Man caught transporting $330,000 worth of marijuana in Christmas gift packages

A California man’s SUV was stuffed with gift-wrapped packages, but he didn’t look like Santa to Ohio state troopers, who tore open the presents and found what they said was $330,000 worth of marijuana. Daniel Yates, 31, of Eureka, California, was taken to Wood County Jail in Ohio on charges of possession and trafficking in drugs ― second-degree felonies, according to an Ohio Highway Patrol press release. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 16 years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine. Medical marijuana has been legal in Ohio since September.

Atletico Nacional requests cup goes to Chapecoense after plane tragedy

Atletico Nacional has asked that the Copa Sudamericana title be awarded to Chapecoense after the southern Brazilian club was involved in a devastating plane crash in Colombia en route to the first leg of the final. The current death toll from Monday night's tragedy is at 71 - from a chartered aircraft carrying 77 people - with footballers Alan Ruschel, Jackson Follman and Zampier Neto among the six survivors. Medellin-based Atletico Nacional was set to host the first match of the two-legged affair on Wednesday, and its staff joined in a moment of silence before the club requested the Copa Sudamericana be awarded to the reeling Brazilian city of Chapeco.

Saudi Prince advocates that women should be allowed to drive

                                   Prince Alwaleed bin Talal                 (C)GettyImages

An outspoken billionaire Saudi prince wants an "urgent" end to his country's ban on women driving, saying overturning the law was a matter of women's rights and economic necessity.
"Stop the debate: Time for women to drive," Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said on his official Twitter account, @Alwaleed_Talal.
Alwaleed is an unusually outspoken member of the Saudi royal family who holds no political posts but chairs Kingdom Holding Co., which has interests including US banking giant Citigroup and the Euro Disney theme park. In conjunction with his short tweet, Alwaleed's office issued an unusually long statement late Tuesday outlining his reasons for supporting an end to the ban.
"Preventing a woman from driving a car is today an issue of rights similar to the one that forbade her from receiving an education or having an independent identity," Alwaleed said.
"They are all unjust acts by a traditional society, far more restrictive than what is lawfully allowed by the precepts of religion."
He also detailed the "economic costs" of women having to rely on foreign private drivers or taxis, since public transit is not a viable alternative in the kingdom.

Stowaway found dead in Arik’s flight from Lagos to Johannesburg

The lifeless body of a stowaway was on Wednesday found in the main wheel well of one of Arik Air’s A330-200 aircraft at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. The airline confirmed the incident in a statement by its Communications Manager, Mr Ola Adebanji, a copy of which was obtained by newsmen in Lagos. According to the airline, the aircraft operated the scheduled Lagos-Johannesburg flight that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 3:55pm on Tuesday and arrived in Johannesburg shortly before 11pm. It said engineers of South African Airways Technical facility at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, where the aircraft was scheduled for a routine maintenance check, discovered the body of the stowaway during the inspection phase. The airline said investigations were ongoing to determine how the stowaway found his way into the aircraft’s main wheel well.

Facebook adds games to its messenger app

Facebook is adding the option to play games with your contacts on the messaging app beginning Tuesday. You can access the feature in the latest version of the app by tapping a game controller icon.  Games available include classics such as “Pac-Man,” ‘’Space Invaders” and “Galaga,” as well as newer titles like “Words With Friends.” It’s the latest effort by the world’s biggest social network to get people to spend even more time on its properties.
Messenger has a billion users. The app will recommend games based on whether your friends play. Currently there is no way to play with people who are not your Messenger contacts, so if your friends don’t like to play games, you are out of luck.

"If I can look at myself everyday and tell myself I'm beautiful so could you "

India Janee and her sister Asia Mekole inherited a genetic facial deformity from their mother. But they don't let it bring them down. India who is very active on social media captioned the photo above ‘If I can look at myself on camera everyday and tell myself I'm beautiful so could you boo!’
The sisters also share regular videos on Youtube and their motto is, Confidence is sexy.
More pictures after the cut

Thousands protest across India against currency policy

Thousands of people demonstrated across India on Monday to protest the government's sudden decision to withdraw large-denomination currency from circulation, a move that has caused enormous hardship to millions of people in the country's predominantly cash-based economy. But the response to the "day of rage" called by opposition parties was patchy, with the protests only affecting daily life in opposition-ruled states. Nearly three weeks ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that 500- and 1,000-rupee notes, worth about $7.50 and $15, would become worthless overnight and would be replaced by new currency in a bid to stamp out corruption and tax evasion. The surprise decision pulled 86% of the country's money supply out of circulation, leading to serpentine lines at banks, which often ran short of currency, showing that the government was ill-prepared for the move.

Jilted bride marries her dog after fiancé backs out of wedding

A jilted bride dumped by her fiancé just days before her dream wedding went ahead with the ceremony anyway - but married her dog instead. Romina Pitton had been due to tie the knot in San Lorenzo, a city in the Santa Fe province of Argentina, before her boyfriend broke things off at the last minute. According to Daily Mirror, he claimed she had cheated on him but offered no proof of her alleged infidelity, and she suspects he just got cold feet and changed his mind. But with everything already in place for the wedding , the bride decided not to let the absence of a groom spoil her big day. Instead she staged a "single wedding" and voiced her commitment to her pet pooch, who she dressed up in a miniature wedding dress.

Man rapes and kills 8-year-old girl who was waiting for a bus to take her to church

This 53-year-old monster pictured above to the left, Glen R. Ramey, has been arrested for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl, Sabrina Stauffenberg, who was snatched from her front porch as she waited for a ride to church. Police found Sabrina's body on Wednesday by tracing her cell phone signal. According to MailOnline, friends of the family told Fox News that Ramey, who has mental health problems, was dating a relative of the child.

South Korea's president willing to step down, calls on parliament to arrange her exit

South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has said she has asked parliament to help her find a way to stand down. Ms Park faced growing calls to resign amid an investigation into whether she allowed a long-time friend to influence political decisions for personal gain. She said she would "leave to parliament everything about my future including shortening of my term", but did not want to leave a power vacuum. Parliament was due to discuss on Friday whether she should face impeachment. Opposition parties have said the president should stand down "honourably" before it reached that point.
Ms Park has apologised twice before, and has said she is "heartbroken" by the political crisis around her, but has refused to stand down. In Tuesday's televised address, her third since reports of the scandal began, Ms Park said she would step down "once lawmakers come up with measures to transfer power in a way that minimises any power vacuum and chaos in governance".

Plane carrying Brazil football team Chapecoense in Colombia crashes

A plane carrying 81 people, including a top Brazilian football team, has crashed on its approach to the city of Medellin in Colombia, officials say. Reports say there are six survivors. The plane reported electrical problems. The chartered aircraft, flying from Bolivia, was carrying members of the Chapecoense football team, airport officials said. The team was due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, against Medellin team Atletico Nacional. The first leg of the final of the cup, South America's second most important club competition, was scheduled for Wednesday, but has now been suspended. The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) said it was suspending "all activities".

Women arrested by police for inflicting injury on minor and making her beg for alms

The Lagos State Police Command, Nigeria has arrested two women one Amadi and Mama Esther for allegedly abusing a 9-year-old girl, Joy Esemonu, in the FESTAC Town area of the state. It was gathered that Amadi allegedly poured chemical on Esemonu, which made her sustain injuries in different parts of her body. A Punch correspondent was told that Esemonu was subsequently led everyday by the suspect to a pedestrian bridge in the FESTAC area where she was made to beg for alms from passersby. At the end of every begging trip, the two women reportedly shared the money collected. However, a Good Samaritan, who observed the victim’s condition on the bridge, reportedly alerted policemen from the FESTAC division, leading to the arrest of the two women. The matter was subsequently referred to the Office of the Public Defender, which transferred the victim to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other related matters.

Reddit's CEO Steve Huffman under fire after he admits to secretly editing posts of Trump supporters

Steve Huffman

The CEO of Reddit came under fire after he admitted last week that he secretly edited user comments on popular pro-Trump account, The_Donald. Huffman owned up to altering messages on The_Donald that mocked him directly. He switched all mentions of his name with the usernames of the board’s moderators — so that the oft-profanity-laced rants about him appeared to be about his haters. It was not a good idea, he told The Washington Post Friday by phone. “I abused my power to give the bullies a hard time,” he said. Huffman thought of his name-swapping as a joke: a way to poke back at the people who’ve been harassing him and some of the site's volunteer moderators for months.

Mugabe launches new currency in Zimbabwe

President Mugabe

Zimbabwe has launched a controversial new currency in a last ditch bid to inject desperately needed cash into its failing economy. Many ordinary people fear the new “bond notes”, issued on Monday by the central bank in Zimbabwe, will trigger economic chaos, wiping out savings and causing massive hardship for millions. Zimbabwe has been ruled by Robert Mugabe, 92, since 1980. Some observers have called the bond notes the autocratic president’s “last gamble”. The central bank says bond notes will ease crippling shortages of currency, but there are fears their introduction could encourage rampant printing of cash, as happened in 2008. Only the introduction of the dollar as the official currency in 2009 halted an economic meltdown.

EPL week 13 result

Pictures from world's first albino beauty pageant in Kenya

With its evening gowns, celebrity judges and tears of joy, the beauty pageant in Kenya's capital was like others elsewhere, except for one thing - all 20 contestants who strutted, sashayed and swaggered down the catwalk had albinism. In the world's first contest of its kind, 10 men and 10 women competed in the Mr and Miss Albinism Kenya pageant this month in Nairobi. Its motto was "Beauty Beyond the Skin". The competition, which drew a crowd of about 1,000 including Deputy President William Ruto, was designed to celebrate people with albinism - who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes - and challenge stigma and persecution.
More pictures after the cut

Japan skating rink slammed for freezing 5,000 fishes

A Japanese skating rink that froze 5,000 dead fish into the ice as an attraction for visitors has been forced to close after receiving a barrage of criticism. Amusement park Space World is now melting the rink -- which could take about a week -- and will hold a memorial service for the fish, the company said. The rink in southwestern Japan opened on November 12, after 5,000 fish were frozen under the surface of the ice as a decorative effect while customers skated above. But the concept was slammed as unethical and the rink in the city of Kitakyushu was forced to close on Sunday, Space World spokesman Koji Shibata said.

School teacher wins SA idols 2016

For the first time in seven seasons, Idols SA crowned a queen as Pietermaritzburg’s Noma Khumalo was named this year’s winner! In a tight race against fellow KZN rival, Thami Shobede, the substitute teacher was announced the ultimate Idol after a record vote that saw over 83 million votes cast throughout Season 12. Before the life changing result was announced, Noma and Thami treated everyone to their last performances as contestants on the stage. Noma was sensational as she covered Mariah Carey’s Without You while Thami brought the house down with Stevie Wonder’s Signed Sealed Delivered, both accompanied by the reigning winners of Clash of The Choirs. After Noma was announced the winner, she treated viewers and audiences to her single Want It to Fell Like It Did with You as confetti rained down on her.

Meet the tallest cow in the world

This is Danniel the giant bovine, who may just be the tallest cow in the world. Danniel weighs a whopping 164 stone (1bout 1017Kg) and stands at a staggering 6ft 4 inches tall.
And the huge Holstein steer has a monster appetite to go with his, eating four times more than a regular cow each day. Owner Ken Farley, from Eureka, California said: ”We first noticed that he was abnormally big when he was about six months and he was being bottle feed. At the end of six months he would just knock the bottle out of my hands and was just too big to handle.”

White man kills black teen for accidentally bumping into him at supermarket

15-year-old James Means, was shot and killed by William Ronald Pulliam, 62, police said. Means did nothing to ever even warrant a confrontation from Pulliam. Witnesses claim that what set Pulliam off was that Means accidentally bumped into him while entering the store. After Pulliam left the store, the two exchanged words a second time, and Pulliam shot the teen twice in the abdomen, leaving him to die, then proceeded to go home, eat dinner, then go hang out at a friend's house, according to a criminal complaint.

Fidel Castro 1926 - 2016

Fidel Castro, Cuba's former president and leader of the Communist revolution, has died aged 90, his brother Raul has announced.
"The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this evening," President Raul Castro said.
Fidel Castro ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost 50 years before Raul took over in 2008. His supporters said he had given Cuba back to the people. But he was also accused of suppressing opposition. Ashen and grave, President Castro told the nation in a late night broadcast on state television that Fidel Castro had died and would be cremated on Saturday. There would now be several days of national mourning on the island.

Picture of the day

Picture taken by Indonesia-based photographer Tanto Yensen, 36, who regularly photographs his pet dumpy tree frog in Jakarta.

Extinct Dodo skeleton sold for $431,000 at auction

The dodo may be long gone, but it is certainly not forgotten: An "extremely rare" almost complete example of the extinct bird's skeleton has sold for £346,300 ($431,341) at a UK auction. A dedicated collector spent more than 40 years buying up individual bones at sales, and piecing the composite skeleton together -- only part of the skull and one set of claws are missing. The specimen was dubbed the "superstar" of the Evolution-themed sale at Summers Placeauction house in Sussex, southeastern England. he Summers Place skeleton is believed to be the first sold since 1914.
Erroll Fuller, the sale's curator and author of Dodo: From Extinction to Icon, told CNN he had "always expected the skeleton to be one of our most popular pieces."

Son charged for stabbing his father who wanted to circumcise him

Alex Fultz

A young man was arrested on a charge of attempted murder after allegedly stabbing his father in the neck because he did not want to be circumcised, according police in Florida. Miami police said that they have arrested 20-year-old Alex Fultz, after being accused of stabbing his father who wanted to perform a circumcision on his son. In court, Fultz pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted murder. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, and he is being held without bail.
According to the police investigation, Fultz has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism. Fultz told police that he was angry with his father who wanted to perform a circumcision on him. Fultz said that he was scared the procedure would hurt. Fultz begged his father to take him to a urologist, but he did not listen and insisted to perform the ritual by himself. On Saturday evening, Fultz saw his father sleeping on a couch. He grabbed a knife and stabbed his father in the neck. The father was taken to the Jackson South Community Hospital, where he is being treated for a stab wound to the neck. He is expected to survive.

Over 60 killed in China construction collapse

More than 60 people have been killed after a platform collapsed at a Chinese power plant, according to state-run broadcaster CCTV. One person is still trapped under scaffolding at the site in Fengcheng city, in the southern province of Jiangxi. The platform had been built around a cooling tower which was undergoing repairs, according to state news agency Xinhua. Sixty-eight people were working on the platform at the time of the collapse, according to China's State Administration of Work Safety.
More than 200 firefighters were deployed, as well as search and rescue dogs.

Mum kills newborn baby at airport because she did not want to miss flight

A mother was arrested on a charge of murder after allegedly killing her newborn baby because she did not want to miss her flight, according to police in Austria. Vienna police said that they have arrested the 27-year-old woman of Minsk, Belarus, who was not identified, after an employee of the Schwechat International Airport found her baby in a toilet garbage bin. In court, the woman has been charged with killing a child at birth. She is being held without bail. If convicted, the woman faces up to five years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, the airport employee found the baby in the garbage bin around 1:30 a.m. Around 2:00 a.m., police found the 27-year-old woman sleeping and covered in blood in the waiting area. The woman told police that she was flying from Minsk to Washington D.C., and she threw away the baby in order not to miss her connecting flight. The mother said that she believed the baby was born dead, but doctors said that the infant died at the hospital.

Steven Gerrard officially announces retirement from football

Former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard has officially announced his retirement from professional football. The 36-year-old has decided to call time on his career after his LA Galaxy side were knocked out of the MLS play-offs earlier this month, losing on penalties to Colorado Rapids. Gerrard was Liverpool's longest-ever serving captain and made 710 appearances for his boyhood club, inspiring them to to their famous Champions League final victory over AC Milan in 2005 while also helping the Reds win the FA Cup twice (2001, 2006), the League Cup on three occasions (2001, 2003, 2012) and the UEFA Cup once (2001) during an 18-year association with the club.
At international level, Gerrard won 114 caps for England and is his country's fourth most capped player of all time behind Peter Shilton, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham. Over a 14 year period, he played in six major tournaments and captained England at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups as well as the 2012 European Championships.

Father breaks skull of 5-month-old daughter because she had an ‘evil eye’

Parents of 5-month-old Alaia

A father was arrested on a charge of murder after allegedly killing his daughter because she had an evil eye, according to police in New York. The New York Police Department said that they have arrested 36-year-old Jorge Baque of Queens, after being accused of breaking his 5-month-old daughter's skull during a ritual to rid her of an evil eye. Baque has been charged with murder, assault and child endangerment. If convicted, he could get up to life in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, Jorge was angry that his daughter, Alaia Baque, cried whenever he was around her.
Jorge felt that his daughter is rejecting him and sought the advice of religious leader, who claimed that the child had an evil eye. On Saturday afternoon, Alaia’s mother called 911 to report that her daughter was unconscious following the ritual. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A coroner ruled her death a homicide. Alaia suffered from 8 skull fractures. She had 4 wounds on her body and her eyes were bleeding as a result of shaking.

Former police chief gets life term for killing fiancee

                    Russel Bertram                                (C)The Daily Republic

A former South Dakota police chief was sentenced to life in prison without parole Tuesday in the 2009 death of his pregnant fiancee. The sentence against Russell Bertram, the one-time police chief of Harrisburg, came almost two months after a jury in Burke found him guilty of first-degree murder. Bertram, 64, was accused of fatally shooting 26-year-old Leonila Stickney out of jealousy and to collect more than $900,000 in insurance benefits. Defense attorneys argued it was an accidental shooting. At the time of the incident, Bertram told authorities that he was putting his shotgun into his truck after a hunting trip in Gregory County when the weapon fired accidentally, striking Stickney in the abdomen. County authorities ruled the death an accident after a brief investigation.

China’s Ctrip buys flight search company SkyScanner for $1.74 billion

Skyscanner, the Scotland-based flight search company, has been acquired by Chinese online travel giant Ctrip for £1.4 billion, or approximately $1.74 billion. The deal is predominantly cash and is expected to close before the end of this year. Once completed, SkyScanner will operate independently of Ctrip, both parties confirmed. Ctrip was founded in 1999, and it is China’s largest online travel firm. Its revenue for Q3 2016, which was announced today, came in at RMB 5.6 billion ($810 billion), that’s up 75 percent year-on-year, with a slim $4 million net profit. Ctrip recently raised close to $1 billion from the sale of convertible notes, a raise that looks to have be coordinated with the Skyscanner deal.

UEFA Champions League week 5 result

Angela Merkel to run for fourth term in Germany

One of the world's most powerful leaders has announced her decision to run for office again. German Chancellor Angela Merkel put an end to months of speculation about her political future by saying she would seek a fourth term in next year's federal elections.
"I pondered a lot about it," Merkel told reporters at a news conference in Berlin. "The decision for a fourth term after 11 years is anything ... (but) trivial, not for the country and not for the party, and I say it consciously also for me personally."
Merkel, 62, said she expects the fall 2017 campaign to be her toughest to date.
"The coming election will be difficult," Merkel said. "We will probably be criticized from everywhere, from the right-wing parties and also because of the polarization of our society, also from the left party."
Merkel alerted top members of her Christian Democrat Union party, or CDU, about her decision to run a few days ago.

Hen pictures from UK's national poultry show

This year’s event in Telford, Shropshire, is showcasing about 7,000 entries from around the world.

Lufthansa cancels over 900 flights affecting thousands of passengers over pilot dispute

Germany’s flagship carrier Lufthansa said it would cancel nearly 900 flights on Wednesday because of a strike by pilots, causing travel disruption for tens of thousands of passengers in the latest escalation of a long-running pay dispute. The stoppage, called by the pilots’ union Cockpit, would start at midnight and affect Lufthansa flights at airports across Germany. Out of its roughly 3,000 scheduled flights, 876 would be cancelled due to the strike, “affecting some 100,000 passengers”, Lufthansa said in a statement. It is the union’s 14th strike since April 2014.
The Lufthansa pilots going on strike are demanding a pay rise of an average of 3.66% per year, retroactive for the past five years. The union says pilots have endured a wage freeze over that time and suffered a “significant loss of purchasing power” due to inflation, while Lufthansa has made billions in profits. It had offered a 2.5% wage hike.

Turkey abandons child marriage bill following outrage

Turkey's government on Tuesday scrapped a proposal that critics said would have allowed men accused of sexually abusing underage girls to go free if they were married to their victims. The proposal, which had provoked a public outcry, was scheduled to undergo a final vote in parliament on Tuesday. It would have deferred sentencing or punishment for sexual assault of minors in cases where there was no physical force and where the victim and perpetrator were married. Hours before the vote, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the government had withdrawn the bill to submit it to a review by a parliamentary committee. But Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag later said the proposal had been shelved and would only come back on the government's agenda if all parties in Parliament manage to reach a consensus.

Man who hid for 45 years suffering rare 'bubble-like tumour' skin condition comes out of hiding

A man whose disfigurement made him a recluse for 45 years has emerged publicly to show the world his 'bubble-like tumour' skin condition. Neurofibromatosis sufferer Shiti Charoenrattanaprapa has been shunned by all around him since he was diagnosed aged 15 - including most of his own family. The disease has caused huge bubble-like tumours to form all over his face and body. But he has been tempted out of hiding to pay respects to his country's late king , Thai monarch Bhumibol Adulyadej. Originally a native of the Thai capital of Bangkok, Mr Charoenrattanaprapa, 60, said he was never accepted by the local community and was driven away from the metropolis. This forced him to cross the country’s south-western border into Myanmar, then still called Burma. He lived there until being arrested as an illegal immigrant and deported back to Thailand last year

Mother forced her 11-year-old daughter to have sex with her father for money

A mother, who forced her daughter to have sex with her and her husband, said that she “hates” herself for her crimes. In a heartbreaking episode of Dr. Phil an incestuous child abuse survivor confronted her biological mother, who plied her with alcohol from the age of 11, to make her have sex with the pair of them. Speaking 20 years after the horrific abuse, Amanda told her heartbreaking story after her parents made her pose for sexual photos and videotaped their sexual encounters with a view to sell them online. A tearful Justine said.
“I know I made poor choices,”
“My innocence was stolen from me,” Amanda told her mother when she confronted her on the show.
“In what parallel universe does a mother watch her daughter performing a sex act on her husband and her father?” Dr. Phil questioned Justine.

At least 6 dead in Tennessee school bus crash, driver arrested

Woodmore Elementary School bus driver Johnthony Walker has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and reckless driving, according to Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher. A school bus slammed into a tree and split apart Monday, killing at least six children in Chattanooga, Tennessee, officials said.
Frantic parents arrived at the scene, screaming and crying. A spokeswoman for the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office confirmed the death toll. But Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher would only say "multiple children" were killed, declining to specify how many died because the scene was still active.

Bomb blast kills dozens in wedding in Iraq

At least 40 people have been killed and more than 60 wounded after a suicide car bomb attack targeted a police officer's wedding in Amiriyat al-Fallujah in Iraq, police sources have told Al Jazeera. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion on Thursday, but police said they believed that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group was responsible for the attack. Amiriyat al-Fallujah, 35km south of Fallujah, is home to pro-government Sunni tribal fighters, who fought ISIL for more than two years and repelled many attacks on their town before the armed group was pushed out of Fallujah in June.

Catholic church sorry for role of priests and nuns in Rwanda genocide

The Catholic church in Rwanda apologised on Sunday for the church’s role in the 1994 genocide, saying it regretted the actions of those who participated in the massacres.
“We apologize for all the wrongs the church committed. We apologize on behalf of all Christians for all forms of wrongs we committed. We regret that church members violated [their] oath of allegiance to God’s commandments,” said the statement by the Conference of Catholic Bishops, which was read out in parishes across the country.

Canada plans to phase out coal-powered electricity by 2030

                                                                                              (C)Reuters

Canada has announced plans to phase out the use of coal-fired electricity by 2030. The move is in stark contrast to President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to revive the American coal industry. The environment minister, Kathleen McKenna, said the goal is to make sure 90% of Canada’s electricity comes from sustainable sources by that time – up from 80% today. The announcement is one of a series of measures Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government is rolling out as part of a broader climate change plan. Trudeau also has plans to implement a carbon tax. Trump, in contrast, has also said he would “cancel” the Paris agreement.
 “Taking traditional coal power out of our energy mix and replacing it with cleaner technologies will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, improve the health of Canadians, and benefit generations for years to come,” McKenna said. Four of Canada’s 10 provinces still use coal-based electricity. Alberta had been working toward phasing out coal-fired electricity by 2030.

Source: The Guardian

The prophet that heals with insecticide called ‘Doom’!

Prophet (Detective) Lethebo Rabalago from the Mountzion General Assembly in Limpopo, South Africa uses Doom insect killer to heal people. He commands demons to enter into people's bodies so that they can manifest, "for demons need flesh in order for them to operate".  According to the church's Facebook page, prophet Rabalago "begins to speak to demons in order to address problems people face each day. He then drives them out of their bodies to free the people." eNCA.com spoke to Prophet Rabalago on Monday and he said that he uses Doom insect killer to heal people with cancer, HIV or any other illness. Rabalago said he prays over it first like some people who use oil or water for blessings.

Do you have a tiny hole above your ears? This is why…

A very small percentage of people are born with tiny, barely visible holes above their ears. They're not strange fish people. Or aliens. Rather, they're a tiny segment of the population who are born with something called a preauricular sinus. In the UK, just under one per cent of people have them. In the US, the frequency is lower, and in Asia and parts of Africa, around four to ten per cent of people may be affected. Simply put, the malformations are 'nodules, dents, or dimples' that are exposed anywhere around the external ear – specifically, where the 'face' and the ear cartilage meet.

Bolivia declares state of emergency over worst drought in 25 years

Bolivia’s government has declared a state of emergency over the worst drought in 25 years, making funds available to alleviate a crisis that has affected families and the agricultural sector. The vice-ministry of civil defense estimated that the drought has affected 125,000 families and threatened 290,000 hectares (716,605 acres) of agricultural land and 360,000 heads of cattle. President Evo Morales called on local governments to devote funds and workers to drill wells and transport water to cities in vehicles, with the support of the armed forces, from nearby bodies of water.

Kabul: IS claims attack that kills over 30 people at Shi'ite mosque

Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a crowded Shi'ite mosque in Kabul on Monday that killed more than 30 people and wounded dozens in its third major attack on minority Shi'ites in the Afghan capital since July. Officials said the attacker entered the Baqir-ul-Olum mosque shortly after midday as worshippers gathered for Arbaeen, a Shi'ite ritual marking the end of a 40-day mourning period for the 7th century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad. A statement in Arabic from Islamic State's Amaq news agency said one of its fighters had targeted the mosque.

Angry mum sues son for changing to transgender female without her knowledge

A mother is taking her teenage daughter to court because she started gender reassignment without her permission. Anmarie Calgaro is also suing the medics involved, saying her rights as the parent have been violated. Ms Calgaro referred to her 17-year-old child as her son throughout a media conference . She said: “Not only was I robbed of the opportunity to help my son make good decisions, but I also feel he was robbed of a key advocate in his life, his mother.”
The teen filed emancipation papers last year, but did terminate her mum’s parental rights.The documents state that the teen’s mum “made it known to him that she no longer wishes to have any contact with him” and that she “knows where he is and has made no attempts to bring him home”. The teenager claims her mother did not report her as a runaway even six months after she fled the house. Ms Calgaro said she was not opposed her child’s gender transition , but she wanted the child to “slow down”. The teenager turns 18 in July next year.

Source: Daily Mirror

Over 140 people dead in India train crash

Family members are mourning their lost loved ones as India reels from a deadly train crash. More than 140 people were killed when several train cars derailed in northern Uttar Pradesh. The train swerved off the tracks near the village of Purwa, about 65km (40 miles) from the industrial town of Kanpur at 3am on Sunday. Witnesses described being jolted awake as 14 carriages crumpled into one another, leaving hundreds of people trapped for hours on Sunday morning. An Uttar Pradesh official gave the updated death toll on Monday afternoon. Doctors said 116 of the victims had been identified. Dozens more are grievously injured and are fighting for their lives in nearby hospitals.

Teacher impregnated by 13-year-old pupil may be spared jail after pleading guilty

A teacher impregnated by a 13-year-old pupil she was having regular sex with may be spared a jail sentence. English teacher Alexandria Vera, 24, has admitted aggravated sexual assault of a child. A relationship began after she messaged the boy after he failed to show up to class one day via Instagram Stovall Middle School in Conroe, Texas. They were having sex on an almost daily basis, according to court documents. According to Daily Record,Vera fell pregnant by the boy before authorities found out. According to local media reports, Vera made no effort to hide the sexual relationship and even had the full support of the pupil’s family.

Teen kills her two nephews because they ate a whole loaf of bread without leaving anything for her

A teenager was arrested on a charge of murder after allegedly killing her nephews because they ate a whole loaf of bread, according to police in Kenya. Kiriaini police said that they have arrested 18-year-old Leah Wambui, after being accused of beating her two nephews to death over a loaf of bread. Wambui was charged with two counts of murder. According to the police investigation, Wambui was watching her two nephews when their mother went to work. At some point, Wambui noticed that the two children ate an entire loaf of bread and did not leave anything for her. She became very angry, grabbed a stick and beat the children.
Neighbors who heard the children screaming, rushed to help the One of the children died at the scene while the other boy died on the way to the hospital.