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Ukrainian strikes disrupt power and heating to 2 major cities in Russia

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Ukrainian strikes disrupt power and heating to 2 major cities in Russia

Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukrainian strikes disrupted power and heating to two major Russian cities near the Ukrainian border, local Russian officials reported Sunday.

The report comes as Russia and Ukraine have traded almost daily assaults on each other’s energy infrastructure and U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to stop the nearly four-year war have not advanced.

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Elsewhere, Ukraine’s top diplomat accused Moscow of deliberately endangering nuclear safety, as he said Russia’s mass drone and missile attack on Friday struck substations that power two nuclear power plants.

And in Russia, the Kremlin spokesman said Moscow intended to honor its obligations under a global nuclear test ban, despite a recent order by President Vladimir Putin to study the possibility of resuming atomic tests.

Power knocked out in two Russian cities

A drone strike temporarily caused blackouts and cut heating to parts of Voronezh, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said. He said several drones were electronically jammed during the night over the city, home to just over 1 million people, sparking a fire at a local utility facility that was quickly extinguished.

Russian and Ukrainian news channels on Telegram claimed the strike targeted a local thermal power plant.

A missile strike late on Saturday also caused “serious damage” to power and heating systems supplying the city of Belgorod, with some 20,000 households affected, local Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported the following morning.

Russia’s defense ministry said Sunday that its forces destroyed or intercepted 44 Ukrainian drones during the night that flew over the Bryansk and Rostov regions in southwestern Russia. The statement made no mention of either the Voronezh or Belgorod provinces, nor did it specify how many drones Ukraine launched.

Local authorities in the Rostov region on Sunday reported on hourslong blackouts in the city of Taganrog, home to some 240,000 people, blaming them on an emergency shutdown of a power line. They did not specify the cause, though local media claimed a nearby transformer substation caught fire.

Months of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries have aimed to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it needs to pursue the war. Meanwhile, Kyiv and its western allies say Russia is trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing” the biting cold.

Strikes endanger power supply to nuclear plants

Russia’s mass drone and missile strikes Friday hit power substations that supply two of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

“Russia once again targeted substations that power the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear power plants,” Sybiha said in a statement on X late Saturday. “These were not accidental but well-planned strikes. Russia is deliberately endangering nuclear safety in Europe.”

Sybiha called for an urgent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors to respond to the risks posed by the attacks.

Moscow’s massive attacks on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure last winter have heightened scrutiny over the Ukrainian Energy Ministry’s apparent failure to protect the country’s most critical energy facilities near nuclear power sites, according to several current and former officials who spoke to the AP.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday that work has begun on President Vladimir Putin’s order to prepare plans for a possible Russian nuclear test, according to state news agency Tass.

Putin’s order on Wednesday followed statements by Trump, which appeared to suggest that Washington would restart its own atomic tests for the first time in three decades.

Kremlin says Russia will abide by nuclear ban

Russia will abide by its obligations under a global nuclear ban, the Kremlin spokesman said Sunday, following days of uncertainty over remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that appeared to suggest Washington might restart atomic tests after more than three decades.

Trump’s comments came after Russia announced it had tested a new atomic-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone and a new nuclear-powered cruise missile. But Moscow did not announce any tests of its nuclear weapons, which last occurred in 1990.

“Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is committed to its obligation to end nuclear tests, and that we have no intention” of conducting them, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Earlier this week, Putin ordered officials to study the possibility of resuming nuclear testing, though Russia said it would not do so unless the U.S. did so first.

Russia’s Lavrov says he’s ready to meet Rubio

Elsewhere, Russia’s top diplomat said Sunday that he was ready to meet U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to discuss the war in Ukraine and mending bilateral ties.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio and I understand the need for regular communication,” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russia’s Ria state agency, weeks after efforts to organise a summit between the Russian and U.S. leaders were put on ice.

Lavrov on Sunday repeated that peace can’t be achieved without “taking Russian interests into account,” a phrase Moscow has used to signal it is standing firm in its maximalist demands for Ukraine.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Powerful tornado in Brazil kills 6 people and injures hundreds more

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Powerful tornado in Brazil kills 6 people and injures hundreds more

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil — A powerful tornado in Brazil’s southern state of Parana killed six people and injured hundreds Friday night, state officials said Saturday. Dozens of homes were destroyed.

The tornado, which hit speeds of more than 250 kph (155 mph), prompted the government to declare an emergency in the affected region.

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State officials in a statement said at least one person was missing hours after the tornado touched down. Five of the killed were adults and the sixth was a 14-year-old girl.

The government said that more than 750 people, including children and pregnant women, had received medical attention. Of those, at least 10 underwent surgery and nine remained in serious condition.

The tornado downed trees, overturned vehicles and lifted the roofs of several structures.

Gov. Carlos Massa Ratinho Jr. declared three days of mourning in the state of Parana to honor the dead. Five of the victims were from the municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu and one was from Guarapuava.

On social media, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with the victims. Members of his Cabinet announced the dispatching of emergency assistance to the area.

Officials said that food, hygiene products, tarps, mattresses and several other items will be available to victims.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

After 800 flight disruptions in Delhi, GPS spoofing raises serious questions about India’s air traffic safety

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After 800 flight disruptions in Delhi, GPS spoofing raises serious questions about India’s air traffic safety

New Delhi, India — Chaos unfolded at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Friday, 7 November 2025, as a series of GPS spoofing incidents and a technical malfunction in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system disrupted over 800 flights, causing widespread delays across India’s airspace and sparking renewed concerns about aviation cybersecurity.

According to a Times of India report, Delhi’s ATC network was hit by multiple GPS spoofing attacks over the past several days, which manipulated satellite navigation data and fed false location signals to aircraft systems.

What is GPS spoofing?

Cybersecurity firm McAfee defines GPS spoofing as a technique where false GPS signals are transmitted to deceive navigation systems, making them believe they are in a different location. The manipulation can cause severe miscommunication between aircraft and ground systems, potentially endangering flight operations.

“This form of cyberattack undermines the reliability of GPS data, which is critical for navigation, time synchronization, and airspace coordination,” McAfee notes. Experts warn that the growing availability of advanced signal transmitters and spoofing software has made such attacks more frequent and harder to detect.

Delhi’s flight disruption

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the technical glitch was resolved by Friday evening, but clearing the operational backlog is expected to take time. Adverse eastern wind patterns worsened the disruption, forcing aircraft to change runway approaches — landing from the Dwarka side and taking off from Vasant Kunj — creating additional congestion over the national capital.

A senior government official told The Hindu that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the spoofing incidents and their link to the large-scale system failure. Some flights reportedly received false navigation data and terrain warnings, raising serious questions about the resilience of India’s ATC infrastructure.

A wake-up call for India’s aviation systems

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, in an August 2025 report, had already urged the government to carry out a time-bound modernization of ATC automation systems, warning that outdated technology could expose critical aviation networks to cyber threats.

Aviation analysts say the Delhi incident underscores the urgent need for a cybersecurity overhaul in India’s aviation sector, as GPS-based systems become increasingly central to flight operations.

“This is no longer a technical glitch — it’s a national security concern,” said a senior aviation safety expert. “If spoofing can disrupt flight paths over the country’s busiest airport, the implications for airspace safety are enormous.”

As investigations continue, the DGCA and AAI are reviewing contingency protocols and exploring enhanced anti-spoofing systems to protect India’s aviation network from future cyber interference.

With over 800 flights delayed or diverted, Friday’s disruption has become one of the largest air traffic breakdowns in India’s history — and a stark reminder of how vulnerable modern aviation has become in the digital age.

SOURCE : MINT |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Israel returns bodies of 15 Palestinians after militants return remains of an Israeli hostage

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Israel returns bodies of 15 Palestinians after militants return remains of an Israeli hostage

Khan Younis, Gaza Strip — Israel on Saturday returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, hospital officials in the strip said, a day after militants returned the remains of a hostage to Israel under the terms of the tenuous ceasefire agreement in the two-year war.

The exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous, U.S.-brokered truce. As part of the deal, Israel has returned the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage.

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The Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis said the 15 bodies were brought there.

The return came shortly after Israel confirmed the remains given back Friday night were of an Israeli man who died while fighting Hamas in the militants’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack that started the war. The hostage body was identified as that of Lior Rudaeff, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s office.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Rudaeff was born in Argentina and moved to Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, a farming community in southern Israel, as a child. He volunteered for more than 40 years as an ambulance driver and was a member of the community’s emergency response team.

The forum said he was killed in the Hamas-led attack and that his body was taken to Gaza.

Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 23 hostages, including Rudaeff’s body, with five still remaining in Gaza.

Including the remains returned on Saturday, Israel has handed over the bodies of 300 Palestinians. Health officials in Gaza have struggled to identify the bodies without access to DNA kits, and have so far identified 89 of the bodies, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Under the terms of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Israel is supposed to allow substantially more aid into Gaza.

However, relief efforts under the pact still fall well short of what is needed in Gaza, according to Farhan Haqq, deputy spokesperson for the United Nations. More than 200,000 metric tons in aid is positioned to move into Gaza, but only 37,000 tons, mostly food, have been admitted, he said.

The 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s sweeping military offensive has killed more than 68,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Myanmar Junta Demolishes Nearly 150 Buildings in Crackdown on Border Scam Hub, India Begins Repatriating Its Citizens

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Myanmar Junta Demolishes Nearly 150 Buildings in Crackdown on Border Scam Hub, India Begins Repatriating Its Citizens

YANGON / BANGKOK / NEW DELHI — Myanmar’s military government said Sunday it has demolished nearly 150 buildings at a notorious internet scam complex near the Thai border, while India began repatriating hundreds of its nationals who fled the same area after a major raid on the compound last month.

According to the junta’s state-run newspaper, The Global New Light of Myanmar, the demolition drive at the KK Park complex uncovered 148 structures, including dormitories, a four-story hospital, a gym, a spa, and a two-story karaoke lounge. Officials said 101 buildings have already been torn down, and work on the remaining 47 is underway.

The demolition follows a mid-October military raid at KK Park, located near the border town of Myawaddy, one of Southeast Asia’s most infamous cybercrime hubs. The compound housed thousands of workers — many of them trafficked from across Asia — who were forced to operate online scams and illegal gambling networks generating billions of dollars annually.

India began repatriating on Thursday the first batch of hundreds of its nationals who fled to Thailand after escaping from the scam center. An Indian Air Force transport aircraft departed from Thailand carrying about 270 of the 465 Indians scheduled for repatriation, with another flight planned later in the day. The remaining evacuees are expected to return to India next Monday, said Maj. Gen. Maitree Chupreecha, commander of Thailand’s Naresuan Task Force, which oversees the border region.

The center, known as KK Park, was raided by Myanmar’s army in mid-October as part of a coordinated effort to suppress cross-border online scams and illegal gambling. The raid prompted more than 1,500 people — including hundreds of Indian nationals — to flee across the border into Thailand seeking safety.

This marks the second major repatriation effort by India in less than a year. In March 2024, New Delhi brought home 549 citizens caught in similar cybercrime operations along the Myanmar-Thai border following a separate crackdown.

Indian officials have been coordinating closely with Thai authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to facilitate safe passage home for the rescued workers. Most of the returnees were young professionals duped with fake job offers and later forced to participate in fraudulent investment and cryptocurrency schemes.

Residents on both sides of the Myanmar–Thailand border reported hearing intermittent explosions since the military demolition began, though AFP was unable to independently verify the junta’s claims.

Analysts say the junta’s actions appear partly performative, aimed at easing international pressure — particularly from China and ASEAN countries — without fully dismantling the profitable scam industry that funds local militias allied with the regime.

“China is growing increasingly impatient with scam centers targeting Chinese citizens,” one regional analyst said. “But a full crackdown could undercut the militias and warlords the junta relies on for survival.”

In February, pressure from Beijing led to the repatriation of some 7,000 scam workers from northern Myanmar, while Thailand imposed a cross-border internet blockade to choke off illegal operations.

Following an AFP investigation revealing that KK Park continued to expand despite “raids,” using Starlink satellite receivers to bypass Thai internet restrictions, SpaceX confirmed it had cut service to over 2,500 terminals linked to suspected scam operations in Myanmar.

The ongoing demolitions and repatriations mark a rare coordinated effort among Myanmar, Thailand, India, and China to combat a regional cybercrime epidemic that has exploited tens of thousands of workers and defrauded victims worldwide.

As repatriation flights continue, Indian officials say they remain committed to rescuing more citizens trapped in similar scam compounds across Southeast Asia — and to ensuring that no one else falls prey to fake overseas job syndicates again.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Typhoon Kalmaegi Kills 66 in the Philippines, Dozens Missing as Floods Swallow Quake-Hit Province

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Typhoon Kalmaegi Kills 66 in the Philippines, Dozens Missing as Floods Swallow Quake-Hit Province

Manila, Philippines — Typhoon Kalmaegi has left at least 66 people dead and 26 others missing after unleashing torrential rains and deadly floods across the central Philippines, disaster officials said Wednesday. The storm struck hardest in Cebu province, a region still reeling from a powerful earthquake just weeks earlier.

Authorities said most of the fatalities were caused by flash floods and landslides triggered by Kalmaegi’s intense downpour. The typhoon flooded entire communities, forcing residents onto rooftops as raging waters swept away cars and homes.

“We did everything we could, but the flash floods came too fast,” Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro told the Associated Press. “There has to be an investigation of the flood control projects here in Cebu and people should be held accountable.”

The province, home to more than 2.4 million people, has been placed under a state of calamity to speed up emergency funding and relief operations.

The Office of Civil Defense reported that at least 49 people drowned in Cebu alone, while others were killed by landslides and falling debris. Thirteen of the 26 missing persons were also from the province.

In a separate tragedy, six Philippine Air Force personnel died when a Super Huey helicopter crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur while en route to deliver humanitarian aid to typhoon-hit areas. All bodies were recovered, though the cause of the crash remains unknown.

Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine Red Cross, said rescuers received a flood of emergency calls from trapped residents in Cebu but were unable to respond immediately due to the strong currents and floating debris. “We had to wait for the floodwaters to subside before we could reach them,” Pang said.

Governor Baricuatro added that years of illegal quarrying and substandard flood control projects worsened the flooding by clogging rivers with silt. The issue has become part of a nationwide corruption scandal involving incomplete or fake flood-control infrastructure, which has sparked growing public anger.

The devastation came as Cebu was still recovering from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30 that killed 79 people and displaced thousands. Many residents displaced by the quake were moved to sturdier shelters before the typhoon’s arrival — a move that officials say helped prevent even greater loss of life.

Kalmaegi made landfall late Tuesday, tearing through the central Philippines with sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (81 mph) and gusts up to 180 kph (112 mph) before moving out to the South China Sea by Wednesday afternoon.

Elsewhere, an elderly man drowned in Southern Leyte, and other fatalities were reported in neighboring provinces after trees and debris crushed homes. More than 387,000 people were evacuated before the storm, while 3,500 passengers were stranded in ports as ferries and fishing boats were grounded. At least 186 domestic flights were canceled nationwide.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson expressed condolences, saying, “The United States stands ready to assist our friends and partners in the Philippines.”

The Philippines, which endures about 20 typhoons each year, remains one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tropical storms are common.

Meanwhile, central Vietnam was bracing for Kalmaegi’s arrival, with authorities ordering evacuations, recalling fishing boats, and preparing shelters as the storm is expected to make landfall Friday morning, bringing more torrential rains and flash floods to the region.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

At Least 11 Dead After Passenger Train Collides With Cargo Train in Central India’s Bilaspur

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At Least 11 Dead After Passenger Train Collides With Cargo Train in Central India’s Bilaspur

Bilaspur, India — A passenger train collided with a stationary cargo train in central India late Tuesday, killing at least 11 people and injuring around 20 others, officials said.

The accident occurred near Bilaspur, about 115 kilometers (70 miles) northeast of Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh state. According to senior government official Sanjay Agarwal, the passenger train struck the rear of the goods train at high speed. One of the passenger coaches was thrust upward and came to rest atop a freight wagon.

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Rescue teams worked through the night, cutting through mangled metal to reach trapped passengers. “After hours of effort, we brought the coach down and recovered three more bodies,” Agarwal told the Associated Press. The rescue operation concluded early Wednesday, and train movement on the affected line has since resumed.

Among the dead was the passenger train’s loco pilot (engine driver), while his co-pilot, a woman, was critically injured and admitted to a private hospital. The remaining victims included passengers in the front coaches, which bore the brunt of the impact.

Around 20 passengers were taken to local hospitals in Bilaspur and Raipur for treatment, officials said.

Indian Railways, the national operator, said an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the collision. It also announced compensation for the families of those killed and injured. Preliminary reports suggest the passenger train may have ignored a signal or there was a communication failure on the line.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed condolences to the victims’ families, saying the state government would assist with relief efforts.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic train accident in Bilaspur. My prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” Sai said in a post on X.

Train collisions and derailments remain a persistent challenge for India’s vast rail network — one of the world’s largest, carrying over 12 million passengers daily across 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) of track. Despite modernization efforts and investments in automated signaling, safety lapses and aging infrastructure continue to cause accidents.

In June 2023, a three-train collision in the eastern state of Odisha killed more than 280 people, marking one of India’s worst railway disasters in decades.

Tuesday’s crash once again highlights the urgent need for upgrades in India’s rail safety systems and stricter monitoring of operational protocols to prevent such tragedies.

SOURCE : AP NEWS & DT |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

New York City voters head to the polls as Andrew Cuomo seeks a political comeback in a fiercely contested mayoral race against Zohran Mamdani

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New York City voters head to the polls as Andrew Cuomo seeks a political comeback in a fiercely contested mayoral race against Zohran Mamdani

Andrew Cuomo Seeks Redemption as New York City Votes in High-Stakes Mayoral Election

New York, US — New Yorkers headed to the polls Tuesday to decide one of the most closely watched and divisive mayoral contests in decades — a race that could redefine the political direction of America’s largest city and mark a dramatic comeback for former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo, running as an independent, is attempting to reclaim political relevance four years after resigning as New York’s governor amid sexual harassment allegations that forced him from office. Once one of the most powerful Democrats in the country, he now faces Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old progressive state lawmaker, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels crime patrol.

If Cuomo wins, it will represent one of the most remarkable political revivals in recent American history — transforming him from a scandal-scarred ex-governor into the mayor of the nation’s most influential city. The former governor has centered his campaign on “restoring competence and safety” to New York City, arguing that rising crime, unaffordable housing, and ideological extremism have left the city “adrift.”

Cuomo has positioned himself as the candidate of moderation, attempting to unite disillusioned Democrats, independents, and Republicans who see him as a pragmatic alternative to Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform. He has received the backing of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who contributed $1.5 million to a super PAC supporting Cuomo, as well as outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, whose late endorsement could help solidify support among Black voters and centrists.

On the eve of the election, former President Donald Trump added unexpected fuel to the race, urging conservative voters to back Cuomo over Mamdani, warning that a Mamdani victory would bring “disaster” to New York City.

Mamdani, who defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary earlier this year, has energized progressives with calls to raise taxes on the wealthy, make public buses free, and expand universal child care. His critics, however, have pointed to his vocal opposition to the NYPD’s tactics and his denunciation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza as “genocidal,” fueling concerns among moderates and Jewish leaders.

For Cuomo, the election represents a battle not just for City Hall but for personal redemption. His campaign has framed him as a steady hand capable of leading New York through economic and social turbulence — a contrast to what he calls Mamdani’s “risky experiment in ideology.”

As New Yorkers cast their ballots, the outcome will determine more than just who governs the city — it will signal whether voters are ready to embrace a bold new progressive vision under Mamdani or restore a familiar, battle-tested figure in Cuomo.

Polls close at 9 p.m. local time, with early voting showing strong turnout across Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Whatever the result, Tuesday’s vote marks a defining moment for both Andrew Cuomo’s political legacy and the future of New York City itself.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Typhoon Kalmaegi Leaves at Least 26 Dead in the Philippines; Floods Trap Residents on Roofs and in Cars

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Typhoon Kalmaegi Leaves at Least 26 Dead in the Philippines; Floods Trap Residents on Roofs and in Cars

Manila, Philippines — Typhoon Kalmaegi has claimed at least 26 lives across the Philippines after torrential rains and fierce winds triggered widespread flooding and destruction as the powerful storm swept across the central region on Tuesday, authorities said.

Floodwaters submerged communities, trapped residents on rooftops, and left cars floating in the streets. Emergency officials said many of the deaths occurred in Cebu and other central provinces hit hardest by the storm, which brought sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (81 mph) and gusts of up to 180 kph (112 mph).

In a separate tragedy, six Philippine Air Force personnel were killed when a Super Huey helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur province while delivering humanitarian aid to typhoon-affected areas. The military confirmed that all bodies were recovered from the crash site near Loreto town.

Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, said officials were still verifying the details of the storm-related fatalities. Among the dead were an elderly man who drowned in floodwaters in Southern Leyte and a resident of Bohol province who died after being struck by a fallen tree.

In Cebu province, one of the hardest-hit regions, Philippine Red Cross Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang said rescuers were overwhelmed by distress calls from residents stranded by the floods. “We have received so many calls from people asking us to rescue them from roofs and from their houses, but it’s impossible,” Pang told the Associated Press. “There are so many debris — you see cars floating — so we have to wait for the flood to subside.”

The storm hit as Cebu was still recovering from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30 that killed at least 79 people and displaced thousands.

In Eastern Samar, where Kalmaegi made landfall around midnight, strong winds tore the roofs off roughly 300 homes in the island community of Homonhon, part of Guiuan town — the same area devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales Kwan said there were no deaths or injuries reported this time, though many houses were damaged. “We’re OK. We’ll make it through,” Kwan said. “We’ve been through worse.”

Before the storm struck, authorities had evacuated more than 387,000 people from low-lying and coastal areas in anticipation of torrential rains, storm surges up to three meters (nearly 10 feet), and destructive winds.

Maritime authorities suspended inter-island ferry operations, stranding over 3,500 passengers and truck drivers in nearly 100 seaports, while at least 186 domestic flights were canceled nationwide due to severe weather.

As of late Tuesday, Kalmaegi was moving westward toward the South China Sea after sweeping across the Visayas and Palawan regions.

The Philippines, located along the Pacific typhoon belt, experiences about 20 storms and typhoons each year, in addition to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions — making it one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Starbucks sells 60% stake in China business in $4 billion deal

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Starbucks sells 60% stake in China business in $4 billion deal

Washington, US – Starbucks said Monday it is forming a joint venture with Chinese investment firm Boyu Capital to operate Starbucks stores in China.

Under the agreement, Boyu will acquire a 60% interest in Starbucks’ retail operations in China, which is valued at $4 billion. Starbucks will retain a 40% interest in the joint venture and will own and license the Starbucks brand.

Starbucks said its business in China will have a total value of more than $13 billion, including the proceeds from the sale of the controlling interest to Boyu, the value of its 40% stake and the value of its royalties.

Starbucks entered China almost 30 years ago, and has been credited with growing coffee culture in the country. China is Starbucks’ second-largest market outside the U.S., with 8,000 locations.

But in recent years, the Seattle coffee giant has struggled in China with cheap, fast-growing Chinese startups like Luckin Coffee. Starbucks’ same-store sales in China have fallen in both of its last two fiscal years.

As a result, Starbucks has been looking for a partner to help it grow its business in China, particularly in smaller cities. In July, Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said the company was evaluating around 20 offers for a stake in the company.

Niccol said Monday that Boyu shares Starbucks’ commitment to providing a great experience for both customers and employees. It will also help Starbucks achieve its goal of growing to 20,000 stores in China over time, Niccol said.

“Boyu’s deep local knowledge and expertise will help accelerate our growth in China, especially as we expand into smaller cities and new regions,” Niccol said in a statement.

Boyu Capital Partner Alex Wong said Starbucks has built a deep connection with Chinese consumers over nearly three decades.

“This partnership reflects our shared belief in the enduring strength of that brand and the opportunity to bring even greater innovation and local relevance to customers across China,” Wong said in a statement.

“Boyu’s deep local knowledge and expertise will help accelerate our growth in China, especially as we expand into smaller cities and new regions,” Niccol said in a statement.

Boyu Capital Partner Alex Wong said Starbucks has built a deep connection with Chinese consumers over nearly three decades.

“This partnership reflects our shared belief in the enduring strength of that brand and the opportunity to bring even greater innovation and local relevance to customers across China,” Wong said in a statement.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

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