Thousands displaced as severe floods ravage Italy
http://www.euronews.com/2017/12/12/evacuations-ordered-as-severe-flooding-sweeps-northern-italy
About 2,000 people have been displaced by flooding in the towns of Lentigione and Colorno as heavy rains swept across northeastern Italy causing nearby rivers to burst their banks.
The Emilia-Romagna region, where the two towns are located, was one of the hardest hit.
Many have been blaming the inclement weather on climate change, as it is in stark contrast to the rest of the year. In 2017 Italy, according to the CNR (Italian Institute for Atmospheric Sciences and Climate), was the driest country in Europe for the first nine months of 2017. Only half of the rain fell which was expected.
【一蓮托生】國際時事政治選舉集中理性討論區（二）
濕鳩塞鷗
1001 回覆
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NYT 有個Map好正可以睇吓，compare Trump同今次唔同地區的表現
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/13/us/politics/alabama-senate-election-roy-moore.html
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/13/us/politics/alabama-senate-election-roy-moore.html
EU will not renegotiate Brexit deal if UK parliament rejects it, says Luxembourg PM
Xavier Bettel, the prime minister of Luxembourg, has said that if the Brexit deal agreed by the British government gets rejected by parliament, the EU will not be willing to renegotiate. These are from the Financial Times’ Mehreen Khan.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/dec/14/brexit-eu-summit-commons-defeat-not-going-to-stop-brexit-says-government-politics-live
Xavier Bettel, the prime minister of Luxembourg, has said that if the Brexit deal agreed by the British government gets rejected by parliament, the EU will not be willing to renegotiate. These are from the Financial Times’ Mehreen Khan.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/dec/14/brexit-eu-summit-commons-defeat-not-going-to-stop-brexit-says-government-politics-live
6,700 Rohingya Muslims killed in one month in Myanmar, MSF says
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/14/6700-rohingya-muslims-killed-in-attacks-in-myanmar-says-medecins-sans-frontieres
More than 6,700 Rohingya Muslims, including at least 730 children under the age of five, were killed in the first month of a crackdown that started in August in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state, according to Médecins Sans Frontières.
The figures released on Thursday by the humanitarian agency are believed to be a conservative estimate and far exceed Myanmar’s official death toll of 400.
“The numbers of deaths are likely to be an underestimation, as we have not surveyed all refugee settlements in Bangladesh and because the surveys don’t account for the families who never made it out of Myanmar,” said Dr Sidney Wong, MSF’s medical director.
The majority of the people killed (69%) were shot, while others were burned and beaten to death. “We heard reports of entire families who perished after they were locked inside their homes, while they were set alight,” said Wong.
More than 640,000 Rohingya people have fled Rakhine since August. Soldiers, police and local militias burned hundreds of Rohingya villages to the ground, and they are also accused of gang-raping women and children, as well as slaughtering civilians indiscriminately.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/14/6700-rohingya-muslims-killed-in-attacks-in-myanmar-says-medecins-sans-frontieres
More than 6,700 Rohingya Muslims, including at least 730 children under the age of five, were killed in the first month of a crackdown that started in August in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state, according to Médecins Sans Frontières.
The figures released on Thursday by the humanitarian agency are believed to be a conservative estimate and far exceed Myanmar’s official death toll of 400.
“The numbers of deaths are likely to be an underestimation, as we have not surveyed all refugee settlements in Bangladesh and because the surveys don’t account for the families who never made it out of Myanmar,” said Dr Sidney Wong, MSF’s medical director.
The majority of the people killed (69%) were shot, while others were burned and beaten to death. “We heard reports of entire families who perished after they were locked inside their homes, while they were set alight,” said Wong.
More than 640,000 Rohingya people have fled Rakhine since August. Soldiers, police and local militias burned hundreds of Rohingya villages to the ground, and they are also accused of gang-raping women and children, as well as slaughtering civilians indiscriminately.
Colombia's ELN stand their ground while talking peace
http://www.euronews.com/2017/12/13/colombia-s-eln-stand-their-ground-while-talking-peace
They number about 1,800 men under arms, and they are negotiating their own peace agreement with Colombian Government. They signed a historic truce in October 1st after a half-century of fighting.
But many doubt it will be extended beyond the early January deadline. Uriel, an ELN commander, blames the government for the fragility of the negotiations..
http://www.euronews.com/2017/12/13/colombia-s-eln-stand-their-ground-while-talking-peace
They number about 1,800 men under arms, and they are negotiating their own peace agreement with Colombian Government. They signed a historic truce in October 1st after a half-century of fighting.
But many doubt it will be extended beyond the early January deadline. Uriel, an ELN commander, blames the government for the fragility of the negotiations..
Austria's Sebastian Kurz assures pro-Europe government in deal with far-right party
Set to become Europe's youngest political leader, Sebastian Kurz has predicted a new government will be formed before Christmas. He said the far-right FPÖ has ensured the government will have a "pro-European" stance.
http://www.dw.com/en/austrias-sebastian-kurz-assures-pro-europe-government-in-deal-with-far-right-party/a-41799121
Set to become Europe's youngest political leader, Sebastian Kurz has predicted a new government will be formed before Christmas. He said the far-right FPÖ has ensured the government will have a "pro-European" stance.
http://www.dw.com/en/austrias-sebastian-kurz-assures-pro-europe-government-in-deal-with-far-right-party/a-41799121
US regulator scraps net neutrality rules that protect open internet
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/14/net-neutrality-fcc-rules-open-internet
The US’s top media regulator voted to end rules protecting an open internet on Thursday, a move critics warn will hand control of the future of the web to cable and telecoms companies.
At a packed meeting of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, the watchdog’s commissioners voted three to two to dismantle the “net neutrality” rules that prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from charging websites more for delivering certain services or blocking others should they, for example, compete with services the cable company also offers.
Outside, protesters angrily called on Congress to block the FCC’s efforts. Bouquets of flowers and white candles were placed on the grass outside the building, an apparent reference to the “death” of open internet. Posters of the angry-face emoji covered the walkway.
And activists carried hand-made signs that read: “Don’t make the internet a private toll road”; “Ajit Pai doesn’t want you to meet your fiancé online”; and “Don’t undermine our democracy – that’s Russia’s job”.
Passing the vote is just the latest in a series of controversial moves made by Pai in his 11-month tenure. The FCC has also relaxed local media ownership rules, potentially ushering in a wave of consolidation, cut a high-speed internet internet scheme for low-income families and allowed broadband providers to raise rates for businesses.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/14/net-neutrality-fcc-rules-open-internet
The US’s top media regulator voted to end rules protecting an open internet on Thursday, a move critics warn will hand control of the future of the web to cable and telecoms companies.
At a packed meeting of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, the watchdog’s commissioners voted three to two to dismantle the “net neutrality” rules that prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from charging websites more for delivering certain services or blocking others should they, for example, compete with services the cable company also offers.
Outside, protesters angrily called on Congress to block the FCC’s efforts. Bouquets of flowers and white candles were placed on the grass outside the building, an apparent reference to the “death” of open internet. Posters of the angry-face emoji covered the walkway.
And activists carried hand-made signs that read: “Don’t make the internet a private toll road”; “Ajit Pai doesn’t want you to meet your fiancé online”; and “Don’t undermine our democracy – that’s Russia’s job”.
Passing the vote is just the latest in a series of controversial moves made by Pai in his 11-month tenure. The FCC has also relaxed local media ownership rules, potentially ushering in a wave of consolidation, cut a high-speed internet internet scheme for low-income families and allowed broadband providers to raise rates for businesses.
German soldier charged with plotting to kill politicians while posing as refugee
http://www.dw.com/en/german-soldier-charged-with-plotting-to-kill-politicians-while-posing-as-refugee/a-41766093
A soldier in the Bundeswehr has been charged with planning to carry out attacks on high-ranking political figures and frame refugees for the crimes. The justice minister was among those on his hit list.
The 28-year-old lieutenant, identified as Franco A., was charged with planning an act of violence and violating weapons and explosives laws, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The renewed federal indictment comes just two weeks after Germany's top criminal court threw out a case against the suspect,saying at the time that current investigations had not provided sufficient evidence.
Prosecutors allege the soldier managed to register as a Syrian refugee with German authorities, and that he planned to use this false identity to carry out attacks.
He plotted to assassinate "high-ranking politicians and public figures who are known for what the accused regarded as particularly refugee-friendly activities," the prosecutor's office said in a Tuesday statement. His list of targets reportedly included German Justice Minister Heiko Maas, Greens politician Claudia Roth, as well as human rights activists and journalists.
http://www.dw.com/en/german-soldier-charged-with-plotting-to-kill-politicians-while-posing-as-refugee/a-41766093
A soldier in the Bundeswehr has been charged with planning to carry out attacks on high-ranking political figures and frame refugees for the crimes. The justice minister was among those on his hit list.
The 28-year-old lieutenant, identified as Franco A., was charged with planning an act of violence and violating weapons and explosives laws, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The renewed federal indictment comes just two weeks after Germany's top criminal court threw out a case against the suspect,saying at the time that current investigations had not provided sufficient evidence.
Prosecutors allege the soldier managed to register as a Syrian refugee with German authorities, and that he planned to use this false identity to carry out attacks.
He plotted to assassinate "high-ranking politicians and public figures who are known for what the accused regarded as particularly refugee-friendly activities," the prosecutor's office said in a Tuesday statement. His list of targets reportedly included German Justice Minister Heiko Maas, Greens politician Claudia Roth, as well as human rights activists and journalists.
Ryan could retire after 2018 midterms: report
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/364918-ryan-could-retire-after-2018-midterms-report
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is reportedly considering retiring after the 2018 midterm elections.
Politico reported Thursday that Ryan has told his “closest confidants” that his current term as Speaker will be his last.
According to Politico interviews with three dozen of Ryan’s colleagues, aides, lobbyists and allies, “not a single person believed Ryan will stay in Congress past 2018.”
Ryan told reporters on Thursday that he is not planning on leaving the House.
Asked at the end of his weekly press conference Thursday whether he was leaving Congress “soon,” Ryan chuckled and replied as he walked off the stage: “I’m not, no.”
Speculation about Ryan's future has swirled for months. Last month, several Republicans told The Hill they thought Ryan could be serving his last term of Speaker, particularly if Republicans succeed in passing tax reform.
“There is certainly a school of thought that says ‘leave on a high note,’ ” a GOP lawmaker close to Ryan told The Hill in November. “And passage of tax reform would be a high note for a guy that’s spent 18 years in Congress working on it.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/364918-ryan-could-retire-after-2018-midterms-report
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is reportedly considering retiring after the 2018 midterm elections.
Politico reported Thursday that Ryan has told his “closest confidants” that his current term as Speaker will be his last.
According to Politico interviews with three dozen of Ryan’s colleagues, aides, lobbyists and allies, “not a single person believed Ryan will stay in Congress past 2018.”
Ryan told reporters on Thursday that he is not planning on leaving the House.
Asked at the end of his weekly press conference Thursday whether he was leaving Congress “soon,” Ryan chuckled and replied as he walked off the stage: “I’m not, no.”
Speculation about Ryan's future has swirled for months. Last month, several Republicans told The Hill they thought Ryan could be serving his last term of Speaker, particularly if Republicans succeed in passing tax reform.
“There is certainly a school of thought that says ‘leave on a high note,’ ” a GOP lawmaker close to Ryan told The Hill in November. “And passage of tax reform would be a high note for a guy that’s spent 18 years in Congress working on it.”
Australia child abuse inquiry: Final recommendations released
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42361874
A five-year inquiry into child sexual abuse in Australia has released its final report, making more than 400 recommendations.
The royal commission uncovered harrowing evidence of sexual abuse within institutions, including churches, schools and sports clubs.
Since 2013, it has referred more than 2,500 allegations to authorities.
The final report, released on Friday, added 189 recommendations to 220 that had already been made public.
"Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in many Australian institutions. We will never know the true number," the report said.
"It is not a case of a few 'rotten apples'. Society's major institutions have seriously failed."
Religious ministers and school teachers were the most commonly reported perpetrators, the report said.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42361874
A five-year inquiry into child sexual abuse in Australia has released its final report, making more than 400 recommendations.
The royal commission uncovered harrowing evidence of sexual abuse within institutions, including churches, schools and sports clubs.
Since 2013, it has referred more than 2,500 allegations to authorities.
The final report, released on Friday, added 189 recommendations to 220 that had already been made public.
"Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in many Australian institutions. We will never know the true number," the report said.
"It is not a case of a few 'rotten apples'. Society's major institutions have seriously failed."
Religious ministers and school teachers were the most commonly reported perpetrators, the report said.
Bennelong By-Election (16 DEC)
輸呢席=Minority
輸呢席=Minority
[Brexit]: EU leaders agree Brexit talks can move on to phase two
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/dec/15/brexit-talks-eu-next-phase-brussels-theresa-may
EU leaders have ruled that sufficient progress on the first phase of Brexit talks has been made, allowing negotiations to move on to discussions about Britain’s future outside the bloc.
While some questions over the three opening issues that have so far dominated the negotiations still remain, a joint proposal from the UK and the European commission to move the talks has been accepted.
The president of the European council, Donald Tusk, tweeted: “EU leaders agree to move on to the second phase of #Brexit talks. Congratulations PM @theresa_may”
The leaders will also adopt a set of guidelines spelling out their terms for a transition period, and a rough timetable for the next few months.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/dec/15/brexit-talks-eu-next-phase-brussels-theresa-may
EU leaders have ruled that sufficient progress on the first phase of Brexit talks has been made, allowing negotiations to move on to discussions about Britain’s future outside the bloc.
While some questions over the three opening issues that have so far dominated the negotiations still remain, a joint proposal from the UK and the European commission to move the talks has been accepted.
The president of the European council, Donald Tusk, tweeted: “EU leaders agree to move on to the second phase of #Brexit talks. Congratulations PM @theresa_may”
The leaders will also adopt a set of guidelines spelling out their terms for a transition period, and a rough timetable for the next few months.
Bennelong By-Election (16 DEC)
輸呢席=Minority
不過Liberal leads緊
[US]: How the end of net neutrality could change the internet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqXKEgTYZBQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqXKEgTYZBQ
Bennelong By-Election (16 DEC)
輸呢席=Minority
不過Liberal leads緊
聽蕭生講輸埋呢席就係50/50 不過vp係gop所以都係多數
Bennelong By-Election (16 DEC)
輸呢席=Minority
不過Liberal leads緊
聽蕭生講輸埋呢席就係50/50 不過vp係gop所以都係多數
澳洲啊
[Putin's Empire] Ex-minister's harsh jail sentence sends shockwaves through Russian elite
A Moscow court has sentenced a former Russian economy minister to eight years in a high-security prison for corruption, in a verdict that is likely to send chills through the Russian elite.
Alexei Ulyukayev was also ordered to pay a $2.2m (£1.7m) fine as part of the punishment for soliciting a $2m bribe from Igor Sechin, the chief executive of the state oil company Rosneft, who is widely seen as the second most powerful man in Russia after Vladimir Putin.
The case has widely been seen as Sechin’s revenge for Ulyukayev opposing Rosneft’s takeover of another oil company. While Russian courts rarely give innocent verdicts, many were expecting a suspended sentence as a compromise. The harsh sentence sent shockwaves through the more liberal parts of the Russian elite.
A Moscow court has sentenced a former Russian economy minister to eight years in a high-security prison for corruption, in a verdict that is likely to send chills through the Russian elite.
Alexei Ulyukayev was also ordered to pay a $2.2m (£1.7m) fine as part of the punishment for soliciting a $2m bribe from Igor Sechin, the chief executive of the state oil company Rosneft, who is widely seen as the second most powerful man in Russia after Vladimir Putin.
The case has widely been seen as Sechin’s revenge for Ulyukayev opposing Rosneft’s takeover of another oil company. While Russian courts rarely give innocent verdicts, many were expecting a suspended sentence as a compromise. The harsh sentence sent shockwaves through the more liberal parts of the Russian elite.
[SE Aisa] Deadly earthquake strikes Indonesian island of Java
[url]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/15/deadly-earthquake-strikes-indonesian-island-of-java
[/url]
A strong earthquake has struck the Indonesian capital and other cities on the country’s most populous island, Java, killing an unknown number of people.
There were reports of collapsed buildings, and authorities issued a tsunami warning for parts of Java’s coastline after the quake struck just before midnight (1700 GMT) on Friday. People ran into the street in panic in many areas and Indonesian television showed heavy traffic on roads as people fled coastal areas.
[url]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/15/deadly-earthquake-strikes-indonesian-island-of-java
[/url]
A strong earthquake has struck the Indonesian capital and other cities on the country’s most populous island, Java, killing an unknown number of people.
There were reports of collapsed buildings, and authorities issued a tsunami warning for parts of Java’s coastline after the quake struck just before midnight (1700 GMT) on Friday. People ran into the street in panic in many areas and Indonesian television showed heavy traffic on roads as people fled coastal areas.
TODAY: Bennelong By-Election
Malcolm Turnbull
@TurnbullMalcolm
Election Day in Bennelong and I’m backing @JAforBennelong. He’s part of our team that is delivering for Australian families and businesses.
Bill Shorten
@billshortenmp
Back in Bennelong for election day. This is a chance to send Turnbull a message he can't ignore - and send @kkeneally to Canberra!
Malcolm Turnbull
@TurnbullMalcolm
Election Day in Bennelong and I’m backing @JAforBennelong. He’s part of our team that is delivering for Australian families and businesses.
Bill Shorten
@billshortenmp
Back in Bennelong for election day. This is a chance to send Turnbull a message he can't ignore - and send @kkeneally to Canberra!
[US-North Koera] Rex Tillerson scales back offer of opening dialogue with North Korea
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/15/rex-tillerson-scales-back-offer-of-opening-dialogue-with-north-korea
The secretary of state omitted his line from earlier in the week on US openness to talks ‘without pre-conditions’ following a rebuke from the White House
Rex Tillerson has said that the US was keeping channels of communication open with North Korea but said Pyongyang would have to “earn its way back to the table” with a “sustained cessation of threatening behaviour”.
In his remarks at a ministerial meeting of the UN security council, the US secretary of state appeared to restate an offer of a dialogue following a pause in nuclear and missile testing that he made on Tuesday, but cast it in tougher language following a rebuke from the White House. Tillerson omitted a line restating US openness to talks “without pre-conditions” that had been in a text of his speech circulated earlier by the state department.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/15/rex-tillerson-scales-back-offer-of-opening-dialogue-with-north-korea
The secretary of state omitted his line from earlier in the week on US openness to talks ‘without pre-conditions’ following a rebuke from the White House
Rex Tillerson has said that the US was keeping channels of communication open with North Korea but said Pyongyang would have to “earn its way back to the table” with a “sustained cessation of threatening behaviour”.
In his remarks at a ministerial meeting of the UN security council, the US secretary of state appeared to restate an offer of a dialogue following a pause in nuclear and missile testing that he made on Tuesday, but cast it in tougher language following a rebuke from the White House. Tillerson omitted a line restating US openness to talks “without pre-conditions” that had been in a text of his speech circulated earlier by the state department.
[Middle East] Lebanon to hold long-delayed parliamentary elections on May 6
http://www.france24.com/en/20171215-lebanon-may-2018-date-long-delayed-parliamentary-elections-hariri
Lebanon has set a date of May 6 next year to hold its first legislative election in nearly a decade, potentially transforming the politics of a country caught in a confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk signed a decree setting the date on Friday, allowing the vote to go ahead at last. The election has been postponed three times since the last vote in 2009, with politicians citing security concerns, politicalcrisis and a dispute over the election law.
http://www.france24.com/en/20171215-lebanon-may-2018-date-long-delayed-parliamentary-elections-hariri
Lebanon has set a date of May 6 next year to hold its first legislative election in nearly a decade, potentially transforming the politics of a country caught in a confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk signed a decree setting the date on Friday, allowing the vote to go ahead at last. The election has been postponed three times since the last vote in 2009, with politicians citing security concerns, politicalcrisis and a dispute over the election law.
獨派有機會失去多數議席
Polls are now Closed in the Bennelong By Election
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAvMpdOckR8
Liberal冇懸念地勝出