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Super Typhoon Man-yi fells power lines, causes tidal surges in Philippines
Super Typhoon Man-yi has uprooted trees, bringing down power lines and triggering tidal surges as it threatens to make its second landfall on the northeastern Philippine coast – the sixth major storm to hit the country in less than a month.
As of 3:20 pm (07:20 GMT) on Sunday, Man-yi made its second landfall in the northern province of Aurora.
Ahead of the the landfall, it had maximum sustained winds of up to 185km/h (115mph), according to the national weather agency PAGASA. Its gustiness slightly eased from last night’s 255km/h (158mph) to 230km/h (143mph) on Sunday afternoon.
Images posted on social media by various Philippine TV outlets on Sunday showed large waves lashing the coast of Aurora amid howling winds and heavy rain. PAGASA also continued to warn of a “potentially dangerous and life-threatening” situation as Man-yi moves closer to land.
Man-yi is the 16th typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2024.
As of Sunday afternoon, there were no immediate reports of casualties from the typhoon, but it left Catanduanes with no power after it knocked down trees and electricity posts.
[Aljazeera]
At least 13 people, including four children, have been killed in two incidents in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing distributed at annual Christmas events, police say.
In the capital, Abuja, at least 10 people died on Saturday and many more were injured in a scramble to receive gifts of charity being distributed by the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama district.
“This unfortunate event, which took place around 6:30am [05:30 GMT], resulted in a stampede that claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including four children, and left eight others with varying degrees of injuries,” said Josephine Adeh, a police spokesperson.
In a separate incident in Okija in Anambra State in southern Nigeria, three people were killed in a crush at a charity event organised by a philanthropist, state police said.
“The event had not even started when the rush began,” police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as officers investigate, he said.
In both incidents, the victims were mostly women and children who were trampled as crowds tried to reach the provisions being offered.
[Aljazeera]
A military court in Pakistan has convicted 25 people for their role in violent protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the country’s armed forces has said.
The court said it handed down sentences of between two to 10 years’ imprisonment in connection with attacks on military facilities last year.
Protests erupted nationwide in May 2023 after security forces arrested Khan during his appearance at the High Court on charges of corruption – allegations that he called politically motivated.
Thousands of Khan’s supporters stormed government buildings and military installations and the government responded with a crackdown on his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
At least 1,400 protesters were arrested last year, police said, but only about 100 of the people detained have faced military trials.
The army said full justice will only be served when the masterminds behind the protests are punished.
A Supreme Court ruling last year provisionally allowed military courts to try civilian suspects.
“All sentences announced by the military courts are disproportionate and excessive,” a spokesman for the PTI party said, adding that “these sentences are rejected”.
Amnesty International has said that trying civilians in military courts is “contrary to international law” and adds that it is “purely an intimidation tactic, designed to crack down on dissent”.
Pakistan’s army has heavily influenced the nuclear-armed country for most of its existence and is a crucial behind-the-scenes player.
[BBC]
Bangladesh Under 19s led by Sumaiya Akter will take on India Under 19s led by Niki Prasad in the Women’s Under 19 Asia Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on Sunday [22].
India Women Under 19s having beaten Nepal Women Under 19s in the group stage beat Sri Lanka Women Under 19s and Bangladesh Women Under 19s in the Super Four round to enter the final while Bangladesh Women Under 19s having beaten Sri Lanka Women Under 19s in the group stage beat beat Nepal Women Under19s in the Super Four round to enter the final
EC to hand over list of errant candidates to police for prosecution
Police launch programme to check roadworthiness of buses
Myanmar refugee boat crew remanded
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