A magnitude 7.9 earthquake has struck off the east coast of Papua New Guinea, according to reports.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible.
The centre said tsunami waves were possible in the next three hours along some coasts of not only Papua New Guinea but also Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Nauru, Kosrae and Vanuatu.
New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defence has also issued a warning for all of the country's coast.
Papua New Guinea sits on the Ring of Fire, the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Airport and pilot strikes: Travel fears amid Christmas of discontent
Airport staff, British Airways cabin crew and Virgin Atlantic pilots are among the latest workers set to strike over the festive period.
More than 1,500 check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew at 18 airports who are employed by Swissport and members of the Unite union will strike first, for 48 hours from 23 December.
British Airways cabin crew, also members of Unite, will then strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Both strikes are over pay.
The airports affected by the first strike include Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Stansted, East Midlands and Belfast.
Others affected are Aberdeen, Bristol, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Leeds/Bradford, Luton, Newcastle and Southampton.
BA said it was "appalled" that around 4,500 cabin crew represented by the Unite union would strikeand vowed to ensure passengers reach their destinations.
The airline promised that customers would get to their destination despite the action.
"This calculated and heartless action is completely unnecessary and we are determined that it will fail," a spokesman said.
Speaking to Sky News, Unite's general secretary, Len McCluskey, defended both strikes.
Virgin Atlantic pilots have also voted to take industrial action over union recognition and will work "strictly to contract", also from 23 December.
Their union, the PPU, said 88% of its members had voted in favour on a turnout of 80%.
The action will see a removal of "pilot goodwill", with pilots working strictly to their contract.
"It is possible that this may leave some flights not covered," said a statement from the union.
Virgin Atlantic said it was "disappointed" with the action but that it expected services to operate as normal.
It is the latest industrial dispute to flare in recent months, with strikes on Southern Railway over staffing, the Post Office over jobs, pensions and closures, and a work to rule on London Underground over jobs and ticket office closures.
Post Office workers will strike next week, including on Christmas Eve, after their union said an offer it made to resolve a row over jobs, pensions and closures was rejected.
More than 1,500 check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew at 18 airports who are employed by Swissport and members of the Unite union will strike first, for 48 hours from 23 December.
British Airways cabin crew, also members of Unite, will then strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Both strikes are over pay.
The airports affected by the first strike include Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Stansted, East Midlands and Belfast.
Others affected are Aberdeen, Bristol, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Leeds/Bradford, Luton, Newcastle and Southampton.
BA said it was "appalled" that around 4,500 cabin crew represented by the Unite union would strikeand vowed to ensure passengers reach their destinations.
The airline promised that customers would get to their destination despite the action.
"This calculated and heartless action is completely unnecessary and we are determined that it will fail," a spokesman said.
Speaking to Sky News, Unite's general secretary, Len McCluskey, defended both strikes.
Virgin Atlantic pilots have also voted to take industrial action over union recognition and will work "strictly to contract", also from 23 December.
Their union, the PPU, said 88% of its members had voted in favour on a turnout of 80%.
The action will see a removal of "pilot goodwill", with pilots working strictly to their contract.
"It is possible that this may leave some flights not covered," said a statement from the union.
Virgin Atlantic said it was "disappointed" with the action but that it expected services to operate as normal.
It is the latest industrial dispute to flare in recent months, with strikes on Southern Railway over staffing, the Post Office over jobs, pensions and closures, and a work to rule on London Underground over jobs and ticket office closures.
Post Office workers will strike next week, including on Christmas Eve, after their union said an offer it made to resolve a row over jobs, pensions and closures was rejected.
Uber defies demand to cease self-driving
Uber has been told its self-driving cars are illegal - but it is refusing to take them off San Francisco's roads.
The company started testing the vehicles this week, but the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has said the firm must have a test permit.
Uber said it did not need one as they have a safety driver at the wheel, and is going to ignore the demand.
California's attorney general - the state's most senior government lawyer - said Uber must cease the driving immediately or face further action.
A spokeswoman for the attorney general's office would not be drawn on what the specific action could be, but the next step would likely be a court order compelling Uber to carry out the demand.
'Illegal'
Other companies testing autonomous technology in California, such as Google, have applied for and obtained the permit which costs $150 (£120) for 10 vehicles.
Additional vehicles can be added at a rate of $50 for each additional 10 vehicles.
"It is illegal for the company to operate its self-driving vehicles on public roads until it receives an autonomous vehicle testing permit," said Brian Soublet from the California DMV in a letter to Uber this week.
In a conference call with media on Friday, Uber's vice-president of Advanced Technologies Anthony Levandowski said Uber had "respect" for officials, but that the regulations were irrelevant to its cars.
"You don't need a belt and suspenders if you're wearing a dress," he told reporters.
In his view the permit only applies to cars that could operate "without the active physical control or monitoring of a human operator".
Uber's cars need a human, he said - although the company still intends to refer to the vehicles as "self-driving cars".
The Tesla defence
He went on to make a comparison with electric car company Tesla. Its cars come with a feature known as Autopilot which takes control of the vehicle and automatically keeps up with traffic and changes lanes.
Autopilot does not require a permit, and so Uber argued its cars should be treated the same way. It requested clarification from the DMV on that issue specifically.
The permit requires companies to cover insurance costs as well as provide public reports on any collisions or instances when the human driver must take control.
Uber said it planned to make disclosures about the performance of its cars, but did not specify how.
On Friday afternoon, a number of the cars were seen travelling around the city.
Earlier in the week one of the cars was filmed jumping a red light, an incident Uber blamed on human error.
The company started testing the vehicles this week, but the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has said the firm must have a test permit.
Uber said it did not need one as they have a safety driver at the wheel, and is going to ignore the demand.
California's attorney general - the state's most senior government lawyer - said Uber must cease the driving immediately or face further action.
A spokeswoman for the attorney general's office would not be drawn on what the specific action could be, but the next step would likely be a court order compelling Uber to carry out the demand.
'Illegal'
Other companies testing autonomous technology in California, such as Google, have applied for and obtained the permit which costs $150 (£120) for 10 vehicles.
Additional vehicles can be added at a rate of $50 for each additional 10 vehicles.
"It is illegal for the company to operate its self-driving vehicles on public roads until it receives an autonomous vehicle testing permit," said Brian Soublet from the California DMV in a letter to Uber this week.
In a conference call with media on Friday, Uber's vice-president of Advanced Technologies Anthony Levandowski said Uber had "respect" for officials, but that the regulations were irrelevant to its cars.
"You don't need a belt and suspenders if you're wearing a dress," he told reporters.
In his view the permit only applies to cars that could operate "without the active physical control or monitoring of a human operator".
Uber's cars need a human, he said - although the company still intends to refer to the vehicles as "self-driving cars".
The Tesla defence
He went on to make a comparison with electric car company Tesla. Its cars come with a feature known as Autopilot which takes control of the vehicle and automatically keeps up with traffic and changes lanes.
Autopilot does not require a permit, and so Uber argued its cars should be treated the same way. It requested clarification from the DMV on that issue specifically.
The permit requires companies to cover insurance costs as well as provide public reports on any collisions or instances when the human driver must take control.
Uber said it planned to make disclosures about the performance of its cars, but did not specify how.
On Friday afternoon, a number of the cars were seen travelling around the city.
Earlier in the week one of the cars was filmed jumping a red light, an incident Uber blamed on human error.
HMP Birmingham riot: Prison officers take back control
All four wings have been secured at HMP Birmingham - 12 hours after the start of a riot at one of the country's biggest jails.
Up to 600 inmates are thought to have been involved in the disturbance at the privately-run jail, Sky sources said, with reports of prisoners setting fire to stairwells, breaking a security chain and destroying paper records.
Specialist riot squads were sent in to take back control of the prison, which has a capacity of 1,450.
Justice Secretary Liz Truss said a "thorough" investigation into the "serious situation" will be carried out.
At least three prisoners were wounded, including one who is understood to have suffered a broken jaw and eye socket. No prison staff were hurt.
Broken windows and damaged walls were described as being left in the aftermath of the riot, but sources said the damage had been "superficial".
The trouble reportedly started when prisoners broke lights and got hold of fire hoses.
Then one officer was threatened with a used syringe by an inmate before another took his keys, it was reported.
:: Riot at HMP Birmingham is 'not a surprise'
Prisoners took over the gym and also the security equipment store, which included batons, according to Sky sources.
Inmates were believed to have had control of wings L, M, N and P - but all are now secured.
Pictures have emerged apparently showing some of them wearing prison officers' equipment, including helmets.
"Terrified" prisoners in another wing expressed concern that rioters were trying to force their way into that section.
Specialist "Tornado" prison teams worked with around 25 riot police to regain control. Dog units were also used.
Some inmates have reportedly claimed the riot began because they were unable to watch TV or go to the gym.
Others complained about a lack of hot water in the showers, and also prison food.
Speaking after the riot was over, Ms Truss said: "I want to pay tribute to the bravery and dedication of the prison officers who resolved this disturbance."
She also thanked the police, ambulance crews and the fire service.
"This was a serious situation and a thorough investigation will now be carried out," added the Justice Secretary.
"Violence in our prisons will not be tolerated and those responsible will face the full force of the law."
Prison affairs expert Alex Cavendish said the riot was probably the most serious since Strangeways in 1990 - where unrest at the Manchester jail lasted for 25 days.
Mike Rolfe, chairman of the Prison Officers Association (POA), said it was "another stark warning to the Ministry of Justice that the service is in crisis".
It is the third disturbance at an English prison in less than two months.
On 6 November, 200 inmates went on a rampage at Bedford Prison and a national response unit had to be sent to an incident at HMP Lewes in East Sussex on 29 October.
POA members held protests outside jails last month amid health and safety concerns and after figures showed rising levels of violence.
Up to 600 inmates are thought to have been involved in the disturbance at the privately-run jail, Sky sources said, with reports of prisoners setting fire to stairwells, breaking a security chain and destroying paper records.
Specialist riot squads were sent in to take back control of the prison, which has a capacity of 1,450.
Justice Secretary Liz Truss said a "thorough" investigation into the "serious situation" will be carried out.
At least three prisoners were wounded, including one who is understood to have suffered a broken jaw and eye socket. No prison staff were hurt.
Broken windows and damaged walls were described as being left in the aftermath of the riot, but sources said the damage had been "superficial".
The trouble reportedly started when prisoners broke lights and got hold of fire hoses.
Then one officer was threatened with a used syringe by an inmate before another took his keys, it was reported.
:: Riot at HMP Birmingham is 'not a surprise'
Prisoners took over the gym and also the security equipment store, which included batons, according to Sky sources.
Inmates were believed to have had control of wings L, M, N and P - but all are now secured.
Pictures have emerged apparently showing some of them wearing prison officers' equipment, including helmets.
"Terrified" prisoners in another wing expressed concern that rioters were trying to force their way into that section.
Specialist "Tornado" prison teams worked with around 25 riot police to regain control. Dog units were also used.
Some inmates have reportedly claimed the riot began because they were unable to watch TV or go to the gym.
Others complained about a lack of hot water in the showers, and also prison food.
Speaking after the riot was over, Ms Truss said: "I want to pay tribute to the bravery and dedication of the prison officers who resolved this disturbance."
She also thanked the police, ambulance crews and the fire service.
"This was a serious situation and a thorough investigation will now be carried out," added the Justice Secretary.
"Violence in our prisons will not be tolerated and those responsible will face the full force of the law."
Prison affairs expert Alex Cavendish said the riot was probably the most serious since Strangeways in 1990 - where unrest at the Manchester jail lasted for 25 days.
Mike Rolfe, chairman of the Prison Officers Association (POA), said it was "another stark warning to the Ministry of Justice that the service is in crisis".
It is the third disturbance at an English prison in less than two months.
On 6 November, 200 inmates went on a rampage at Bedford Prison and a national response unit had to be sent to an incident at HMP Lewes in East Sussex on 29 October.
POA members held protests outside jails last month amid health and safety concerns and after figures showed rising levels of violence.
Blast hits bus in Turkey's central province of Kayseri
A car bomb has exploded near a bus transporting soldiers outside Erciyes University in Kayseri, a province in central Turkey, according to security forces.
"The bus was full of soldiers going on their weekend leave," said Al Jazeera's Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul.
"The soldiers in the bus are from the commando brigade."
The bus was hit as it drove past the car, Turkish media reported.
Several people were believed killed and wounded as a result of the explosion, Turkish daily Hurriyet reported.
More than 25 people were wounded as a result of the explosion, local hospital sources said, although they were not able to give any details about the death toll.
"The bus was full of soldiers going on their weekend leave," said Al Jazeera's Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul.
"The soldiers in the bus are from the commando brigade."
The bus was hit as it drove past the car, Turkish media reported.
Several people were believed killed and wounded as a result of the explosion, Turkish daily Hurriyet reported.
More than 25 people were wounded as a result of the explosion, local hospital sources said, although they were not able to give any details about the death toll.
Friday, December 16, 2016
'Bye bye America': Duterte threatens US troops pact
President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to terminate a pact that allows US troops to visit the Philippines, reacting angrily to what he thought was a US decision to scrap a major aid package over human rights abuses.
A US government aid agency said this week that its board deferred a vote on a renewal of the development assistance package for the Philippines "subject to a further review of concerns around rule of law and civil liberties".
A US government aid agency said this week that its board deferred a vote on a renewal of the development assistance package for the Philippines "subject to a further review of concerns around rule of law and civil liberties".
Duterte, whose administration has been criticised by Washington over a bloody crackdown on illegal drugs, unleashed a barrage of expletives in response.
He said the Philippines can do without US aid, called Americans "sons of bitches" and "hypocrites," while praising China for offering what he said was huge financial assistance.
According to a toll kept by Al Jazeera and other news sources, Duterte's drug war has killed more than 6,100 people, including a handful of teenagers.
On Monday, Duterte declared that "fewer people are being killed" and "they are almost finished off anyway".
Based on analysis of an official police report, 36 people on average have been killed every day during the 168 days of Duterte's presidency.
Impeachment risk
The government insisted that those killed by police - more than 2,000 - died during legitimate anti-drug operations. The police also said that they were investigating other killings, which were carried out by unknown gunmen.
Duterte risks impeachment after admitting on Monday to "personally" killing criminals when he was the mayor of Davao City, two Philippine senators said on Friday.
The president boasted to business leaders that as Davao City mayor he used to prowl the streets on a motorcycle looking for "an encounter to kill", just to show to local law enforcers he was able to do so.
"I used to do it personally," Duterte said. "If I can do it, why can't you?"
Justice Minister Vitaliano Aguirre dismissed Duterte's statement as an exaggeration.
"It's like a hyperbole, that's the president, he is used to exaggerate just to put his message across," Aguirre was quoted in radio reports as saying on Thursday.
Even if that were true, Aguirre said it did not necessarily mean that he violated the law.
"It could be done with a justifiable cause and justified circumstances as a public officer in order to arrest but if they resisted. He must have been forced," Aguirre said, referring to Duterte.
He said the Philippines can do without US aid, called Americans "sons of bitches" and "hypocrites," while praising China for offering what he said was huge financial assistance.
According to a toll kept by Al Jazeera and other news sources, Duterte's drug war has killed more than 6,100 people, including a handful of teenagers.
On Monday, Duterte declared that "fewer people are being killed" and "they are almost finished off anyway".
Based on analysis of an official police report, 36 people on average have been killed every day during the 168 days of Duterte's presidency.
Impeachment risk
The government insisted that those killed by police - more than 2,000 - died during legitimate anti-drug operations. The police also said that they were investigating other killings, which were carried out by unknown gunmen.
Duterte risks impeachment after admitting on Monday to "personally" killing criminals when he was the mayor of Davao City, two Philippine senators said on Friday.
The president boasted to business leaders that as Davao City mayor he used to prowl the streets on a motorcycle looking for "an encounter to kill", just to show to local law enforcers he was able to do so.
"I used to do it personally," Duterte said. "If I can do it, why can't you?"
Justice Minister Vitaliano Aguirre dismissed Duterte's statement as an exaggeration.
"It's like a hyperbole, that's the president, he is used to exaggerate just to put his message across," Aguirre was quoted in radio reports as saying on Thursday.
Even if that were true, Aguirre said it did not necessarily mean that he violated the law.
"It could be done with a justifiable cause and justified circumstances as a public officer in order to arrest but if they resisted. He must have been forced," Aguirre said, referring to Duterte.
Sen. Johnson: 'I'm Sure Putin Is Shaking in His Boots' Over Obama's Warning
President Barack Obama declared Thursday that the United States will "take action" against Russia for the country's alleged interference in the presidential election.
In an interview with NPR, the president said the Kremlin impacted the "integrity" of the election by directing hackers to steal emails that were published by WikiLeaks to damage Hillary Clinton.
"We need to take action. And we will at a time and place of our own choosing. Some of it may be explicit and publicized; some of it may not be," said Obama.
On "America's Newsroom" today, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) expressed a high degree of skepticism about Obama's warning to Putin.
"For most of his presidency, the only consequences are [Obama] saying that there are going to be serious consequences. So I'm sure at this point in time, Vladimir Putin is just shaking in his boots," he said.
Johnson said there should be "serious consequences," but argued that aggressive cyberattacks are a result of American weakness under Obama's "feckless" foreign policy.
"President Trump is going to be dealing with a real mess," he said, adding that Trump's foreign policy strategy is "peace through strength" rather than the current policy of "peace through withdrawal."
Meantime, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange asserted in an interview with Sean Hannity that Moscow was not the source for the leaked emails.
In an interview with NPR, the president said the Kremlin impacted the "integrity" of the election by directing hackers to steal emails that were published by WikiLeaks to damage Hillary Clinton.
"We need to take action. And we will at a time and place of our own choosing. Some of it may be explicit and publicized; some of it may not be," said Obama.
On "America's Newsroom" today, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) expressed a high degree of skepticism about Obama's warning to Putin.
"For most of his presidency, the only consequences are [Obama] saying that there are going to be serious consequences. So I'm sure at this point in time, Vladimir Putin is just shaking in his boots," he said.
Johnson said there should be "serious consequences," but argued that aggressive cyberattacks are a result of American weakness under Obama's "feckless" foreign policy.
"President Trump is going to be dealing with a real mess," he said, adding that Trump's foreign policy strategy is "peace through strength" rather than the current policy of "peace through withdrawal."
Meantime, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange asserted in an interview with Sean Hannity that Moscow was not the source for the leaked emails.
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