Thursday, September 21, 2017

World News Briefs -- September 21, 2017 (Evening Edition)

The storm has now been downgraded to Category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 120mph - though the US National Hurricane Center says some strengthening is possible in the next day or so

Daily Mail: Puerto Rico's 3.4 MILLION residents face a grim six MONTHS without power after Hurricane Maria's 155mph winds ravaged the island and sparked flash flooding - killing at least one - as the mayor of the capital says 'The San Juan we knew is no longer here'

* Puerto Rico is currently without power after Hurricane Maria swept through the territory Wednesday
* The island is also preparing for flash flooding as torrential rain is expected to continue through Thursday
* Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico Wednesday morning as a Category 4 hurricane with 155 mph winds
* The storm is currently a Category 3 hurricane but is expected to rise to Category 4 again Thursday night
* The Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas will see hurricane conditions Thursday evening
* As of early Thursday morning Maria has been blamed for 19 deaths throughout the Caribbean

Millions of Puerto Ricans are now without power after Hurricane Maria ripped through the island - crumbling the electric grid and paralyzing the territory with landslides, flooding and downed trees.

And the full of extent of the damage is still unclear as rescue teams have not been able to make communication with major parts of the island which were cut off by the storm.

Maria moved north after pummeling the island through Wednesday night- but flooding continued through Thursday afternoon, leaving many San Juan streets looking like small rivers.

The Category 4 hurricane had sustained winds of 155mph through Wednesday - and was the strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in over 80 years. So far at least 19 people have been killed throughout the Caribbean - one on the US territory.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

U.S., Russian generals talk face-to-face on Syria.

Is Russia preparing to ATTACK US troops in Syria? Moscow warns it will target areas held by US Special Forces if the Kremlin's soldiers are fired on 'again' by anti-Assad forces. Moscow warns US any shellings of Russian task force by Syrian opposition will be thwarted.

Russia warns US, says special forces helping Syrian troops.

Iran nuclear deal cannot be renegotiated: Rouhani.

US Strategic Command chief: Iran adhering to nuclear deal.

Iran nuclear deal: European leaders insist accord is working. Diplomats meet on Iran deal as Trump stays mum on decision.

Iran nuclear deal: US 'sunset clause' concern remains - Tillerson.

Raqqa faces deadly 'barrage' from US-led coalition.

Exclusive: Turkey to deploy troops inside Syria's Idlib - Erdogan.

Abadi: Operation launched to retake Hawija from ISIL. Iraq launches offensive to retake Hawija from 'Islamic State'.

Houthi criticises Saudis, UAE in anniversary speech.

Turkey arrests 14 lawyers over alleged terrorism links.

ASIA

Trump unveils sweeping sanctions to shut down North Korea's economy by stopping nations from trading with Kim and choking off his shipping. Trump signs order aiming to cut off funding for North Korean missile program.

North Korea’s Kim keeps teen sex slaves, executes musicians with anti-aircraft guns, defector reveals.

China urges North Korea not to go further in a 'dangerous direction'.

Thousands rally in Philippines, warn of Duterte 'dictatorship'.

Afghan president says Pakistan must crush militant hideouts.

Rohingya refugees a terror risk, Bangladesh minister says amid Myanmar exodus.

Rohingya crisis: Myanmar protesters try to block aid shipment to Muslims.

Rohingya crisis: 9 aid workers die in a truck accident.

North Korea says Trump speech is 'a dog's bark'.

China reiterates calls for South Korea to remove THAAD.

Japan deploys missile interceptor to Hokkaido.

Philippines: Duterte says his son will be killed if he is involved in drugs.

China's credit rating downgraded by S&P.

AFRICA

New ceasefire signed by Mali armed groups.

Almost 90 missing, at least 8 dead in Libya migrant shipwreck.

Togo readies for fresh protests amid charges of repression.

Thousands left homeless after Niger flooding.

Sudan and South Sudan reach trade deal increasing oil production.

UN mission in Congo forces reckoning over sex abuse scandal.

Kenyan election delayed to October 26: polls commission.

Anti-Zuma MP quits South Africa's 'corrupt' ANC.

EUROPE

Fearing far-right surge, Merkel urges Germans to vote on Sunday.

Catalan leader presses on with banned vote on split from Spain.

Spain hires cruise liner to house police in rebel Catalonia.

Separatist supporters mass outside Barcelona top court. Catalan leader accuses Spain of violating rights in referendum row.

Spooked by Catalonia, EU rallies behind Madrid, but warily.

EU tells Britain to 'settle the accounts' and speed up Brexit progress.

British police make sixth arrest in Tube bomb investigation.

Chancellor Angela Merkel: 'There is a clear disagreement with Trump on North Korea'.

Ukraine President says Trump backs U.N. deployment along border with Russia.

French unions hit the streets to protest Emmanuel Macron's labor reforms.

AMERICAS

U.S. not ruling out possible oil embargo on Venezuela: Haley.

Canada's Trudeau issues rallying cry for climate fight and takes a dig at the US. Trudeau confronts Canada's failure of indigenous people in U.N. speech.

Mexico City rescuers struggle to find earthquake survivors. Mexico earthquake: Race to save children under collapsed school.

Hurricane Maria lashes Dominican Republic after cutting off power to Puerto Rico.

Death toll from Hurricane Maria rises as storm heads north.

Hurricane Maria: Puerto Rico may be months without power.

Trump to visit hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.

Special counsel Robert Mueller seeks Trump presidency records.

Brazil seeks to avoid Venezuela default on $5 billion contracts: paper.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

In drones, ISIS has its own tactical air force.

Islamic State backers find ephemeral platform in Instagram.

Theresa May urges Facebook, Google to 'go further, faster' to combat extremism.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Wall Street pushed down by rate expectations, North Korea, Apple.

EU-Canada trade pact CETA comes into force — provisionally.

Facebook tightens advertising policies after 'Jew-hater' fiasco.

US Fed to start unwinding bond portfolio.

L'Oreal heiress and the world's richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt, dies aged 94 with a reported fortune of $39.5 billion.

No comments: