signed with the left-wing rebel group last month, was narrowly rejected in a national referendum. Mr Santos has spent the past few days meeting those who campaigned for a "No" vote. He will take new proposals to a meeting with Farc leaders in the Cuban capital, Havana. The original ceasefire ended with the referendum and has already been extended until 31 October. BBC
Militants killed in Kashmir gun battle
13 Oct
The Indian army says two armed militants who had taken up positions in a government building in Indian-administered Kashmir have been killed. This followed a three-day standoff between the soldiers and militants near the town of Pampore on Wednesday. An army spokesman said the building was searched and weapons were recovered. Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a wave of deadly unrest since a popular separatist leader was killed by the security forces in July.BBC
Anti-Uber protests in Lisbon
11 Oct
Hundreds of taxi drivers blocked access to Lisbon airport and snarled traffic in the Portuguese capital on Monday as they protested against app-based ride-sharing companies such as Uber. The protests are still going on today and may continue the coming days. Borneo Post
South Sudan says rebels kill 21 civilians in ambush
10 Oct
Rebels attacked trucks carrying civilians in South Sudan, killing 21 people, the government said, as violence between rival forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former vice president risks dragging the country back into civil war. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement on Monday it had received reports of horrific violence being perpetrated against civilians in Central Equatorial State and urged both rebel and government commanders to control their forces and cease hostilities. The government said on Monday 21 civilians were killed, some burned to death, and about 20 wounded when rebel gunmen ambushed their vehicles on a road connecting Yei town, in Central Equatorial State, to the capital Juba on Saturday. Reuters
Storm-hit Haiti areas 90% destroyed
8 Oct
Nearly 900 people are known to have been killed by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, with aid officials saying up to 90% of some areas has been destroyed.Some of the hardest-hit towns are yet to be reached by land, and there are fears more bodies will be found.Hurricane Matthew is now heading towards South and North Carolina in the US, having battered Florida on Friday. It was still packing winds of up to 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts, even though it was expected to weaken in the next 48 hours, the US National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. BBC
German town in lockdown over suspected bomb attack plan
8 Oct
German police said they were evacuating a building in the eastern city of Chemnitz on Saturday on suspicion that a bomb attack was being planned, and told residents in the affected district to stay at home. Police appeared to use force to enter the building, and said on Twitter: "The explosion heard was an access measure by the police. A relevant person could not be found. "Please remain in your apartments within the cordoned off area and follow the instructions of the police here and on site," Saxony state police added on twitter. Police said they had undertaken a large deployment in the Fritz-Heckert-Gebiet neighborhood of Chemnitz. A spokeswoman declined to give further details. Reuters
7 Oct
Hurricane Matthew killed more than 800 people and left tens of thousands homeless in its rampage through Haiti earlier this week before it lashed Florida on Friday with rain and howling winds and rolled northward up the U.S. Atlantic coast. The number of fatalities in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, surged to at least 842 on Friday as information trickled in from remote areas previously cut off by the storm, according to a Reuters tally of death tolls given by officials. Reuters
Pakistan train bombings kill at least four
7 Oct
Two bombs targeting a train in the restive western Pakistani province of Baluchistan killed at least four people on Friday and wounded 16, officials said. The bombs hit the Jaffer Express which runs between the provincial capital, Quetta, and Rawalpindi, next to the capital, Islamabad, said Kashif Akhtar, a senior railways official in Quetta. Reuters
Hurricane Matthew kills 102, death toll in Haiti hits 98
6 Oct
Hurricane Matthew has killed at least 102 people, the death toll in struggling Haiti alone rising to 98, local officials told Reuters, as the storm headed northward on Thursday battering the Bahamas en route to Florida. Many were killed by falling trees, flying debris and swollen rivers. Southern and western Haiti bore the brunt. Reuters
Belgium investigate possible terror attack
5 Oct
Two police officers were stabbed in Brussels on Wednesday in what prosecutors said could have been a terrorist attack. Brussels is on high alert after bombings in March killed 32 people at the city's airport and in a subway carriage. According to public broadcaster VRT, one officer was stabbed in the neck and another in the stomach. The attacker then broke the nose of a third policeman who had arrived on the scene. The attacker, identified as 43-year-old Belgian Hicham D., was shot in the leg and taken away by ambulance, prosecutors said in a statement, adding that the police officers' wounds were not life-threatening. BBC News
US states order evacuations as Hurrican Matthew looms
5 Oct
Hundreds of thousands of people in Florida and South Carolina have been told to evacuate as Hurricane Matthew churns towards the US east coast. "This is a serious storm," warned President Barack Obama, adding that it would have a "significant" impact on Florida by Thursday morning. Traffic jams are reported in the city of Charleston, in South Carolina, as residents flee the area. The category three system is currently battering the Bahamas. BBC News
Chinese Tourists Take to the Road in Record Numbers for Golden Week
4 Oct
If there is ever a time when one truly understands what it feels to live alongside 1.4 billion people in the world's most populous nation, it is the annual Golden Week holiday in China. The holiday always begins on Oct. 1, the celebration of the Communist founding of the People's Republic in 1949. And this year, the crowds have gotten even more epic in scale, with hordes of travelers taking to the highways, the rails and the air. People's Daily, the Communist Party newspaper, said 589 million people were expected to travel this week, almost twice the population of the United States. The New York Times
Hurricane Matthew, Category Four storm pounds Haiti
4 Oct
The most powerful Caribbean hurricane in nearly a decade has hit Haiti, bringing 145mph (230km/h) winds, heavy rain and dangerous storm surges. Hurricane Matthew, a Category Four storm, made landfall at about 11:00 GMT and is heading towards eastern Cuba. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Haiti was "getting everything a major hurricane can throw at them". BBC
Potentially 'catastrophic' Hurricane Matthew nears Haiti, may hit U.S.
3 Oct
Hurricane Matthew bore down on Haiti on Monday, where towns and villages braced for "catastrophic" floods and mudslides that forecasters fear will be triggered by 140 mile-per-hour (220 kph) winds and up to 3 feet of rain over its denuded hills. Winds and rain began picking up in the southwest of the Caribbean country, but the center of Matthew, a violent Category 4 storm, is not due until late on Monday night, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Reuters
At least one killed, more than 100 injured in New Jersey train crash
29 Sep
At least one person was killed and more than 100 injured, some critically, when a commuter train plowed into Hoboken station in New Jersey during the morning rush hour on Thursday, officials and media said. Reuters
Europol warns of Android tap-and-go thefts
28 Sep
Law authorities have warned they believe criminals are using Android phones to trigger fraudulent tap-and-go payments. The alert comes in Europol's annual Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment report. Experts had previously said that the rollout of smart wallet systems could raise such a threat. BBC News
Blasts kill at least 17 in Baghdad
27 Sep
Three blasts killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 50 in predominantly Shi'ite Muslim districts of Baghdad on Tuesday, police and medical sources said. A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest in a commercial street in the eastern Baghdad al-Jadida area of the Iraqi capital, killing nine people and wounding more than 30, they said. Another suicide attack hit a commercial street of Bayaa in western Baghdad, killing six and wounding 22, the sources said Reuters
Colombia, Marxist rebels to sign accord ending 52-year war
26 Sep
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Marxist rebel leader Timochenko will use a pen made from a bullet on Monday to sign an agreement ending a half-century war that killed a quarter of a million people and made their nation a byword for violence. After four years of talks in Havana, Santos, 65, and Timochenko, nom de guerre for 57-year-old revolutionary Rodrigo Londono, will shake hands on Colombian soil for the first time. Reuters
24 Sep
Thousands of protestors marched in Dublin, and Irish expatriates joined in demonstrations around the world on Saturday, to put pressure on the Irish government to hold a referendum to repeal restrictive abortion laws. Regulations in the once stridently Catholic Ireland are among the strictest in the world and next month Prime Minister Enda Kenny will call a citizens' assembly to advise the government on whether a vote should be held to boost access to abortion. Reuters
Bomb kills three Thai police officers in southern ambush
23 Sep
Three Thai policemen were killed and two wounded on Friday in a bomb and gun attack in the southern province of Yala where Muslim separatists have been waging a simmering insurgency against the state. The attack came just over a month after a series of bombs in three of Thailand's main tourist towns killed four people and wounding dozens and raised fears the insurgents were expanding their fight to tourist targets. Reuters
State of emergency declared in US city
22 Sep
North Carolina's governor has declared a state of emergency in the city of Charlotte, after violence erupted during a second night of protests over the police killing of a black man. Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead by a black officer on Tuesday. One protester remains in a critical condition after a "civilian on civilian" shooting, police said. Mr Scott was the third black man killed by US police in a week. Such shootings have sparked nationwide protests. Riot police in Charlotte used tear gas as they faced hundreds of protesters. The local police department said four officers were injured. BBC
Bus drivers bring chaos to Caracas
22 Sep
Bus drivers in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, paralysed the city for eight hours by blocking the streets with their vehicles to protest against the country's economic crisis. Hundreds of drivers demanded more pay and protection from violent crime. Many said they needed more money to maintain their buses and complained of a scarcity of spare parts. BBC
21 Sep
Hundreds of migrants trying to make their way to Britain from Calais in northern France clashed with French riot police on Wednesday. Police used tear-gas grenades and led charges to disperse migrants trying to make their way to the approach road for Calais port. The clashes took place not far from where a British-financed wall is being built to seal off the road, where migrants frequently try to jump on trucks bound for Britain. Under the current arrangement, thousands of migrants fleeing war or poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have built a shanty town near Calais known as "the Jungle", which French authorities are currently dismantling. Reuters
Flash floods in Indonesia kill 20, rescuers hunt for missing
21 Sep
Indonesian search and rescue teams worked on Wednesday to find victims of flash floods that killed 20 people and damaged hundreds of homes, authorities said. The floods hit the Garut area, about 200 km (125 miles) southeast of the capital, Jakarta, on Tuesday after torrential rain. Military personnel and volunteers helped evacuate about 1,000 residents of the area. Debris floated in gradually receding floodwater in inundated villages and there appeared to be widespread damage to vehicles and buildings. Flash floods and landslides are common in Indonesia, often caused by heavy rain at this time of year. Reuters
Congo protest death toll reaches 32, police spokesman
21 Sep
Thirty-two people were killed in Democratic Republic of Congo during two days of violent protests against election delays that would allow President Joseph Kabila to stay in power beyond the end of his term, a police spokesman said on Wednesday Reuters
Protesters march in Brussels against transatlantic free trade deals
19 Sep
Thousands of protesters marched through Brussels on Tuesday to demand the European Union abandon planned transatlantic free trade deals they say will worsen labor conditions and allow big business to challenge governments. Organizers, including unions, environmental and consumer groups and public health insurers, said between 10,000 and 15,000 people headed to the EU quarter of Brussels by early evening. Police put the number at 6,000. Reuters
Police arrest New York bombing suspect following gunfight
19 Sep
Police arrested an Afghanistan-born American suspected of carrying out this weekend's bombing in New York City that injured 29 people and planting other devices in New York and New Jersey following a Monday morn