Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Six In The Morning Tuesday 31 December 2019

Australia bushfires: towns devastated and lives lost as blazes turn the sky red

Thousands shelter on beaches as fires rip through Victoria and New South Wales







Australia’s bushfire crisis has claimed at least two more lives, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, as dozens of fires tore through several towns on the east coast and forced thousands of people to take shelter on beaches.
Two people – a father and son – died when fire hit the New South Wales town of Cobargo on Tuesday, while emergency services officials held grave fears for a third person, near Narooma, on the state’s south coast.

Baghdad embassy attack: Iraqi protesters storm US compound as gunshots ring out

Donald Trump blamed Iran for ‘orchestrating’ the attack, vowing a strong response 

Borzou DaragahiInternational Correspondent @borzou


Iraqi supporters of an Iranian-backed militia on Tuesday stormed the US embassy compound in Baghdad and set it partly aflame during a rowdy demonstration that has raised tensions between Tehran and Washington. 
The protesters broke down the US embassy gate door and managed to make their way into the security kiosk at the entrance of the heavily guarded compound, as gunshots and sirens rang out in the Iraqi capital, according to news organisations and video footage. 
Security forces fired tear gas and stun guns in an attempt to disperse the hundreds of protesters, injuring at least two bloodied militiamen. The guard towers protecting the massive compound also appeared to be on fire. 

Carlos Ghosn, Nissan's ex-head, flees Japan to Lebanon


Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has travelled to Lebanon after fleeing Japan, where he faces a trial over allegations of financial misconduct.
In a statement, Mr Ghosn said he had not fled justice but "escaped injustice and political persecution".
His lawyer said he was "dumbfounded" by the news and that he had not recently spoken with his client.
It is unclear how the former chief executive officer managed to leave, as he was barred from travelling abroad.

Hong Kong protesters carry political demands into 2020

Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong held hands and formed human chains across the city on Tuesday, as they carried their months-long movement and its demands into 2020 with midnight countdown rallies and a massive march planned for New Year's Day.
The financial hub has been battered by more than six months of protests that included huge peaceful marches attended by millions, as well as violent confrontations in which police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets, and protesters responded with flurries of petrol bombs.
In a video message posted on Facebook city leader Carrie Lam said she would "humbly listen to find a way out" for the city, but didn't address protester demands for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability.

US Army bans soldiers from using TikTok over security worries


The US Army has banned the use of the hugely popular short video app TikTok by its soldiers, calling it a security threat.
The Army has joined the Navy in barring the use of the app on government-owned phones, following bipartisan calls from lawmakers for regulators and the intelligence community to determine whether the Chinese-owned app presents a threat to national security and could be used to collect American citizens' personal data. Military.com was the first to report on the decision.
"There was a Cyber Awareness Message sent out on 16 December identifies TikTok as having potential security risks associated with its use," Army spokesperson Lt. Col Robin L. Ochoa told CNN on Monday night. "The message directs appropriate action for employees to take in order to safeguard their personal information. The guidance is to be wary of applications you download, monitor your phones for unusual and unsolicited texts etc., and delete them immediately and uninstall TikTok to circumvent any exposure of personal information."

Ex-Bush Aides Share Theory About Pelosi Delaying Donald Trump’s Senate Trial

Two former aides to President George W. Bush have put forward a theory for why House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is delaying sending the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate.
Paul Rosenzweig, who served as the Department of Homeland Security’s deputy assistant secretary for policy under the Bush administration, tweeted Monday that Pelosi could want to ensure Trump “is still under impeachment” when he delivers a State of the Union address on Feb 4.
“Imagine what it would be like if he got to give the SOTU having been cleared by the Senate ― it would be a full-blown triumphal rant,” Rosenzweig wrote.







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