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Palisade, Los Angeles fire out of control, 30,000 residents evacuated

Diplomat Times
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Palisade, Los Angeles fire out of control, 30,000 residents evacuated

Los Angeles, USA — A fire in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles forced the evacuation of 30,000 people Tuesday as flames spread out of control, driven by strong winds that are hitting the region.

The rapid advance of the flames threatens some 10,000 homes and some 13,000 structures while some 30,000 have had to be evacuated from their homes, Kristin Crowley, head of the Los Angeles Fire Department, said at a press conference.

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The fire, which started at about 10:30am local time (18:30 GMT) in the Pacific Palisade neighborhood in the north of the metropolis, grew to 1,200 acres (485 hectares) in a matter of hours, the fire department reported in its latest bulletin.

Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the Pacific Palisades area due to the strong gusts of wind expected in the next 24 hours.

Smoke Fills the Sky Over Southern California

“Wind gusts of up to 60mph (more than 90 kmph) are expected to continue through Thursday, which could help fuel fire activity,” it added.

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Local media show dramatic images of smoke blanketing the sky, visible from Santa Monica and surrounding areas, as rescue teams race to secure the neighborhood.

Celebrity Residents in Harm’s Way

Pacific Palisades, home to several Hollywood celebrities, has become the latest hotspot in California’s ongoing battle with wildfires.

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Weather Service Issues Critical Fire Warnings

The National Weather Service cautioned Monday that a severe windstorm would hit Southern California, with Los Angeles and Ventura counties being most affected.
“Strong winds and low humidity will create critical and extremely critical fire weather conditions through Thursday,” the agency warned on its website.

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A seaplane crashes near an Australian Tourist island, leaving 3 people dead and 3 others injured

Diplomat Times
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A seaplane crashes near an Australian Tourist island, leaving 3 people dead and 3 others injured

Melbourne, Australia — A seaplane crashed during takeoff from an Australian tourist island, killing three people, including Swiss and Danish tourists, and injuring three others, according to The Washington Post.

The crash occurred Tuesday afternoon on Rottnest Island, also known by its Indigenous name Wadjemup, as the Cessna 208 Caravan was returning to its base in Perth, 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of the island. Police reported that only one of the seven people aboard escaped without injury.

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The victims included a 65-year-old Swiss woman, a 60-year-old Danish man, and the 34-year-old male pilot from Perth, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook confirmed.

The survivors included the partners of the deceased tourists, a 63-year-old Swiss man and a 58-year-old Danish woman. Additionally, a Western Australian couple, a 65-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man, also survived.

The seaplane, owned by Swan River Seaplanes, was on a scenic flight when the tragedy struck, leaving authorities to investigate the cause of the fatal crash.

It is not clear which passenger was uninjured. Western Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch said no survivor sustained life-threatening injuries.

The three injured people were flown to a Perth hospital.

Cook said the cause of the crash was not yet known. Reports that the plane had struck a rock at the entrance of a bay on the west side of the island could not be confirmed from video viewed so far, Cook said.

Rottnest Island is renowned for its sandy beaches and cat-sized hopping marsupials called quokkas which are rare on the Australian mainland. The island’s tourist accommodation is fully booked during the current Southern Hemisphere summer months.

“Every Western Australian knows that Rottnest is our premier tourism destination,” Cook told reporters.

“For something so tragic to happen in front of so many people, at a place that provides so much joy, especially at this time of the year, is deeply upsetting,” Cook added.

Blanch said police divers had recovered the bodies on Tuesday night from a depth of 8 meters (26 feet). Wreckage of the plane was still being recovered.

Greg Quin, a tourist who was vacationing on Rottnest, said he saw the plane crash.

“We were watching the seaplane take off and just as it was beginning to get off the water, it just tipped over and it crashed,” Quin told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio in Perth.

“A lot of people in the water on their boats rushed to the scene and I think got there really, really quickly,” he added.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the crash as “terrible news.”

“The pictures would have been seen by all Australians as they woke up this morning,” Albanese told ABC television. “My heart goes out to all those involved.”

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Venezuelan Opposition Leader Claims Son-in-Law Kidnapped in Caracas

Diplomat Times
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Venezuelan Opposition Leader Claims Son-in-Law Kidnapped in Caracas

CARACAS, Venezuela — Self-exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia has canceled the remainder of his U.S. agenda following the kidnapping of his son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, in Caracas on Tuesday.

In a statement, González said, “This morning, my son-in-law Rafael Tudares was kidnapped. Rafael was on his way to my grandchildren’s school to drop them off for the start of classes when he was intercepted by hooded men dressed in black, who put him in a gold van with the number AA54E2C and took him away. He is still missing.”

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The incident occurred in Venezuela’s capital despite heightened security ahead of President Nicolás Maduro’s swearing-in ceremony on Friday. It remains unclear whether the kidnapping is linked to state security forces, a routine arrest, or a politically motivated abduction, as González has suggested.

González, who was scheduled to meet with Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and other U.S. lawmakers in Washington, D.C., opted to cancel his plans in light of the developments.

Political Tensions and Forced Disappearance Allegations
The Unitary Platform opposition coalition, which González represents, condemned the abduction as a “forced disappearance for political reasons.” In a statement, the coalition called for the immediate release of Tudares and other political prisoners, accusing Maduro’s government of silencing dissent through intimidation and repression.

González, who claims to have defeated Maduro in last year’s presidential election, fled to Spain in September after an arrest warrant was issued in connection with an election-related investigation. Despite his exile, he has vowed to return to Venezuela and take the presidential oath.

International Diplomacy Disrupted
González had been on a diplomatic tour across the Americas to rally support against Maduro’s government. On Monday, he met with U.S. President Joe Biden and incoming National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. His canceled meeting with Senator Durbin and other lawmakers highlights the gravity of the situation.

Uncertain Path Forward
Recognized by several nations, including the United States, as Venezuela’s president-elect, González continues to face challenges in countering Maduro’s stronghold over the government. The ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela controls key institutions, complicating opposition efforts to challenge the regime.

The abduction of Tudares adds to the growing tensions in Venezuela, raising concerns about political violence and human rights violations in the lead-up to Maduro’s inauguration.

Sources close to the Venezuelan politician told EFE NEWS that the delegation will travel to Panama on Wednesday “to continue the tour” of the Americas to gather international support for the inauguration on Jan.

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Venezuela, Paraguay break relations over Pena’s support for opposition

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Venezuela, Paraguay break relations over Pena’s support for opposition

President Santiago Peña officially acknowledges Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election

Caracas, Venezuela — Venezuela broke off diplomatic relations with Paraguay on Monday, with Paraguay expelling Venezuela’s diplomats in the country in return, a day after Paraguayan President Santiago Pena expressed support for Venezuela’s opposition.

Pena on Sunday spoke with Venezuela’s opposition leaders and called Edmundo Gonzalez, who is in exile, the winner of Venezuela’s presidential elections last year.

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The opposition has published detailed vote tallies showing Gonzalez’s win, but President Nicolas Maduro was declared winner by the electoral authority and the nation’s top court without presenting such evidence.

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña has expressed his support for Edmundo González Urrutia, recognizing him as the winner of Venezuela’s presidential elections held in July 2024.

In a phone call, Peña discussed the political situation in Venezuela with González Urrutia and opposition leader María Corina Machado. “Today, I had a conversation with Edmundo González Urrutia, the winner of Venezuela’s presidential elections, and with María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader to the Nicolás Maduro regime. We analyzed the situation in Venezuela and agreed on the importance of channeling the democratic process in the country,” Peña stated.

Despite these claims, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) announced that Maduro had secured a third consecutive term with 51.2% of the vote, compared to González Urrutia’s 44.2%. The opposition, however, alleges they won with 67% of the vote.

Following the disputed elections, the Venezuelan government withdrew its diplomatic staff from seven Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay.

Before his meeting with Pena, Gonzalez Urrutia visited Argentina on Jan. 4, where he met with President Javier Milei. He was also in Uruguay, which reaffirmed its support for Gonzalez Urrutia as president of Venezuela.

Gonzalez Urrutia then traveled to the US, where he spoke with President Joe Biden.

“Today I hosted Venezuela’s President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez, a man whose campaign inspired millions and one who should be taking the oath of office in four days,” Biden wrote on his X account.

The Venezuelan opposition leader plans to visit Panama and the Dominican Republic as part of a regional tour.

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Tibet earthquake kills at least 126 people and leaves many trapped

Diplomat Times
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Tibet earthquake kills at least 126 people and leaves many trapped

Thimphu/Beijing/ Kathmandu — A strong earthquake shook a high-altitude region of western China and areas of Nepal on Tuesday, damaging hundreds of houses, littering streets with rubble and killing at least 126 people in Tibet. Many others were trapped as dozens of aftershocks shook the remote region.

Rescue workers climbed mounds of broken bricks, some using ladders in heavily damaged villages, as they searched for survivors. Videos posted by China’s Ministry of Emergency Management showed two people being carried on stretchers by workers treading over the debris from collapsed homes.

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At least 188 people were injured in Tibet on the Chinese side of the border, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

More than 1,000 homes were damaged in the barren and sparsely populated region, state broadcaster CCTV reported. In video posted by the broadcaster, building debris littered streets and crushed cars.

A strong earthquake strikes Tibet in northwest China

The China Earthquake Networks Centre located the epicentre at Tingri county, known as the northern gateway to the Everest region, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).

The U.S. Geological Service put the quake’s magnitude at 7.1. It struck at 9:05 a.m. (0105 GMT).
At least 126 people were known to have been killed and 188 injured on the Tibetan side, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

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At least nine miners are trapped inside a coal mine in Assam, a state in northeastern India

Dhiman Bhattacharjee
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At least nine miners are trapped inside a coal mine in Assam, a state in northeastern India

Guwahati, India (AP) — At least nine workers are trapped inside a flooded coal mine in India’s northeastern Assam state, officials said Tuesday, as authorities summoned the army to help in the rescue operation.

The miners became trapped on Monday morning in the Umrangso area in Dima Hasao district, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south of the state capital, Guwahati.

RELATED NEWS : Tibet earthquake kills at least 126 people and leaves many trapped

The workers are “feared trapped 300 feet below the ground after water gushed in from a nearby unused mine. We are mobilizing resources to rescue them,” said Kaushik Rai, a local government minister who is monitoring the rescue efforts.

Army soldiers and a national disaster management team at the site used ropes and cranes to assist the ongoing operation.

Rescuers found three helmets, some slippers and a few other items, Rai said. “The divers have been able to dive into 35 or 40 feet of water inside the mine. The water level now is estimated at 100 feet,” he said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on the social media platform X that the mine appeared to be illegal and that police had arrested one person as they investigate the case.

Workers at the site reported that more than a dozen miners were trapped inside the coal mine, which lacks proper safety measures. Some miners managed to escape as water from a nearby unused mine began flooding the area.

In the eastern and northeastern regions of India, workers extract coal under hazardous conditions in small “rat hole” mines. These narrow pits, typically designed for one person, are common in hilly areas. Coal is usually lifted to the surface in boxes using pulleys, and in some cases, miners carry the coal in baskets up wooden slats along the mine’s walls.

Accidents in illegal mines are frequent, as many workers depend on the illicit sale of coal for their livelihoods. In 2019, at least 15 miners lost their lives after becoming trapped in a similar mine in Meghalaya state.

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Thailand Sets New Tourism Record with Over 35.5 Million International Visitors in 2024

Roshan Bilung
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Thailand Sets New Tourism Record with Over 35.5 Million International Visitors in 2024

Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand has achieved a historic milestone in its tourism sector, welcoming over 35.5 million international visitors in 2024. This record-breaking figure surpasses the government’s expectations and reflects the country’s efforts to revitalize its economy.

The tourism industry, a cornerstone of Thailand’s economy, accounts for nearly 20 percent of the nation’s GDP. In recent years, it faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting traveler preferences. However, the surge in visitor numbers indicates a robust recovery and renewed global interest in Thailand as a top travel destination.

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Officials credited the achievement to strategic marketing campaigns, improved infrastructure, and a diverse range of tourist offerings catering to international travelers. This success underscores Thailand’s position as one of the world’s leading tourism hubs.

China has regained its status as Thailand’s top source of tourists, rebounding from a post-pandemic decline, with over 6 million visitors in 2024. Malaysia and India followed as the second and third-largest sources of international travelers.

Known for its pristine beaches and iconic temples, Thailand generated over 1.6 trillion baht (approximately US$46 billion) in tourist spending last year, according to Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong.

To boost tourism, the Thai government, under former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, introduced measures such as a free visa program for Chinese and Indian visitors.

Having surpassed its 2024 target of 35 million tourists, the government has now set an ambitious goal of welcoming 39 million international visitors in 2025.

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Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau Officially Resigns

Shasi Kumar
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Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau Officially Resigns

Speculation began after the opposition party in Canada withdrew its support for Trudeau in September 2024

Ottawa, Canada — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has officially announced his resignation, bringing an end to his tenure at the helm of the country’s government.
The announcement was made today in a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, confirming that Trudeau will step down after serving as the leader of Canada for several terms.

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Trudeau, who first assumed office in 2015, led the Liberal Party through multiple elections, securing re-election in 2019 and 2021. His leadership has been marked by significant policy shifts on climate change, social justice, and international relations.
He serve 9 year as a Prime Minister of Canada. However, his tenure has also faced challenges, including controversies and declining public approval in recent years.

In his statement, Trudeau expressed pride in his work and gratitude to the Canadian people, thanking his colleagues and supporters for their trust and partnership throughout his time in office. “It has been an honor to serve as Prime Minister, and I am confident the future of Canada is bright,” Trudeau said.

“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well being of democracy is something that I hold dear,” said Trudeau, who was initially teary-eyed at the announcement outside his official residence.

He said Parliament, which had been due to resume Jan. 27, would be suspended until March 24. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race.

Trudeau’s resignation opens the door for a new leader to take charge of the Liberal Party and lead Canada into the next phase of its political future. Speculation about his successor is already underway, as both domestic and international observers await the next steps in Canadian politics.

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Indonesia Joins BRICS as a Full Member, Welcomed by China

Shasi Kumar
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Indonesia Joins BRICS as a Full Member, Welcomed by China

Beijing, China — Indonesia has officially become a full member of BRICS, the economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, China’s Foreign Ministry announced.

In a statement, China warmly congratulated Indonesia on its entry into BRICS, highlighting the country’s significant role as a major developing nation and an influential force in the Global South.

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“Indonesia’s official entry into BRICS serves the common interests of BRICS countries and the Global South,” the ministry said, emphasizing the country’s active participation in “BRICS Plus” cooperation and alignment with the bloc’s values and goals.

China expressed confidence in Indonesia’s ability to contribute meaningfully to BRICS’ development and strengthen its collaborative efforts in addressing global challenges.

BRICS is a key platform for promoting solidarity and cooperation within the Global South and plays a major role in driving reforms to the global governance system. The member countries are steadfast in their commitment to multilateralism, fairness, justice, and common development. Indonesia’s addition to BRICS follows the historic trend of the collective rise of the Global South.

China also stated that it is ready to work closely with Indonesia and other BRICS members to build a more comprehensive, inclusive, and practical partnership. The goal is to advance high-quality development in BRICS cooperation and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

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Guo Jiakun Named as New Spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry

Andy Sengiah
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Guo Jiakun Named as New Spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry

Beijing, China — Guo Jiakun, the 35th Foreign Ministry spokesperson, made his debut at Monday’s daily news conference.

Guo, 44, has been working in the Foreign Ministry for 23 years and is experienced in both diplomacy and communication.

“I will try my best to timely and accurately explain China’s foreign policy and practices of Chinese modernization,” Guo told journalists.

He said he expects to work with journalists to present an accurate, multidimensional and panoramic image of China to the world.

The Foreign Ministry introduced the system of spokespersons in 1983, making it the first government department in China to start such a practice. It is also the only government department that holds routine news briefings on every working day.

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