At least 11 people died and seven were injured on Sunday when a car and a van carrying tourists crashed on a highway in Mexico's southern Chiapas state, local prosecutors said.
"Eleven people were killed and seven more were injured," the prosecutor's office said in a statement, adding an investigation had been opened into the accident's cause.
According to reports from local authorities, the victims included tourists traveling in the van to San Cristobal de las Casas, one of the most visited cities in Chiapas state.
During the Christmas and New Year's holiday season, traffic is heavier on Mexico's roads and accidents occur more frequently.

Tourists among 11 dead in southern Mexico road accident

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This year was the hottest ever registered in Russia, the country's weather chief said on Monday, as climate change pushes global temperatures to record highs.
"This year in Russia was the hottest for the entire period of instrumental observations," or nearly 130 years, the head of the Gidromedtsentr weather service, Roman Vilfand, told Russian news agencies.

2019 was hottest year on record for Russia: weather chief

South African cricket captain Faf du Plessis believes cricket needs more, not fewer, elite nations.
Speaking after South Africa's 107-run win in the first Test against England on Sunday, Du Plessis was asked his opinion about plans for an annual 'Super Series' of one-day games, involving the so-called 'Big Three' of India, Australia and England, with one other country to be invited on a revolving basis.
"The last year or so you can see what's going on in terms of the big three countries," he said.
"There's a lot of movement going towards that, a lot more matches being played against the top three, or big three. It's probably better if you include more teams, the better to grow the game as much as you can."
Du Plessis pointed out that there was inequality of fixtures, especially in Test cricket, with new Test nations such as Ireland and Afghanistan struggling to get fixtures.
"There's a lot of smaller nations not playing a lot of Test cricket, they're actually playing less," he said.

Du Plessis criticises 'big three' move

During a playing career of 147 Test matches, Mark Boucher had a reputation as a fighter, always prepared to take on a challenge.
It's a character trait which looks likely to continue in his new career as South Africa's head coach.
It was a "great feeling" to be in a winning Proteas dressing room after the first Test against England on Sunday, seven years after his playing career ended prematurely with a freak eye injury ahead of a Test series in England in 2012.
"Just watching the guys walk in, there were a couple with lumps in their throats. It means a lot for them to win a game of Test cricket," he said.
But it was only a beginning.
"There's still a lot of work to be done for the rest of the series."
Boucher gave two indicators of his coaching philosophy when he discussed wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, in both cases stressing a preference for taking the fight to the opposition.
De Kock's first innings of 95 turned the match in South Africa's ...

South Africa coach Boucher remains a fighter

Opening batsman Dominic Sibley has become the latest victim of illness in the England camp.
A team spokesman said on Monday that 11 members of the playing squad, as well as six support staff, had been ill at some stage since England arrived in South Africa earlier this month.
Chris Woakes and Jack Leach, who were unavailable for the first Test which ended in Centurion yesterday, are out of quarantine, however, and the entire touring party will travel to Cape Town on Tuesday.
The second Test starts in Cape Town on Friday.

Sibley latest England illness victim

Iran said Monday that the United States has shown its "support for terrorism" by carrying out air strikes on forces in Iraq that have dealt blows against the Islamic State group.
The Pentagon said on Sunday that it targeted an Iran-linked militant group in western Iraq and eastern Syria in response to a barrage of rockets that killed a US civilian contractor two days earlier.
"These attacks have once again proved America's false claims in fighting Daesh... as the United States has targeted the positions of forces that over the years have inflicted heavy blows to Daesh terrorists," Iran's government spokesman Abbas Mousavi said, referring to IS.
"With these attacks, America has shown its firm support for terrorism and its neglect for the independence and sovereignty of countries and it must accept consequences for its illegal act," he said in a statement.
The spokesman said the presence of foreign forces in the region was the cause of insecurity and tensions.
"America must put an end ..

Iran says US strikes on Iraq show its 'support for terrorism'

The death toll from a massive car bomb in the Somali capital has risen to 81, a government spokesman said Monday, as rescue workers pursued their search for the missing.
The bombing Saturday at a busy intersection in Mogadishu was the country's deadliest attack in two years.
No one has claimed responsibility, though President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed blamed Islamist group Al-Shabaab, which has regularly carried out car bombings and other attacks as part of its decade-long bid to topple the internationally-backed government.
"The overall number of the dead stands at 81 currently. Two more people died from their injuries," Ismail Muktar, a spokesman for Somalia's information ministry, told AFP Monday.
One of the new fatalities was among the injured who had been evacuated to Turkey via a Turkish military plane on Sunday, Muktar said.
Muktar said the death toll could climb further as rescue operations entered a third day.
Around two dozen people were listed as missing after the attack, ..

Death toll in Somalia bombing climbs to 81: Govt

Turkey has arrested 100 suspected members of the Islamic State group (IS) in raids across the country, state news agency Anadolu reported on Monday.
More than 40 Iraqis, around 20 Syrians and a Moroccan were among those detained across six provinces in recent days, including Ankara, Bursa and Batman, Anadolu said.
Turkey has stepped up raids on IS militants in recent months and pushed to repatriate them to their countries of origin.
It announced 20 arrests in Istanbul last week.
Turkey was accused of allowing foreign jihadists to pass easily across its border in the early years of the Syrian conflict.
But it took a much tougher response after a spate of IS attacks in 2015 and 2016 that decimated its tourism industry, culminating in a massacre at an Istanbul nightclub celebrating the 2017 New Year in which 39 people died.

Turkey arrests 100 IS suspects

A Nepalese worker was killed Monday after he fell into a meat-mincing machine in Malaysia's Malacca state, an official confirmed.
The Malacca fire department's Zulkhairani Ramli told AFP the 47-year-old man was working at a meat-processing factory near Masjid Tanah when the incident occurred.
"The victim was doing maintenance with three other workers when suddenly the machine was turned on," he said.
"The machine caught him at his waist. Because of his injuries, he died on the spot." Zulkhairani said authorities took about 30 minutes to extricate the man's body from the machine and that officials were still investigating the matter.
Malaysia hosts nearly two million registered foreign workers, who flock to the Southeast Asian nation in search of better work prospects and higher pay than in their native countries.
State news agency Bernama reported that there are around 360,000 Nepalese workers in Malaysia, with most of them doing security, construction and hospitality jobs.
Last year .

Nepalese worker dies in Malaysia meat machine accident

The Taliban Monday denied agreeing to any ceasefire in Afghanistan after rumours swirled of a potential deal that would see a reduction in fighting after more than 18 years of war.
"In the past few days, some media have been releasing untrue reports about a ceasefire... The fact is that, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has no ceasefire plans," the Taliban said in a statement.

Taliban say have 'no ceasefire plans' in Afghanistan

A court in Cyprus on Monday found a British woman guilty of falsely claiming she was gang-raped by a group of Israeli tourists in the resort of Ayia Napa.
Sentencing was adjourned until January 7. The woman, who was 19 at the time of the incident in July, could face up to one year in prison and a fine of around 1,700 euros.

Cyprus court finds British woman guilty of false rape claim

Turkey arrested 70 suspected members of the Islamic State group in raids across the country on Monday, state news agency Anadolu reported.
A total of 33 people were arrested in Ankara province -- almost all of them Iraqi -- while the others were held in Batman, Kayseri and Adana provinces.
Turkey has stepped up raids on IS militants in recent months, and pushed to repatriate them to their countries of origin.
It announced 20 arrests in Istanbul last week.
Turkey suffered a spate of IS attacks in 2015 and 2016, culminating in a massacre at an Istanbul nightclub celebrating the 2017 New Year in which 39 people died.

Turkey arrests 70 IS suspects

A French tourist was seriously injured after being attacked by a shark while swimming in the Seychelles, a popular tourist destination, the French ambassador said Monday.
The attack on the 45-year-old woman took place Sunday night off the island of Praslin, the second-largest in the picturesque archipelago famed for its pristine beaches.  The victim was injured in one arm and was transported to a hospital.
"She underwent an operation last night and her life is not in danger," Ambassador Dominique Mas told AFP.
The attack comes during the high tourist season for the Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands located off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean.
Such incidents are rare in the Seychelles, though two tourists -- one French and one British -- were killed in shark attacks off Praslin in August 2011.
Officials said Praslin's relatively cool waters could attract sharks during breeding.
The Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration (SMSA) cordoned off the area where ...

French tourist injured in Seychelles shark attack

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for "offensive measures" to strengthen security ahead of a New Year speech that could flesh out the nuclear-armed nation's threat to seek a "new way" forward after the expiration of its year-end deadline for US sanctions relief.
Kim's latest comments, made during a meeting of top ruling party officials in Pyongyang, came amid concerns that the North could formally close down dialogue with Washington and resume nuclear and long-range missile tests.
Addressing the officials, Kim stressed the need "to take positive and offensive measures for fully ensuring the sovereignty and security of the country," the state news agency KCNA reported Monday.
Nuclear talks between the North and the US have been largely stalled since the collapse of a February summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi.
Pyongyang has been demanding the easing of international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while Washington is 

All eyes on 'new way' in Kim Jong Un's New Year speech

Australian tennis great Margaret Court has again condemned transgender athletes, while claiming the devil controlled the media and government, in fiery comments just weeks before she is honoured at the Australian Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam singles winner, now a church pastor, drew fire in 2017 for saying she would avoid Qantas over the airline's support for same-sex marriage, which is now law in Australia following a referendum.
She later claimed, in comments that were widely derided, that tennis was "full of lesbians" and that transgender children were the result of a Nazi-style "plot" to brainwash the minds of young people.
The 77-year-old doubled down on her controversial views regarding sexuality during a sermon at her Perth church at the weekend, which came to light on Monday.
"Children are making the decision at seven or eight years of age to change their sex ... no, just read the first two chapters of Genesis, that's all I say. Male and female," Court said in a video of the ..

Tennis champion Margaret Court hits out at transgender athletes

Japanese star Kei Nishikori pulled out of the inaugural ATP Cup Monday as he continues to struggle with an elbow injury that has kept him out since the US Open.
The former world number four, who has slipped to 13, said he was disappointed not to be representing his country in Perth at the team event starting on January 3.
"Today, together with my team, we have made this decision as I am still not 100 percent ready to compete at the highest level," he said in a statement.
Nishikori's elbow needed surgery in October and it is unclear whether he will be fit for the Australian Open when the first Grand Slam of the year begins at Melbourne Park on January 20.
Yoshihito Nishioka will replace him as the top-ranked player in Japan's ATP Cup team.
Yasutaka Uchiyama also withdrew from the event earlier this week, with Toshihide Matsui taking his place.
Nishikori's absence is another blow for the event after Britain's Andy Murray pulled out over the weekend with a pelvic injury and Roger Federer 

Japan's Nishikori pulls out of new ATP Cup

Australia's Nathan Lyon on Monday shot down a suggestion from Shane Warne that he take a rest for the Sydney Test against New Zealand this week so leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson can make his debut.
Tim Paine's team have already won the three-match series against the Black Caps after crushing them by 247 runs in Melbourne on Sunday, following their comprehensive win in Perth.
Cricket great Warne has championed Swepson and over the weekend flagged the idea of axing Lyon if selectors opt for one spinner in Sydney.
"Just giving Mitchell Swepson a taste of it, giving him a chance, I reckon it will pay dividends in the long run," Warne said.
But Lyon, who took four wickets on Sunday to wrap up late New Zealand second innings resistance, said there was no way he would be standing aside.
"Did Warnie ever want a rest and give Stuart MacGill a go?" he asked, noting the lack of opportunity given to Warne's leg-spin rival at the height of their careers.
"I won't be resting. I haven't met any ...

Lyon shoots down Warne call to take a rest for Sydney

China on Monday jailed the leader of an unofficial Protestant church for nine years for "incitement to subvert state power".
Pastor Wang Yi, whose Early Rain Covenant Church was the target of a government crackdown last year, was also found guilty of "illegal business operation" by a court in southwest China's Chengdu, according to an announcement on an official court website.

China jails Protestant pastor for 9 years for 'inciting' subversion

Tourists and firefighters were forced to flee vast fires burning in southeastern Australia on Monday, as a heatwave rekindled devastating bush blazes across the country.
Authorities said "quite a number" of the 30,000 tourists visiting the usually picturesque southeast tip of the continent had heeded calls to evacuate.
More than a dozen blazes are raging in the East Gippsland countryside, some so intensely that hundreds of firefighters were pulled back beyond a firefront estimated to stretch 1,000 kilometres (600 miles).
It was deemed "unsafe" for them to remain in bushland areas, Gippsland fire incident controller Ben Rankin said.
It is the latest emergency in Australia's devastating summer fire season, which has been turbocharged by a prolonged drought and climate change.
Ten people have been killed, more than 1,000 homes destroyed and more than three million hectares (7.4 million acres) -- an area bigger than Belgium -- have been scorched.
Conditions worsened on Friday with high ...

Tourists, firefighters flee as new heatwave fans Australia blazes

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned top ruling party officials of the "grave situation" facing the nuclear-armed state's economy and called for urgent corrective measures.
His comments, reported Monday by state media, came on the second day of a key party meeting held ahead of a year-end deadline for Washington to shift its stance on stalled nuclear talks with Pyongyang.
Kim, who chaired the meeting, said the time had come to bring about a "decisive turn" in the North's economic development.
He presented the assembled officials with "tasks for urgently correcting the grave situation of the major industrial sectors of the national economy," the official KCNA news agency reported.
The North does not publish economic statistics of its own, leaving outside estimates as the only available figures for its financial performance.
In July, the South Korean central bank estimated that the North's sanctions-hit economy had shrunk  by 4.1 per cent in 2018 - the largest contractions since ..

North Korea's Kim warns of 'grave' economic challenge

A rom-com about a lesbian flight attendant and a romance in a gay spa are among the shows featured on Asia's first LGBT-focused streaming service, which is pushing boundaries in an often highly conservative region.
GagaOOLala brings more than 1,000 feature films, shorts, web series, and documentaries to people across Asia, where censorship and traditional attitudes mean there has been little in the way of gay content in the mainstream media.
After launching in 2017 in Taiwan, a beacon for gay rights since becoming the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, it has expanded to 21 territories including several that still criminalise homosexuality.
"One of the main impetuses for me to create GagaOOlala, (is) to kind of dispel a lot of the myths and misconceptions that a lot of people might have about LGBT people," said Jay Lin, a prominent LGBT rights activist in Taiwan who founded the platform.
"We're not all living really tragic lives -- we're entrepreneurs, we're fathers," .

AFP

AFP

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