Philippines defends Duterte
UN’s human rights chief has asked Philippine authorities to investigate President Rodrigo Duterte for murder after he claimed to have killed people while he was a regional mayor. Philippine judicial authorities “must demonstrate their commitment to upholding the rule of law and their independence from the executive by launching a murder investigation”, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, said. Prince Zeid’s call was sparked by Duterte’s remarks that as a town mayor in southern Davao city in 1988, he killed three suspected kidnappers in a firefight. He later clarified he was unsure whether the bullets killed the suspects. Zeid added that he had asked authorities to also examine the “appalling epidemic of extra-judicial killings” committed during Duterte’s anti-drug crackdown.
The Philippines said Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s killing of three people in the 1980s was part of a police operation, after the UN rights chief urged Manila to investigate him for murder. UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said Tuesday that Duterte’s killings, by his own admission, “clearly constitute murder” and Philippine judicial authorities must launch a murder investigation. Duterte spokesman Ernesto Abella said Wednesday Zeid’s comments were nothing more than “his [Zeid’s] opinion”. The incident referred to by the president was actually covered by media and it was a “legitimate police action,” Abella added.
Ford shutting Kansas City plant
Ford Motor Co to close its Kansas City, Missouri pickup truck and van plant for a week in early January to match production and demand, the automaker said on Tuesday.
The plant makes F-150 pickup trucks and Ford Transit vans. Ford also closed the Kansas City plant for a week a couple of months ago.
The move comes a day after GM announced it was closing five US plants, mainly ones that make light-selling sedans, in January from one to three weeks.
Later on Monday, GM also said that in March it will lay off about 1,300 plant workers and cut the second shift at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant. The plant makes the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and three sedans: the Chevrolet Impala, Cadillac CT6 and Buick LaCrosse.
Sedans remain essential for most auto manufacturers, but US consumer appetite for them has waned in the past few years in favour of SUVs and pickup trucks.
“General Motors will explore placement opportunities at other GM facilities for those affected by this decision,” the company said in an emailed statement.
The new layoffs are on top of 2,000 as GM in January eliminates a shift each at plants in Lordstown, Ohio and Lansing, Michigan, which the company announced in November.
The single week shutdown of the Ford Kansas City plant will allow “time to perform maintenance” of the machinery at the factory, Ford said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
Data from the Automotive News, which reported the Kansas City shut down earlier on Tuesday, shows there were 108 days of Transit inventory at the start of this month, up from 82 days a month earlier. The Kansas City plant is the only US plant that makes the Transit van.
The Volt has been well-received among electrified vehicles, with sales up nearly 60 percent this year through November. However, it remains a low-volume niche product at about 2,500 in US sales in November.
US sales of the Impala are down 20 percent this year, and inventory data for the Buick LaCrosse shows a lofty 168 days of supply, and for the Cadillac CT6, it was 111 days, Automotive News data shows.
Overall, Ford held 83 days of US vehicle supply at the star to this month, down from 90 days a month earlier, and GM was holding 86 days’ supply, from 84 days a month earlier, the data shows.
Gambia’s Jammeh to stay in power
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh vowed to stay in power when his mandate ends in January, defying calls from West African leaders to hand over to the winner of a December 1 election. Regional bloc ECOWAS hopes diplomacy can persuade Jammeh to step down but has also warned it would take “all necessary actions” to resolve the impasse. Neighboring Senegal indicated that military action would be a last resort. “My right cannot be intimidated and violated,” Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 coup, said on state television late on Tuesday. Jammeh’s rebuff places president-elect Adama Barrow in a vulnerable position. He is due to formally end his rival’s 22-year rule when he is inaugurated on January 19 in a ceremony that West African leaders say they will attend.
Colombian cargo Boeing 727 crash
A cargo plane has crashed in eastern Colombia, killing 5 crew members.
Venezuela aviation authorities say the domestic airplane went down in Puerto Carreno near the Venezuela border on Tuesday.The plane had been heading to an airport in Colombia’s capital, Bogota, carrying a crew of 6.
Venezuela aviation authorities say the domestic airplane went down in Puerto Carreno near the Venezuela border on Tuesday.The plane had been heading to an airport in Colombia’s capital, Bogota, carrying a crew of 6.
The plane reportedly crashed about 3 minutes from taking off in an area some 10 kilometers from the airport of Puerto Carreno. Aviation officials are investigating the incident.Officials reports,An AeroSucre cargo flight with six people on board has crashed en route from Puerto Carreno to the Colombian capital of Bogota. Only one of the crew members survived the accident and was transferred to San Juan de Dios Hospital, according to AFP.
The Boeing 727 aircraft crashed at 5:23pm local time (2323 GMT) 10 miles from German Olano Airport, some three minutes after takeoff, the Civil Aviation authority said in a statement.
Indian Railways launches French security system for trains
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The Indian Railways on Wednesday launched a Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) provided by French firm Thales on the 68-km-long Basin Bridge-Arakkonam section in southern India, said a Thales official.
Income Tax raids continue at residence of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary
Income Tax officials conducted raids on the residence of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Rama Mohana Rao and some of his close associates. IT sleuths began raids yesterday at 13 places. Raids continued at some locations for the second day today. However it concluded at some locations. IT Department also conducted searches at the residence of a relative of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Secretary’s in Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh.
The Income Tax authorities have seized bullion weighing over 2 kilogram and cash running to several lakhs in new currency, apart from some key documents so far. The details of total seizure is expected to emerge later after compiling the full data. Meanwhile, in a case that is considered related to the raids, a CBI Special Court in Chennai granted judicial custody of a sand mining baron Sekhar Reddy till 3rd January.
The action against him and another of his close aides came after the IT raid a fortnight ago unearthed new currency worth 34 crore rupee in Rs 2000 notes and about Rs 150 crore more demonetized currencies and bullion. The CBI is planning to take them under their custody for further inquiries that are expected to reveal more information.
Snow falls in Sahara for first time in 37 years
Snow falls in Sahara for first time in 37 years
Snow falls in Sahara for first time in 37 years
AKIPRESS.COM
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