North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has opened a flagship construction project close to Mount Paektu, a symbol of the Korean nation and the supposed birthplace of his father and predecessor, state media reported Tuesday.
The North has poured huge resources into the rebuilding of Samjiyon, the closest town to the dormant volcano that straddles the border with China.
The project is on a vast scale and includes a museum of revolutionary activities, a winter sports training complex, processing plants for blueberries and potatoes, and 10,000 apartments.
Kim is closely associated with the scheme and has visited the area several times, reportedly riding a white horse to the mountain's summit in October.
Kim had "worked heart and soul to turn Samjiyon County, the sacred place of the revolution, into the utopia town under socialism", the North's official KCNA news agency said.
The North is subject to multiple sets of international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes 

North Korea's Kim opens huge mountain development

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A powerful typhoon was blowing across the Philippines on Tuesday after slamming ashore overnight in an eastern province, damaging houses and an airport and knocking out power after tens of thousands of people fled for safer ground.
Typhoon Kammuri blew into Gubat town in Sorsogon province before midnight then barreled westward through Quezon province Tuesday morning, ripping off roofs, knocking out power and flooding low-lying villages.
It had maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers (96 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 235 kph (146 miles) as it headed toward a cluster of island provinces and coastal regions lying south of Manila.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
Kammuri's pounding rain and wind damaged the airport in Legazpi city in Albay province, collapsing a portion of its ceiling, scattering chairs at the arrival and departure areas and shattering glass panes. Parts of the city were flooded, according to local news reports.
Manila's international airport .

Powerful typhoon rips off roofs, floods parts of Philippines

Pakistan's former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was admitted to a hospital on Monday in Dubai after he developed "heart- and blood pressure-related" complications, according to media reports.
The 76-year-old former president, who is living in Dubai in self-exile, was admitted to the Dubai American Hospital on a stretcher, citing "emergency treatment requirement" which was later confirmed by sources in his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) party, Dawn News reported.
"He has some serious health issues and lately had been complaining of some pain in the chest, and anxiety," said the party's spokesman.
"The doctors visited him at his place of stay and recommended immediate admission to avoid any further complications. The former president has undergone a few tests which will help determine the state of his health," he said.
Dr Muhammad Amjad, Musharraf's close aide and the ex-chairperson of the APML, said that the former president was rapidly becoming weaker due to an .

Musharraf admitted to hospital in Dubai: reports

A 27-year-old Indian-origin man has been convicted for conspiring to distribute an opioid pain medication outside the usual course of professional practice and without any legal medical purpose.
Anmol Singh Kamra of Philadelphia, a pharmacy technician conspired with George Fisher, a physician, and Frank Brown, both charged separately, to illegally distribute thousands of oxycodone pills to people suffering from addiction.
From about December 2012 through about March 2016, Kamra, Fisher, and Brown carried out a scheme to turn the pharmacy into a pill mill in which Kamra knowingly filled fake oxycodone prescriptions written by Fisher in sham patient names, and gave the oxycodone pills to Brown to sell in street level drug deals, United States Attorney William McSwain said.
Kamra would sell drugs without a prescription and then ask Fisher to backdate a fake prescription in an attempt to cover the tracks. At trial, Kamra testified that this backdating of prescriptions was a mere ...

Indian-origin employee at pharmacy convicted in illegal opioid scheme

Golf legend Tiger Woods defeated fellow American Jordan Spieth to win the inaugural Hero Shot event, an ideal warm-up ahead of the high-profile Hero World Challenge here.
Woods defeated Spieth in the championship round by a score of 1,800-900 on Monday.
The 43-year-old defeated a star-studded field featuring Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Henrik Stenson and Gary Woodland.
The players took their best shots at a bulls eye 130 yards away, hitting shots over reflections pool at Baha Mar.
The first round of the Hero Shot featured three head-to-head match-ups -- Rahm vs Stenson, Woodland vs Spieth and DeChambeau vs Woods -- with each player taking six shots at the target.
Stenson advanced by a score of 1,200-1100, while Spieth won his match-up by a playoff score of 200-100, Woods earned a 900-700 victory.
In the second round, Stenson, Spieth and Woods each took another six shots with the highest two second round scores advancing to the championship. Spieth and Woods moved on, posting .

Woods defeats Spieth to win inaugural Hero Shot event

Charlie Austin's 90th-minute penalty sent West Brom back to the Championship summit with a 1-0 win at Preston.
Austin converted from the spot on Monday to secure the Baggies a fifth successive victory and move them back above Leeds.
Slaven Bilic's side looked set to rue a number of missed opportunities in the first half as they struggled to break through a resilient Preston defence.
But Austin's spot-kick moves them two points clear of Leeds, while Preston slipped to a third successive defeat.
"I'm an experienced cool head and I know what I'm doing," Austin told Sky Sports.
"I had a look at the 'keeper and sent him the wrong way.
"We've got great youngsters, we're top of the league and it's an exciting future for us."
The visitors were much the better side in the first half and Bilic would have been frustrated his side failed to lead at the break.
Preston were vastly improved in the second period and created a flurry of chances just after the hour mark while West Brom increasingly ...

Austin powers West Brom to top of Championship

The World Anti-Doping Agency has said that it had moved next week's crucial Executive Committee meeting from Paris to Lausanne because of fears of disruption caused by strike action in the French capital.
WADA confirmed the venue switch to Switzerland in a brief statement on Monday.
"WADA has taken the decision to relocate (the meeting) to Lausanne due to likely disruptions and uncertainty caused by imminent general strike action in Paris," WADA said.
The December 9 meeting is expected to see WADA chiefs approve a recommendation by the body's Compliance Review Committee concerning Russia.
The WADA compliance panel has called for Russia to be banned from sporting competitions for four years after accusing Moscow of falsifying laboratory data handed over to investigators earlier this year.
Under the proposed sanctions, Russian athletes would still be allowed to compete at the Olympics next year but only if they can demonstrate that they were not part of the Russian system.
Full ...

WADA moves crucial ExCo meeting to Lausanne from Paris

Cagliari continued their surprising start to the Serie A season on Monday, with Alberto Cerri scoring in the dying seconds to beat struggling Sampdoria 4-3.
The two teams put on a show to bring down the curtain on the 14th round of the Serie A season.
The Sardinian outfit showed all their strength of character after trailing 3-1 at home with a quarter of an hour to play to rescue three points and return to fourth in the table.  Fabio Quagliarella opened the scoring for Sampdoria with a penalty.
Gaston Ramirez doubled the lead shortly after half time. Radja Nainggolan replied for the home team before Quagliarella restored the two-goal edge with a spectacular 70th minute goal.
Two volleyed goals in two minutes from Joao Pedro brought Cagliari level. In the fifth minute of added time, Cerri sent a powerful header into the top corner to snatch an unexpected and precious victory.
Rolando Maran's side are ahead of Roma on goal difference and two points behind third-placed Lazio.
Sampdoria ..

Cagliari beat Sampdoria to stay in Serie A top four

Pep Guardiola says he will not be splashing out in January to revive Manchester City's flagging Premier League title fortunes despite the yawning gap to leaders Liverpool.
The champions, in third place and trailing Jurgen Klopp's men by 11 points after 14 matches, visit Burnley on Tuesday.
City have gone seven games without a clean sheet, which Guardiola said was not "good enough" and the club have been linked with Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu.
But he played down the idea of buying a centre-back when the transfer window re-opens next month.
Instead he will keep his faith in Fernandinho and await the return of Aymeric Laporte after a lengthy absence with a knee injury.
Asked if City's transfer strategy had changed, Guardiola said: "No. I don't want any players in January.
"If we cannot do it in summer, we cannot do in January. When they come for an incredible opportunity in January for the next four, five, six years, maybe we could think about it, but that is not ...

Guardiola rules out Man City January spree

Virgil van Dijk said that seeing four Liverpool players finish in the top 10 in the ranking for this year's Ballon d'Or can be an extra source of motivation for the Anfield club in their quest for more on-field success this season.
"Obviously the season we had was outstanding. We had even more players than that on the total shortlist so everyone can be proud of the achievement," said Van Dijk after coming second behind Lionel Messi at the awards ceremony in Paris on Monday.
Sadio Mane finished fourth, Mohamed Salah was fifth, and goalkeeper Alisson Becker came seventh in the voting by journalists from around the world for the prize organised by France Football magazine.
Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijanldum had also been nominated after starring as Jurgen Klopp's side won the Champions League last season.
In addition, Alisson won the new Yashin Trophy awarded to the best goalkeeper of the year.
"I think we could have even have had a couple more players in it, 

Ballon d'Or showing can spur Liverpool to more success, says Van Dijk

Australia heavily hinted Tuesday they will field the same XI for their opening Test against New Zealand to the one that thrashed Pakistan, with selectors keen to build a core group of players.
Tim Paine's men have proven to far more consistent in recent months, having retained the Ashes in England before a 2-0 series sweep against Pakistan, culminating in their thumping innings and 48-run win in Adelaide on Monday.
Tough opposition awaits with the arrival this month of New Zealand for three Tests -- in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney -- and selectors named an unchanged 13-man squad.
"As we said prior to the Pakistan series we are striving to maintain a core group of players," said national selector Trevor Hohns.
"The performance of the team against Pakistan was very impressive across all areas." The only omission from the squad was spare batsman Cameron Bancroft, who was on standby but did not play against Pakistan.
That means the same batting line-up will start against New Zealand in ...

Australia stick to winning formula for New Zealand

New Zealand police were on Tuesday asked to investigate racial abuse directed at England cricketer Jofra Archer during last week's first Test, following information supplied by New Zealand Cricket officials.
NZC chief executive David White said they lodged a complaint with police after studying CCTV footage, listening to audio, interviewing spectators and obtaining material on social media.
Archer complained of being racially abused during the first Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui last week.
In a message on social media he said it was "disturbing hearing racial insults today whilst battling to help save my team, the crowd was been amazing this week except for that one guy."
White said the information gathered by NZC did not conclusively identify the person responsible but there was enough evidence to bring the police into the investigation.
"What happened to Jofra was reprehensible and has led to a general upscaling of security around the area of racial abuse at all our ...

New Zealand police investigate racist abuse of England's Archer

Centuries from Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor ensured New Zealand drew the rain-hit second Test against England in Hamilton on Tuesday, sealing a 1-0 series win.
The weather turned sour soon after lunch on the fifth day when New Zealand, having taken advantage of some sloppy fielding, were 241 for two in their second innings, 140 ahead with Taylor on 105 and Williamson on 104.
With the weather denying England a second turn at bat, it ensured New Zealand's series win after their innings victory in the first Test, and improved their record to eight wins, a draw and one loss (to South Africa) in their past 10 series.
Williamson brought up his 21st Test century with a four off Joe Root in the third over after lunch, while Taylor reached century number 19 with a flourish in Root's next over when he smacked a four and two sixes in consecutive balls.
Two balls after Taylor had raised his bat and poked his tongue out in his signature celebration, the rain arrived to wash out England's faint .

Williamson, Taylor tons help New Zealand draw Test, win England series

Lionel Messi said he hoped to carry on undimmed by age after claiming a record sixth men's Ballon d'Or award at the age of 32 in Paris on Monday, while USA World Cup superstar Megan Rapinoe took the women's prize.
Rapinoe was not at the Chatelet Theatre in the French capital, unable to make the trip back to the country where she led the USA to victory in July.
However, Messi was there with his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, and two of their children. It is Messi's first Ballon d'Or since 2015 and his sixth overall as he moves one ahead of old rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
"It is 10 years since I won my first Ballon d'Or here in Paris and I remember coming here with my three brothers, I was 22 and it was all unthinkable for me what I was going through," Messi said on stage after receiving the award from last year's winner Luka Modric.
"I hope I have several years left to keep enjoying my football. I am aware of the age I have and these moments are all the more enjoyable because the moment when I 

Messi wins sixth Ballon d'Or as Rapinoe takes women's prize

Chile launched a massive USD 5.5 billion stimulus package on Monday after data showed its economy contracted 3.4 per cent in October - the largest year-on-year drop in a decade - amid widespread social unrest.
The package unveiled by Finance Minister Ignacio Briones includes boosting 2020 public spending by USD 3.03 billion, to support small, medium and large businesses.  Another USD 525 million are earmarked for other initiatives like the renovation of the metro system in Santiago, which has sustained serious damage since protests erupted on October 18.
"Estimates show that this agenda will generate 100,000 new jobs next year," Briones said.
But the measures will mean a real increase in public spending next year of 9.8 percent as compared to 2019, pushing the fiscal deficit up to 4.4 per cent of gross domestic product.
"Like any Chilean household that faces unforeseen trouble, we will turn to our savings and our borrowing capacity, while remaining aware that both have limits that ...

Chile unveils $5.5 bn stimulus plan as economy shrinks

NATO leaders gather Tuesday for a summit to mark the alliance's 70th anniversary but with leaders feuding and name-calling over money and strategy, the mood is far from festive.
The 29 allies will descend on London ready to lock horns over spending and how to deal with Russia in a major test of unity as NATO seeks to assert its relevance.
US President Donald Trump arrived in London keen to see evidence of European countries boosting their military spending, after repeatedly lambasting them for what he considers freeloading on America for their defence.
NATO officials hope a managed series of spending announcements by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last week will appease Trump, who turned the 2018 summit on its head with furious rants at European partners.
Stoltenberg pointed out on Friday that by next year, non-US allies will have increased their defence spending by USD 130 billion since 2016.
En route, Trump boasted that he had convinced European allies to boost their defence ...

Squabbles overshadow NATO 70th anniversary summit

A blast in the centre of Indonesia's capital that injured two military personnel was caused by a smoke grenade, police said Tuesday, ruling out an attack.
"We're now investigating why the smoke grenade was there," Jakarta police chief Gatot Edy told reporters, adding that the two injured had been rushed to hospital.  "One of them was wounded on the hand and the other was injured on the leg," he added.  Responding to questions, Gatot said there was no indication of an attack.

Jakarta explosion caused by smoke grenade: police

NASA's Moon-orbiting spacecraft has found the debris of Chandrayaan 2's lander Vikram on the surface of the Moon, the US space agency confirmed on Tuesday, nearly three months after India's ambitious mission made a hard landing near the uncharted lunar south pole.
On September 7, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) attempted a soft landing of Vikram on the Moon. However, ISRO lost contact with Vikram shortly before the scheduled touchdown.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Camera team released the first mosaic, acquired on September 17, of the site on September 26.
Indian Engineer Shanmuga Subramanian contacted NASA's project after which, the US space agency confirmed the identification of debris by comparing before and after images.
"After receiving this tip, the LROC team confirmed the identification by comparing before and after images. When the images for the first mosaic were acquired the impact point was poorly illuminated and thus not easily identifiable," NASA said .

NASA finds debris of Chandrayaan 2's Vikram lander on Moon

A bipartisan group of two dozen influential Senators have expressed concern over the Chinese Corporate Social Credit System and urged the US Trade Representatives to prioritise research and analysis into it to ascertain the impact of such a system on American workers, companies, and investors.
In a letter to US Trade Representatives, Robert Lighthizer, the Senators worried that many of the criteria envisioned under the Corporate SCS could be used to coerce the onshoring of research and development by US companies within China's borders.
They are also worried that it would require technology transfer or otherwise make it easier for Chinese interests to steal American intellectual property, and coerce American corporate support to China's industrial and foreign policies.
Authored by Senators Rob Portman, Chris Coons, Mike Braun, Michael Bennet, and 21 others, the letter said while the Corporate SCS is still in development, the skeleton of the system is coming online and is already ...

US lawmakers seek analysis of Chinese Corporate Social Credit System

The Colombian government has said that it is prepared to meet with leaders of the anti-government protest movement but asked they cancel a national demonstration scheduled for Wednesday.
The protests, which are entering their 12th consecutive day, have drawn anywhere from hundreds to several thousand people who often bang pots and pans as they demand right-wing president Ivan Duque change his policies.
"We are ready to meet with them this afternoon or tomorrow to discuss" their complaints, Diego Molano, a senior official in Duque's government appointed to lead the government's negotiations, told reporters on Monday.
The National Strike Committee -- which groups unions, students, university lecturers and indigenous groups -- had in an open letter called on Friday for an "inclusive, democratic and effective dialogue," while also vowing to continue protesting Duque's announcement of a "national dialogue" earlier last week.
Molano asked protest leaders to cancel plans for a December 4 ...

Colombia government 'ready to meet' with protest leaders

Former US president Jimmy Carter has been hospitalized for treatment of a urinary tract infection, the Carter Center said-- the latest in a series of health issues for the 95-year-old Democrat.
Carter "was admitted to Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, this past weekend," his center said in a statement.
"He is feeling better and looks forward to returning home soon." Last week, Carter -- the first US president to reach the age of 95 -- left the hospital after undergoing successful surgery to relieve pressure on his brain caused by multiple falls.
In August 2015, Carter revealed he had cancer on his brain and was undergoing radiation treatment -- an illness he recovered from, seemingly against the odds.
In office from 1977 to 1981, Carter placed a commitment to human rights and social justice at the core of his presidency, and founded the Carter Center in 1982 after he left office to pursue his vision of world diplomacy.

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