People
Philippines storm death toll climbs to 133
He blamed years of logging in the mountains near Anungan for the tragedy that unfolded Friday, adding that he and other officials would move to halt the logging operations. The Lanao del Norte province reported at least 62 deaths, followed by Zamboanga del Norte which reported at least 47 deaths, local officials confirmed to various local media outlets. [Full Article...]
Catalan separatists set to win majority
Two other pro-independence parties made up the dominant bloc: the left-wing republican ERC party, which collected 32 seats, and the radical, anti-capitalist CUP, which has four seats. Analysts noted that what the separatists' victory will mean in practice remains a mystery. "Now the rest of Spain must try to understand the reality that, yesterday, Catalonia showed clearly what it wants". [Full Article...]
Warring groups agree ceasefire for Christmas
The ceasefire, that would allow humanitarian groups access to civilians caught in the fighting, formally comes into force on Sunday morning. The civil war has killed tens of thousands , and an estimated 3.5 million residents - more than one-fourth of the population - are refugees, displaced within South Sudan or in neighboring countries. [Full Article...]
India says Pakistani fire kills 3 Indian soldiers in Kashmir
Pakistan has violated the ceasefire a total of 881 times along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir this year resulting in the killing of 30 people. At least a dozen people including civilians and soldiers have been killed in almost 300 incidents of ceasefire violations along the border in 2017 so far. [Full Article...]
Law, cardinal in abuse scandal, dead (3)
The mass, which was mostly conducted in Latin, followed the same liturgy as masses for all cardinals and bishops who die in the Vatican. Before the funeral plans were announced, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests had urged against a "celebratory focus" on Law. [Full Article...]
Cool temperatures ahead for Christmas weekend weather
But come Christmas day , the big freeze will make a return with icy, frosty conditions and even snow in some places as temperatures plunge to -1C. This would be the first time CT has seen snow fall on Christmas since back in 2012, according to the Northeast Regional Climate Center. [Full Article...]
Lalu Convicted Again on Corruption Charges
Lalu Prasad was taken to Ranchi's Birsa Munda jail after his conviction in a fodder scam case , sources in CBI told PTI. He faces five cases in the fodder scam of which four are pending. Apart from Lalu, former CM Jagannath Mishra and 20 others were also facing judgment in the court of special CBI judge Shivpal Singh. Of the 34 people initially accused in the case, 11 died during the... [Full Article...]
San Angelo Unemployment Rate Dips to 3.1 Percent
Officials say Amarillo and Midland had the lowest unemployment rates in Texas last month at 2.6 percent. Nationally, unemployment rates for November were down in eight states, higher in two states and flat in 40 states and the District of Columbia. [Full Article...]