People
Warmest New Year in 178 years set to fry Britain
The records for the United Kingdom began in 1841 and the previous high for New Years' was 15.6C (60.01F) in Great Yarmouth in 1910. A tropical plume is expected to bring highs of 16C to the United Kingdom this New Year. Wales and Scotland will also enjoy the warmest temperatures which will rise to 16C, a sharp 9C above the average high, with London basking in 11C, which is still well above the a... [Full Article...]
Montenegro police ban rally against religion bill
The government has denied that. Pro-Serb MPs hurled a firecracker, vandalized the building, threw plastic bottles and tried to assault other politicians when the amendments they proposed were rejected, according to the news agency AFP. In a statement, the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro urged calm and said it will complain to global organizations because of what it called a "brutal threat ... [Full Article...]
Japan births likely to fall below 900,000 in 2019
The number of babies born in Japan fell an estimated 5.9 per cent this year to fewer than 900,000 for the first time since the government started compiling data in 1899, the welfare ministry said on Tuesday. Marriage rates in Japan have halved since the early 1970s , and birth rates have declined in tandem. But Japan is the most gray nation in the world: nearly 28 percent of its residents are... [Full Article...]
Hundreds evacuated as Tropical Cyclone Sarai hits Fiji
Close to its centre the cyclone was expected to have average winds of up to 110km/h with momentary gusts to 150km/h, the Fiji Meteorological Service said. "Following weather assessments, and forecast adverse conditions associated with Tropical Cyclone Sarai, a number of Fiji Link and Fiji Airways services for Friday 27 December 2019 and Saturday 28 December 2019, are affected", the Fijian carrier'... [Full Article...]
EU chief warns new Brexit delay may be necessary
Von der Leyen and Germany's Manfred Weber are seen talking at the Lisbon Treaty anniversary on December 18. Mr Johnson has repeatedly insisted the transition period will expire at the end of December next year and intends to enshrine the deadline in law in a revamped EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill now passing through Parliament. [Full Article...]
Sydney fireworks to go ahead despite massive protest petition
Penrith Panthers has been holding 9pm and midnight fireworks for at least 20 years but duty manager Matt Blattman said "it's possible that they will be cancelled". "They know the arrangements, the procedures, and we will work through to make sure that risk is appropriately addressed and, where necessary, we won't allow them to go ahead". [Full Article...]
Facing blowback, Biden clarifies stance on impeachment trial testimony
But he did not clear up what he would do. During her interview, Murkowski, who is one of a few Republican swing votes in the Senate, said she hasn't decided on how to vote in Trump's impeachment trial. "Despite all of the great success that our Country has had over the last 3 years, it makes it much more hard to deal with foreign leaders (and others) when I am having to constantly defend myself ... [Full Article...]
Japan police find human remains in 'ghost boat' suspected from North Korea
The Sea Of Japan, which separates North Korea from Japan, is approximately 1,000km wide, but bad conditions have made venturing further out incredibly treacherous. Experts say some North Korean fishermen are travelling far out to sea in order to satisfy government mandates for bigger catches. But their old and poorly equipped vessels are prone to mechanical and other problems, including runnin... [Full Article...]