Friday, October 23, 2015

World News Briefs -- October 23, 2015 (Evening Edition)



Daily Mail: The worst hurricane ever: Tourists evacuate as catastrophic category-five Patricia with 200mph winds and 40ft waves barrels towards Mexico

* Hurricane Patricia, the most powerful ever, will hit Mexico this afternoon or evening with winds of up to 200mph
* The resort town if Puerto Vallarta is directly in its path and tourists are being urged to evacuate
* Patricia has been compared Patricia to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013
* Rain driven by the hurricane has reached Texas, which could also be hit by the remnants of the storm in coming days
* 40ft waves and 20 inches of rains are set to batter coastline as locals board up homes & businesses
* Only 1 other category 5 Pacific hurricane has made landfall and it killed 1,800

There are chaotic scenes on the west coast of Mexico this afternoon as the worst hurricane in history barrels down on a sleepy seaside resort while thousands of tourists evacuate and scores of residents make a last dash to protect their property and buy supplies.

Category Five Hurricane Patricia is set to make a direct hit on the resort town of Puerto Vallarta on Friday evening with sustained winds of 200mph, stronger gusts and ocean swells 40ft high - and millions of people in the states of Colima, Nayarit and Jalisco will feel the full wrath of the storm.

The lowest recorded atmospheric pressure inside the storm is 880mb, which makes it the strongest hurricane in history - breaking the previous record of 882mb held by 2005’s Hurricane Wilma.

MIDDLE EAST

Kerry sees new Syria talks next week, does not rule out Iran role.

U.S., Russia, Turkey, Saudi explore political solution on Syria.

Pentagon chief expects more raids similar to Iraq rescue.

Kurds say joint raid with U.S. in Iraq aimed to free their fighters. American killed as U.S., Iraqi commandos free dozens of Islamic State hostages. US forces rescue Kurdish hostages facing 'imminent execution' by Isis.

Iran sending more advisers to Syria to defeat 'terrorism', says deputy minister.

Islamic State redeploying reinforcement from Iraq to Syria — Russian Defense Ministry.

Syria crisis: US attacks Moscow welcome for Assad.

Exclusive: Shipping traffic to Syria surges as Russia steps up offensive.

Turkish Pres. Erdogan accuses ISIS, Kurds, Syria intel of fatal Ankara bomb attack.

U.N. plans Yemen peace talks soon, warns of aid obstruction.

Unrest worsens fear, suspicion among Jews and Arab Israelis. Israeli-Palestinian clashes persist as diplomats push for peace.

After Netanyahu talks, Kerry says may be way to ease Israeli-Palestinian strife.

IMF: Saudi running on empty in five years. Saudi Arabia could be bankrupt by 2020 – IMF.

ASIA

US concerned over ethnic fighting in Myanmar.

Sharif says India arms buildup compels Pakistan countermeasures.

Taliban insurgents active close to Kabul, threat level disputed.

Islamic State settles in most Afghan provinces — Russian Foreign Ministry.

Obama meets with Pakistani prime minster. Uneasy relations likely to surface as Obama, Sharif meet.

U.S. urges Pakistani nuclear restraint, help with Afghan peace talks.

Deadly blast hits Shia mosque in Pakistan.

Kyrgyz police kill suspected Islamist escapee from prison in shootout.

Amid North Korea army food shortage, Kim Jong Un orders pigs farm to be built: Report.

China golf: Communist Party bans club membership.

Japan, Turkmenistan sign deals worth over $18 bln in chemicals, energy.

AFRICA

Rockets kill six at protest in Libya's Benghazi against U.N. deal.

Cameroon army drives Boko Haram militants back across northern border.

Bombings kill at least 37 in northeast Nigeria: officials. Mosque blasts kill 55 in NE Nigeria.

Burundi sets up body aimed to end crisis, opponents dismissive.

South Sudan faces 'concrete' famine risk and needs urgent help, warn experts. South Sudan war: 30,000 people face starvation, UN warns.

20 killed in North Sinai security raids.

Small group of Somali al Shabaab swear allegiance to Islamic State.

Eyes on Libya lawmakers as peace deal still in balance.

South African president rules out university fees increase amid protests.

Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe awarded 'China's Nobel peace prize'.

EUROPE

Will a fence halt the human tide flowing into Slovenia? Country becomes latest to build barriers along its borders as 47,500 migrants arrive in just a few days.

Moldovan opposition leader arrested over wiretapping.

Putin gains record support among Russians over Syria, poll shows. Vladimir Putin: U.S. backing terrorists in the Middle East. Putin says Syria's Assad is open to working with some rebels.

Germany to push for compulsory EU quotas to tackle refugee crisis. Germany toughens up asylum rules as migrants stream in.

EU calls mini-summit on refugee crisis as Slovenia tightens border.

Refugees 'look like an army', says Hungarian PM Viktor Orban.

Slovenia calls on EU to help cope with rush of refugees.

Germany braces for rise in anti-immigrant attacks.

Sweden almost triples refugee estimates as system buckles.

Sword-wielding man kills 2 in Swedish school attack. Sweden school attack: teacher, pupil and knifeman dead.

France bus crash: Pensioners killed in truck collision.

ECB set to 're-examine' stimulus policy at next meeting.

AMERICAS

Patricia, one of strongest ever hurricanes, set to slam Mexico.

Obama administration closely monitoring Hurricane Patricia: White House.

Colombians pin hopes on new agency seeking missing war victims.

Clinton survives 11-hour Benghazi grilling.

Lincoln Chafee ends Democratic bid for president.

Hurricane Patricia: Mexico awaits 'strongest ever' storm.

Brazil poised to post widest-ever primary budget deficit.

Outside observers vital to fair Venezuela vote, opposition groups warn.

Mastermind of 'El Chapo' escape, 5 others arrested in Mexico.

Latest U.S. border tunnel linked to drug lord 'El Chapo' Guzman.

Haitians face choice of 54 candidates in presidential election.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Obama names Brett McGurk as envoy to coalition fighting Islamic State.

ISIS vow to eradicate 'disease' of Judaism from the world in chilling new video...the first they have produced in Hebrew.

Report finds spike in global IS attacks.

In hunt for US terror recruits, FBI agents set traps.

Islamic State: Putin calls for coalition to defeat militants. Putin: No need to distinguish between ‘moderate’ & other terrorists.

20,000 ISIS fighters slain since July, but new recruits keep coming — US official.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

How 5 tech titans made $10B in one day.

Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon give Wall Street reason to cheer.

The paranoid world of London's super-rich: DNA-laced security mist and superyacht getaway submarines.

A Texas-sized mystery: who will own the enormous $725m Waggoner ranch?

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