World

Sep192017 by adminNo Comments

'We will need help of all kinds,' Dominica PM pleads after Cat. 5 Maria tears through

Hurricane Maria slammed into Dominica on Monday night, lashing the Caribbean island as a Category 5 storm with 160-mph winds and a storm surge of up to 11 feet. Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made a series of dire Facebook posts as the storm hit the island, calling the winds "merciless" and saying his residence sustained damages. "We do not know what is happening outside. We not dare look out. All we are hearing is ... the sound of the fury of the wind. As we pray for its end!" Skerrit wrote. "My roof is gone. I am at the complete mercy of the hurricane. House is flooding," the prime minister updated later in the night, before announcing, "I have been rescued." "[W]e have lost all what money can buy and replace," Skerrit wrote early Tuesday. "My greatest fear for the mornin...

Sep182017 by adminNo Comments

'Dangerous' Hurricane Maria now a category four

World

Hurricane Maria has intensified into an "extremely dangerous" category four storm as it bears down on the Caribbean, according to forecasters.With maximum sustained winds of 130mph, the National Hurricane Centre says the storm is growing in strength as it approaches land.The eye of Maria is expected to pass near the island of Dominica on Monday evening - and hurricane warnings have been issued.There are also fears that territories battered by Hurricane Irma could face further destruction.Up to 51cm (20 inches) of rain could drench the British and US Virgin Islands on Wednesday night, as well as Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands.Forecasters have warned these conditions could cause life-threatening floods and mudslides, and there is also a risk of a "dangerous storm surge accompanied by la...

Sep182017 by adminNo Comments

Israel to give equal adoption rights to same-sex couples

World

Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The Israeli government announced Sunday that it would amend the country's adoption laws to give same-sex couples equal rights when it comes to adopting children.The Association of Israeli Gay Fathers, along with the Israel Religious Action Center of the Reform movement, filed a lawsuit against the government after the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs declared same-sex couples put an "additional burden" on children and opposed the practice, resulting in more barriers for same-sex couples to be approved for adoption.But during a Supreme Court hearing, the state said it would amend the law so that same-sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples, reported Haaretz. The legislation is expected to be introduced in 2018."The court recognized the merits of the ...

Sep172017 by adminNo Comments

Four US women attacked with acid in Marseille

World

Four female American tourists have been attacked with acid in the French city of Marseille.They were sprayed with hydrochloric acid inside the Saint-Charles train station.A 41-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the attack.Two of the victims, aged 20 and 21, received facial injuries and have been taken to hospital.One has a possible eye injury, according to the Marseille prosecutor's office.The other tourists were hit in the legs, according to French media, and have been taken to hospital for shock.All four women are in their 20s. It is not known where where in the United States they are from.Image:Saint-Charles train station in Marseille. Pic: ignisThe attack is not believed to be terror-related as the suspect did not make any extremist threats or declarations during the i...

Sep172017 by adminNo Comments

Kim vows to complete nuke programme

World

Kim Jong Un has promised to complete North Korea's nuclear programme in the face of strengthening sanctions.Speaking a day after the North successfully fired a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan, Mr Kim said the country is nearing its goal of "equilibrium" in military force with the US.He also said the North has almost completed the building of its nuclear weapons force and called for "all-state efforts" to reach the goal and obtain a "capacity for nuclear counterattack the US cannot cope with".Image:The missile test was a success, according to the North. Pic: KCNC"As recognised by the whole world, we have made all these achievements despite the UN sanctions that have lasted for decades," the KCNA news agency quoted Mr Kim as saying.Mr Kim said the country's final g...