Skip to main content

Record-breaking heat wave grips western United States

A record early heat wave striking the western United States on Friday is a one-in-500-year event and almost certainly the result of human-caused climate change, experts say. The heat has been toppling records this week and is set to continue into the weekend across western cities while expanding eastward. Four locations in the desert area near the California-Arizona border registered 44.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, a US national record for March. The readings were recorded near Yuma and Martinez Lake in Arizona, and around Winterhaven and Ogilby in California. Read: Intense heatwave grips US, triggering record-breaking temperatures Already, 65 cities have recorded new March highs, ranging from Arizona and California to Idaho, Weather.com reported. Death Valley reached 40°C on Thursday, while typically cool and foggy San Francisco tied its historic March record at 29°C. In Colorado, skiers were seen hitting the slopes shirtless. The National Weather Service issued extreme heat warni...
Post a Comment

Far-right Turkish politician Ümit Özdağ arrested

Turkish authorities arrested the leader of the far-right Victory Party (Zafer Party), Ümit Özdağ, on charges of inciting violence and hatred through a series of anti-refugee posts on social media, the party confirmed on Tuesday. Özdağ, 63, who has been an outspoken critic of Turkey’s refugee policies and is known for his calls to repatriate millions of Syrian refugees, was detained by police. His arrest was part of an investigation into allegations that he insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a speech delivered a day earlier. However, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s office released Özdağ from custody on the charges of insulting the president but subsequently ordered his arrest on charges of "inciting hatred and hostility among the public," the party said. Prosecutors presented 11 of Özdağ's posts on the social media platform X as evidence against him. The prosecutor’s office also held him responsible for anti-Syrian refugee rioting that occurred in the central Turkish province of Kayseri last year, during which hundreds of homes and businesses were attacked. The unrest was allegedly fueled by Özdağ’s inflammatory statements regarding refugees. Özdağ’s arrest has sparked controversy, with many accusing the government of politically motivated actions. Ekrem İmamoğlu, the popular mayor of Istanbul, criticized Özdağ’s arrest, claiming that it was an example of “political meddling in the judiciary.” İmamoğlu, who is a member of Turkey’s main opposition party, faces a potential two-year ban from politics if his own conviction for insulting electoral board members is upheld in an appeals court. Following the arrest, Özdağ was transferred to Silivri prison on the outskirts of Istanbul. In his absence, Mehmet Ali Sehirlioglu, the party's spokesman, will temporarily assume leadership of the Victory Party. Özdağ’s anti-immigrant rhetoric has drawn significant attention in recent months, especially in the context of rising tensions over Syria's refugee population in Turkey, which has long hosted millions of Syrians fleeing the civil war. His calls for the repatriation of refugees have struck a chord with nationalist segments of the Turkish population, but his political activities have also led to significant division within the country. The far-right leader's arrest comes at a time of heightened political tensions as Turkey approaches national elections, with President Erdoğan's government facing increased opposition both from domestic critics and international observers.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/novOwKS
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...
Post a Comment
Read more

US, Philippines kick off joint military drills in South China Sea with 16,000 troops

Some 16,000 US and Philippine troops kicked off the annual joint military drills on Monday in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), local media reported. WPS is the official designation by Philippines to the parts of the South China Sea that are included in the country's exclusive economic zone. The 19-day exercises, dubbed "Balikatan 2024," will involve around 5,000 Philippine and 11,000 US troops, making it the largest joint military drills between the two allies conducted in decades, local English daily Manila Times reported citing the military. A total of 14 nations, including Japan and India, will take part in the drills as observers amid mounting maritime tensions in the South China Sea. Contingents from the Australian Defence Force and the French Navy will also join the exercise as participants. Read also: China urges US to stop using Philippines as a pawn to destabilise South China Sea France will join the group sail but will only navigate on the edge of the Philippine E...
Post a Comment
Read more

Indian devotees splurge on jets, gold idols as Hindu temple opens

The private jet parking lots at airports near the Indian city of Ayodhya are full and the shops have run out of gold-plated idols, as wealthy devotees prepare for the invite-only opening ceremony of one of Hinduism's holiest temples. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani are among the 8,000 or so attendees at Monday's inauguration event for the Ram Temple, which devotees believe is built on the birthplace of Lord Ram, a sacred Hindu deity. The construction of the temple, which began after the Supreme Court awarded the site to Hindus in 2019 more than two decades after a Hindu mob razed a mosque there, triggering deadly riots, fulfils a key campaign promise of Modi and his Hindu nationalist party. Read BJP-promised temple transforms Ayodhya: Muslims, locals feel neglected The opening ceremony, organised by the trust that built the temple, comes months before a national election which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is widely expected to w...
Post a Comment
Read more