Two people have died after a bus carrying a student band from Tonga crashed 100 metres down a bank while they were heading to a Christmas Day service in New Zealand, police said today.
	More than 40 people were injured when the bus ploughed through a barrier and rolled down a steep bank late on Christmas Eve about 30 kilometres from the resort town of Gisborne, on the east coast of the North Island.
	The body of one person was found soon after the crash and the second body was recovered in a later search of the wreckage.
	Facebook posts identified the passengers as a brass band comprising students and teachers from Mailefihi Siulikutapu College on Vavau Island in Tonga.
	Police initially said 46 people were on board, but after the discovery of the second body they said the numbers were yet to be confirmed and they were working with the survivors to make sure everyone was accounted for.
	Ambulance staff said 41 people required treatment and 27 were taken to hospital.
	"The passengers ..

2 dead after busload of Tongan students crashes in New Zealand

PTI Automatic

The death toll from an explosion at Mexico's largest fireworks market has risen to 36 after a woman with burns on 90 per cent of her body died, hospital officials said.
	The fiery wave of blasts occurred earlier this week at a market in Tultepec outside Mexico City, killing at least 26 at the scene and now a total of 10 at hospitals.
	Of the 60 hurt in the explosions several remain in critical condition, according to authorities.
	At the time of the blast the market was packed with customers buying pyrotechnics for traditional year-end festivities.
	Christmas and New Year parties in many Latin American countries often wrap up with a fireworks free-for-all.
	The market had been rocked by two explosions in the past: in September 2005 ahead of the Independence Day holiday, and again the following year.
	Both incidents left dozens of injured, but no fatalities.

Death toll rises to 36 in Mexico fireworks blasts

A Russian military plane carrying 91 people has disappeared from radar after taking off from the southern city of Adler, local news agencies reported the defence ministry as saying today.
	The ministry said that there were 83 passengers and 8 crew members on board, and that search and rescue groups had been dispatched to locate the missing Tu-154.

Russian military plane carrying 91 'disappears from radar'

Russian military plane carrying 91 'disappears from

New Zealand set aside Christmas festivities to pack in a final training session on Sunday before their Boxing Day series opener against Bangladesh in Christchurch.
     After being flayed by Australia in a 3-0 series hiding earlier this month, the Kane Williamson-led side are desperate to get back on the right side of the ledger and put the record straight against Bangladesh.
     In world rankings, New Zealand are number four and Bangladesh seven, but on the field the margin is not so great.
     New Zealand won the last time they met in the 2015 World Cup by three wickets but before that, in Bangladesh, New Zealand lost the 2013 series 3-0 and went down 4-0 on the tour before that in 2010.
     Williamson sees the advantage for New Zealand in this three-match one-day international series -- to be followed by three Twenty20s and two Tests -- is that this time they are at home and playing in familiar conditions.
     "It's important we look to exploit those as best we can, and get ...

Christmas Day nets for desperate New Zealand

Seven months after President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima, the city where World War II all but ended, his Japanese counterpart is paying his respects at the site where the brutal conflict began.
	Prime Minster Shinzo Abe is travelling to Pearl Harbor, where he and Obama hope to underscore the alliance between their two nations - 75 years after the Japanese surprise attack that brought America into history's bloodiest war.
	The two leaders are meeting Tuesday in Hawaiian state capital Honolulu, on the archipelago's Oahu island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
	The visit has particular resonance for Obama, who was born in Hawaii and spent much of his childhood and adolescence here.
	Abe and Obama will visit the wreck of the USS Arizona, where 1,177 sailors and Marines died. The ship's rusting remains, still visible, are now a memorial.
	On December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy," as then president Franklin D. Roosevelt said, Japan's General Isoroku Yamamoto unleashed a 

After Hiroshima, Abe and Obama to pay respects at Pearl Harbor

Pakistan say they have the momentum heading into the Boxing Day Melbourne Test after giving Australia a mighty fright during an epic run-chase in the opening clash of the series.
     The tourists fell just 39 short of a mammoth 490-run target on the fifth and final day of the Gabba Test, led by a magnificent 137 from Asad Shafiq.
     Steve Smith was a relieved captain as his Australia team fell over the line after the last five Pakistan wickets piled on 230 runs to get within sight of a world-record Test run chase.
     The gruelling 145-over fourth innings has taken its toll on the Australian bowlers with selectors adding bowling all-rounder Hilton Cartwright to the squad as a precaution while their recovery is assessed.
     The tourists' batting coach, Grant Flower, said the Australians can expect another hard slog on an abrasive drop-in Melbourne Cricket Ground wicket in expected sweltering conditions as Pakistan fight to level the three-match series.
     "The confidence they ..

Momentum with Pakistan against weary Aussie bowlers

Queen Elizabeth II will pay tribute to inspirational unsung heroes in her Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth today.
	The 90-year-old monarch will put the focus on "ordinary people doing extraordinary things", according to the text of her annual message.
	The head of the Commonwealth will urge people to achieve "small things with great love" in the speech, which is an integral part of Christmas Day traditions in Britain, and for millions around the world.
	"I often draw strength from meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things: volunteers, carers, community organisers and good neighbours; unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special," she said, in the pre-recorded message.
	"They are an inspiration to those who know them, and their lives frequently embody a truth expressed by Mother Teresa.
	"She once said: 'Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love'."
	Recalling the Rio 2016 Olympics, Queen Elizabeth was to pay tribute to 

Queen Elizabeth hails unsung heroes in Christmas message

More than 100 skiers have been rescued after being trapped on the slopes of the Italian resort of Cervinia after a lift failed in high winds, authorities announced.
	Adriano Favre, the head of the rescue team in the Aosta Valley, yesterday announced the successful rescue just before midnight. The skiers had been stuck since 1430 GMT (2000 IST).
	"Luckily the wind wasn't too cold... There are no cases of hypothermia, and everything is under control," Favre said.
	The wind had been blowing at up to 150 kilometres an hour and had caused damage to infrastructure on the mountain, he added.
	Around 150 rescuers worked for hours to free the 130 skiers, who were stuck between two points of the lift - between 2,550 metres and 2,800 metres.

130 stranded skiers rescued from Italian resort

US President-elect Donald Trump has said he intends to dissolve his controversial philanthropic foundation to avoid any conflicts of interest with his presidency.
	Trump's sprawling portfolio of US and overseas business interests and holdings, as well as his Donald J Trump Foundation, have come under increased scrutiny in the weeks since his election.
	"The foundation has done enormous good works over the years in contributing millions of dollars to countless worthy groups, including supporting veterans, law enforcement officers and children," Trump said yesterday in a statement announcing the move.
	"However, to avoid even the appearance of any conflict with my role as president I have decided to continue to pursue my strong interest in philanthropy in other ways."
	Trump's transition team said he had directed his counsel to take the necessary steps to close the foundation.
	Trump's private foundation has been at the centres of several controversies, including how much money he has ..

Trump says he intends to dissolve charitable foundation

A terminally ill six-year-old Dutch boy, who hoped to raise a few hundred euros by daring people to paint their nails, has raised more than 2.5 million euros.
	Tijn Kolsteren, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in May, launched the appeal only three days ago, but it fired the imagination of the public. The charity drive ended Saturday and raised over USD 2.6 million.
	"With his nail-painting dare he wanted to help children suffering from pneumonia," the Dutch public newscaster NOS reported.
	"It was an enormous success -- from DJ Armin van Buuren to Prime Minister Mark Rutte and many other famous celebrities had their nails painted," it said.
	"Paint your nails, make a donation and then challenge three of your friends to do the same," dared the donation page, which invited participants to share their pictures on social media using the hashtag #lakaan (meaning "the polish is on").
	The appeal is part of a traditional event in The Netherlands where radio DJs lock themselves away for ...

Sick Dutch boy's nail-varnish dare nets over 2.5 mn euros

A blast ripped through a police car outside a Catholic church in the southern Philippines late today, authorities said, wounding 12 people including a police officer.
	The explosion hit churchgoers arriving for a Christmas Eve mass at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Nino in Midsayap town, about 900 kilometres south of Manila, police said.
	Authorities did not immediately say who was responsible for the blast, which a police report said was caused by an unspecified explosive.
	"All victims suffered minor injuries except for one female civilian who was seriously injured (on) her foot," regional police spokesman Superintendent Romeo Galgo said in a written report.
	The town is resides in the middle of the large Philippine island of Mindanao, home to a Muslim minority and decades of armed rebellion.
	However the main Muslim guerrilla group in the area has signed a ceasefire with the Philippine government.
	Government forces continue to fight smaller Muslim armed groups on the island, ...

12 hurt in Christmas Eve blast near Philippine church

German police said today they had released two brothers suspected of planning an attack on one of the country's biggest shopping centres, citing a lack of evidence.
	The two men, aged 28 and 31 and originally from Kosovo, were arrested yesterday as Germany was on high alert following a jihadist attack on a Berlin Christmas market earlier in the week.
	But police in the western city of Essen said in a statement that "despite careful investigation" the allegations against the pair could not be substantiated.
	Police had acted on a tip-off from intelligence services that claimed the duo was planning to target the CentrO mall in the nearby city of Oberhausen.
	"After it was established today that there were no relevant criminal findings against the two persons and there was no concrete danger, they were released from police custody this afternoon," the statement said.
	The arrest of the brothers made headlines around the world, coming just four days after 12 people were killed and dozens .

Germany releases brothers suspected of mall attack plot

Pilgrims gathered in Bethlehem today for Christmas Eve as Europeans worked up some holiday spirit despite tight security in the shadow of the Berlin market attack.
	Dozens of Palestinians and tourists flocked to Bethlehem's Manger Square near the Church of the Nativity, where celebrations will culminate with a midnight mass at the site where Christians believe Jesus was born.
	Some snapped selfies near the square's giant Christmas tree and watched the annual Scouts parade in the city, a short drive from Jerusalem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
	"This is Christ's land, the land of peace," said Ramzi Abu Khalil, who was wearing a red Santa hat.
	"We take pride in him. All Christians should come today to Bethlehem. This is a holy day for us and a day of pilgrimage."
	Violence put a damper on celebrations in Bethlehem last year, as a wave of knife, gun and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians targeted Israelis and reduced sharply the number of Christmas visitors.
	The unrest has ...

Pilgrims in Bethlehem, fears in Europe on Christmas Eve

Germany today searched for possible accomplices of the suspected Berlin truck attacker who was gunned down by Italian police, as Tunisia announced the arrest of three men linked to the jihadist.
	One of those detained was the nephew of the Tunisian-born attack suspect Anis Amri, the country's interior ministry said.
	The three men, aged between 18 and 27, were arrested yesterday and were members of a "terrorist cell... Connected to the terrorist Anis Amri"," it said in a statement.
	It made no direct link between the trio and the attack on Monday, when Amri is believed to have hijacked a truck and used it to mow down holiday revellers at a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people.
	The 24-year-old then went on the run and was the focus of a frantic four-day manhunt, before being shot dead by police in Milan after opening fire first.
	The Berlin rampage was claimed by the Islamic State group, which released a video Friday in which Amri is shown pledging allegiance to IS chief Abu ...

Germany hunts possible accomplices of Berlin suspect

Egypt has arrested a journalist with the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera broadcaster, police officials said today, in the latest move against the network it accuses of supporting Islamist opposition.
	Egyptian Mahmoud Hussein was arrested at his home yesterday, days after he returned to his country on vacation, the officials and Al-Jazeera said.
	He had been stopped and interrogated in Cairo airport when he arrived on Tuesday but was set free before police raided his house.
	Al-Jazeera denounced the arrest in a Facebook post.
	Egypt had provoked international condemnation after arresting three Al-Jazeera journalists, including a Canadian and an Australian, in 2013 and sentencing them to jail.
	They were later freed and left the country.
	A prosecution official said Hussein is accused of incitement to violence and publishing false news and belonging to the banned Muslim Brotherhood movement.
	The accusations are similar to those levelled against the three journalists who had been arrested in ...

Egypt arrests Jazeera journalist

Two people were killed today in a blast at an ammunitions warehouse formerly used by rebels in the battered Syrian city of Aleppo, state media reported.
	State news agency SANA said the explosion took place at a school that had been transformed into "an ammunitions and explosive devices warehouse left behind by terrorist groups in the Sukkari neighbourhood".
	Citing a police source, it said another 33 people were wounded in the blast, four of them critically, but did not specify whether they were civilians or government troops.
	The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group also reported two killed in the Sukkari warehouse, but said the blast took place as army troops were dismantling explosives.
	The Britain-based monitor said one other person was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated in a home in the Ansari district.
	Since declaring Aleppo fully under its control on Thursday, Syria's army has been sweeping through former rebel neighbourhoods in search of ..

2 dead in blast at Aleppo ammo store: Syrian state media

Saudi Arabia plans to sell up to 49 per cent of its oil giant Saudi Aramco within 10 years as the world's largest crude exporter tries to lower its deficit, local media said today.
	The Al-Eqtisadiah daily quoted an unnamed official as saying the sale would raise funds to be spent "at home and abroad" in what is expected to form the world's largest state investment fund.
	The kingdom is looking to diversify its oil-dependent economy and has already announced cutbacks after its 2015 deficit snowballed to USD 97 billion (93 billion euros).
	The IPO for state-owned Aramco could take place in 2018 and an initial sale of a five percent share is expected to form the basis for the fund holding around USD 2 trillion in assets.
	The firm will next year begin publishing quarterly results in a bid to attract potential investors, Aramco chief Amin Nasser has said.
	Riyadh earlier this month agreed to slash its oil production beyond cuts agreed among OPEC members, giving crude prices a lift. They .

Saudi to sell 49% of Aramco within decade: report

Tunisia arrested the nephew of the suspected Berlin truck attacker and two other jihadist suspects who are "connected" to the assailant Anis Amri, the interior ministry said today.
	A statement said that the three suspects were members of a "terrorist cell... Connected to the terrorist Anis Amri who carried out the terrorist attack in Berlin". They were arrested yesterday.

Tunisia arrests nephew, 2 others linked to Berlin suspect

Burundi's parliament has passed a law imposing strict controls on international non-governmental organisations after President Pierre Nkurunziza accused such groups of backing an insurrection against him.
	Nkurunziza had announced the bill just after his disputed re-election in July 2015, when his crisis-hit government accused various international groups of using their funding to support the opposition.
	The new law, which places tight controls on NGOs' finances, passed yesterday with an overwhelming majority of 105 votes with only one vote against the measure, parliamentary speaker Pascal Nyabenda said.
	The law will force international charities and rights groups to keep their accounts in foreign currency at the central bank, with a third of their annual budget to be placed there before the government agrees to cooperate with them.
	It also imposes new administration fees on such groups, which must file reports every six months on their activities or face sanctions.
	Burundi's ...

Burundi passes law cracking down on foreign NGOs

One person was killed and dozens injured when a bus carrying 46 people rolled down a bank in New Zealand today, police said.
	The bus was 30 kilometres from the popular holiday resort town of Gisborne, on the east coast of the North Island, when it crashed through a barrier and down a bank at about 10.30 pm (local time) on Christmas Eve.
	Police said one person was confirmed dead, several were airlifted to hospitals with various injuries and 36 were taken by ambulance to Gisborne for further assessment.
	They said it would be several hours before they would be able to release details on whether any of the passengers were foreign tourists.

AFP

AFP

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