Amtrak Washington train crash: Deaths as carriages fall on US motorway

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [BBC SOURCES ]........About 100 people were transferred to hospitals after most of the Amtrak train's carriages left the track.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> A number of those injured are reported to be in a critical condition.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Authorities said all carriages had now been searched, but would not rule a rise in the number of dead.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Seven vehicles, two of them lorries, were hit on the I-5 highway below. It was not clear if anyone was hurt on the road itself.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> It was Amtrak's first passenger service to run on a new, shorter route.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Train 501 had left Seattle, heading south for Portland, at 06:00 local time (14:00 GMT). The derailment happened on a section of track, south of Tacoma, previously only used for freight trains.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="Investigators are seen working at the scene, with carriages off the rails" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/7DF6/production/_99264223_5403d852-f0ad-4ed7-902d-cbaafee0506d.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Authorities quoted by Associated Press earlier spoke of at least six people killed.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> One passenger carriage could be seen dangling from the bridge, while others were strewn across the road and the wooded area next to the track.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> A photograph released by Washington State Patrol showed one carriage upside down on the road, with wreckage all around it.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> An Amtrak spokeswoman said the train had derailed at 07:33 local time (15:33 GMT).</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> There were 77 passengers and seven Amtrak crew members on board, she said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> A recording of the train's emergency call to railway dispatchers was released to US media.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Emergency! We are on the ground!" a man, possibly the conductor, radios in.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> In a second radio call, another crew member reports that only the rear unit remains on the rails.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "All other cars appear to be on the ground in quite a mess," he says.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The train's engineer has a head injury, he tells dispatchers.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> President Donald Trump's first reaction to the derailment was to tweet that it showed the need for his forthcoming infrastructure plan.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> He later added that his thoughts and prayers were with those involved.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The section of track where the crash happened has been recently rebuilt and upgraded using federal funds.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Washington's governor has declared a state of emergency in two counties.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Passenger Chris Karnes, on board the train, said his carriage had careered down an embankment then come to a stop: "We could hear and feel the cars crumpling and breaking apart, and water came out from the ceiling."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "In order to get out... we had to kick out the emergency window," he added.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Governor Jay Inslee said he was praying for the many injured.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Officials set up a family reunification centre at DuPont city hall and asked people not to come to the scene of the crash.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> A local news reporter who was on the train, but got off at a stop just before the crash, said many of those on board were railway enthusiasts, keen to experience the first high-speed train on the new route.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Every passenger was given a commemorative lanyard and badge to mark their journey, he said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. An Amtrak spokeswoman would not comment on how fast the train was going as it approached the bend, or on speculation that there might have been something on the tracks.</div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1666; margin: 32px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> What do we know about the train?</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <ul class="story-body__unordered-list" style="background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">The train involved was operated by Amtrak and Monday's service was the first 0600 departure under the new timetable and on the new Point Defiance Bypass route</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">The train consisted of 14 cars, two of which were locomotives</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was being led by a Siemens Charger locomotive and was trailing a P52 unit which was not under power, Amtrak said</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">There were 12 Talgo carriages, each of which could take up to 36 passengers, but only 77 customers were on board</li> </ul> </div>

Amtrak Washington train crash: Deaths as carriages fall on US motorway

[BBC SOURCES ]........About 100 people were transferred to hospitals after most of the Amtrak train's carriages left the track. A num...

Read more »

Alabama election: Trump says Senate loss proves him right

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The victory for Democrat Doug Jones narrows the Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49, which could complicate Mr Trump's legislative plans.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Moore's campaign was rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct made by several women, which he denied.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Jones is the first Democrat to win a US Senate seat for Alabama in 25 years.</div> <ul class="story-body__unordered-list" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Donald Trump tumbles to earth with a bump</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Republicans ponder 'humbling' result</li> </ul> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Despite top Republicans deserting ultra-conservative Mr Moore amid claims of child molestation, the US president had offered his full endorsement.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Trump even recorded an automated phone message for the embattled Senate candidate in the days leading up to the election.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> In his first reaction on Twitter, Mr Trump congratulated the Democratic victor Mr Jones.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> But he went on to remind his followers that he initially supported Mr Moore's mainstream Republican opponent, Luther Strange, in the party's primary election.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> He added "if last night's election proved anything, it proved that we need to put up GREAT Republican candidates to increase the razor thin margins in both the House and Senate".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Jones told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday that he received calls from President Trump, Democratic leader Senator Chuck Schumer and his Republican counterpart, Senator Mitch McConnell.</div> <ul class="story-body__unordered-list" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Knives out for Steve Bannon</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">USA Today savages Trump over Gillibrand comments</li> </ul> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> He said Mr Trump made a "very gracious" phone call and extended an invitation to the White House.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Jones added that he has not yet spoken to Mr Moore.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "I'm going to let him make that decision," he said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Alabama seat was made vacant by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions earlier this year.</div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1666; margin: 32px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> A flawed candidate - or an anti-Trump wave?</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <strong style="border: 0px currentColor; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington</strong></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Alabama will have a Democrat in the US Senate.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> It's an outcome that seemed all but impossible a year ago and still seemed unlikely even as voters headed to the polls on Tuesday.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The ramifications of this unexpected victory are clear.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Republican majority in the Senate will narrow, considerably improving the chances Democrats could gain control of the chamber in the 2018 mid-term elections.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> It could also be seen as a rebuke of President Donald Trump, who gave full-throated support to Roy Moore even when other leaders in his party were hesitant.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> After winning governor races in Virginia and New Jersey in November, some Democratic supporters will be hoping that an anti-Trump electoral wave is forming.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> But Mr Moore was such a flawed candidate that it may be too early to tell.</div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1666; margin: 32px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> How did the race unfold?</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Jones won with 49.9% of the vote, to Mr Moore's 48.4%. All votes from precincts around the state have been counted.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Moore has refused to concede, with the 70-year-old former judge telling supporters "realise that when the vote is this close that it's not over".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The margin of victory is well above the half a percentage point which would have triggered a recount.</div> <div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTMxQjPN0AHewPR9v08o_0Wg0dNwda-j31VqCoNO1vluSSjwhqPOgtfVTTcOUFasfQtIiE1XqfqGCLMCEkzl_2QF-Ae7bKJE2D-laczdr5p9fkO7xbbNm4TOtsKhRnVhL3_vtHbGOwqps/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="647" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTMxQjPN0AHewPR9v08o_0Wg0dNwda-j31VqCoNO1vluSSjwhqPOgtfVTTcOUFasfQtIiE1XqfqGCLMCEkzl_2QF-Ae7bKJE2D-laczdr5p9fkO7xbbNm4TOtsKhRnVhL3_vtHbGOwqps/s640/Untitled.png" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> But Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, quoted by the Washington Post, said a recount could still be ordered if a review of write-in votes and overseas ballots narrowed it to within this range.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Even if the final result is outside the 0.5% margin, either candidate can request a recount if they are prepared to pay the costs.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Jones told his supporters in a victory speech that the "entire race has been about dignity and respect".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The 63-year-old is a former lawyer known for helping convict two Ku Klux Klan members who bombed a black church in 1963 in Birmingham, killing four girls. He has never held elected office.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [BBC SOURCES]</div>

Alabama election: Trump says Senate loss proves him right

The victory for Democrat Doug Jones narrows the Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49, which could complicate Mr Trump's legislati...

Read more »

Putin announces Russian troop withdrawal from Syria during visit

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial withdrawal during an unannounced visit to Syria on Monday.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Russian support has been crucial in turning the tide of Syria's civil war in favour of government forces, led by president Bashar al-Assad.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Putin made a similar withdrawal announcement last year, but Russian military operations continued.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> When asked how long it would take for Russia to withdraw its military contingent, Mr Shoigu said that this would "depend on the situation" in Syria.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Russian president was met by Mr al-Assad at the Russian Hmeimim airbase near Latakia.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Putin said: "I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia," he added.</div> <h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1666; margin: 32px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Syria campaign boosts Russian influence</h2> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <strong style="border: 0px currentColor; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By Steve Rosenberg, BBC Moscow correspondent</strong></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Less than a week after announcing he will stand for re-election, Vladimir Putin flies to Syria and declares victory. Coincidence? Probably not.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Signalling the end of Russia's military operation in Syria will go down well with Russian voters.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Electoral concerns apart, Moscow views its two-year campaign in Syria as a success - and not only in terms of fighting international terrorism.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Russians have succeeded in keeping a key ally, President Assad, in power. In the process, Russia has been guaranteed a long-term military presence in Syria, with its two bases Hmeimim and Tartus. Moscow has also raised its profile across the Middle East.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Then there's the global stage. The operation in Syria prevented Moscow's international isolation.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 had sparked Western sanctions and earned the country, in the eyes of some Western governments, the label "pariah state". The Syria operation forced Western leaders to sit down and negotiate with Russia's leadership.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Putin said that if "terrorists raise their heads again", Russia would "carry out such strikes on them which they have never seen".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "We will never forget the victims and losses suffered in the fight against terror both here in Syria and also in Russia," he said.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> He told President Assad that Russia wanted to work with Iran, the government's other key ally, and Turkey, which backs the opposition, to help bring peace to Syria.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Last week, Mr Putin announced the "total rout" of jihadist militants from so-called Islamic State (IS) along the Euphrates river valley in eastern Syria.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Russia launched an air campaign in Syria in September 2015 with the aim of "stabilising" Mr Assad's government after a series of defeats.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="A Russian bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, in the northwest of Syria, 16 December 2015" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/1515D/production/_99156368_gettyimages-501658104.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Officials in Moscow stressed that it would target only "terrorists", but activists said its strikes mainly hit mainstream rebel fighters and civilians.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The campaign has allowed pro-government forces to break the deadlock on several key battlefronts, most notably in Aleppo.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Syrian and Russian air forces carried out daily air strikes on the rebel-held east of the city before it fell in December 2016, killing hundreds of people and destroying hospitals, schools and markets, according to UN human rights investigators.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Moscow has consistently denied that its air strikes have caused any civilian deaths.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday that Russian air strikes had killed 6,328 civilians, including 1,537 children.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The UK-based monitoring group has documented the deaths of 346,612 people in total since the start of the uprising against Mr Assad in 2011.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [BBC SOURCES]</div>

Putin announces Russian troop withdrawal from Syria during visit

President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial withdrawal during an unannounced visit to Syria on Monday. Russian support has been crucial ...

Read more »

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Boris Johnson set for talks in Iran

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The UK foreign secretary will call for the release of the British-Iranian woman, along with other dual nationals.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is serving a five-year sentence over allegations of spying, which she denies.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe" height="358" src="https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/12BBD/production/_99133767_848eab8a-2adb-4ff1-a666-370f6d30e5a8.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Johnson's first trip to Iran comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> As well as the dual national cases, Mr Johnson will discuss British concerns over Iranian involvement in conflicts in the region, especially in Syria and Yemen.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said Mr Johnson's trip to Tehran - only the third made by a UK foreign secretary since 2003 - could "hardly be more sensitive".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> He added that the foreign secretary had been careful to lower any expectations of imminent release for Mrs Zagahari-Ratcliffe, warning that such cases are very difficult.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in April 2016 when on holiday to introduce her daughter Gabriella to family.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The child has been living with her maternal grandparents in Iran for the last 20 months.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Johnson was accused of risking an additional five years being added to her sentence when he told a parliamentary committee that she had been in Iran to train journalists.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> In November, he apologised in the Commons, retracting "any suggestion she was there in a professional capacity".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Johnson then met with her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, to discuss her case, including calls for her to be given diplomatic protection.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> There have been concerns about Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's health after lumps in her breasts were discovered, but those were found to be non-cancerous.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Although not mentioning her by name, Mr Johnson said: "I will stress my grave concerns about our dual national consular cases and press for their release where there are humanitarian grounds to do so."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Foreign Office would not confirm the names or number of other people being held in Iran, saying their families had asked for their cases to be kept out of the public domain.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> In his statement, the foreign secretary listed topics he would raise with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, including finding a political solution to the conflict in Yemen and securing "greater humanitarian access to ease the immense suffering there".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> He also said he would underline the UK's support for the 2015 nuclear deal - struck between Iran and six world powers - but "make clear" concerns over the country's activity.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Johnson added: "Iran is a significant country in a strategically important, but volatile and unstable, region which matters to the UK's security and prosperity.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "While our relationship with Iran has improved significantly since 2011, it is not straightforward and on many issues we will not agree.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "But I am clear that dialogue is the key to managing our differences and, where possible, making progress on issues that really matter, even under difficult conditions."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [BBC SOURCES]</div>

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Boris Johnson set for talks in Iran

The UK foreign secretary will call for the release of the British-Iranian woman, along with other dual nationals. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe i...

Read more »

North Korea: US urges all nations to cut ties with Pyongyang

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Speaking at the UN Security Council, US envoy Nikki Haley said President Trump had asked his Chinese counterpart to cut off oil supplies to Pyongyang.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> She said the US did not seek conflict but that North Korea's regime would be "utterly destroyed" if war broke out.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The warning came after Pyongyang tested its first missile in two months.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> North Korea said the missile fired on Wednesday, which it said reached an altitude of about 4,475km (2,780 miles) - more than 10 times the height of the International Space Station - held a warhead capable of re-entering the earth's atmosphere.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The claim was not proven and experts have cast doubt on the country's ability to master such technology.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> However North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un called the launch "impeccable" and a "breakthrough".</div> <ul class="story-body__unordered-list" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">What damage could North Korea do?</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Are missiles a risk to planes?</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">Can the world live with a nuclear North Korea?</li> <li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">North Korea's missile programme</li> </ul> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The test - one of several this year - has been condemned by the international community and the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Ms Haley warned that "continued acts of aggression" were only serving to further destabilise the region.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> "We need China to do more," she said. "President Trump called President Xi this morning and told him that we've come to the point where China must cut off the oil for North Korea."</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Earlier on Wednesday, the White House said that Mr Trump spoke to Xi Jinping by telephone, urging him to "use all available levers to convince North Korea to end its provocations and return to the path of denuclearisation".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Speaking in Missouri about tax reform, the US leader derided Mr Kim, describing him as a "sick puppy" and "little rocket man".</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="Photo taken released on 30 November 2017 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows launch of the Hwansong-15 missile, said to be capable of reaching all parts of the US" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/127DB/production/_98993757_missile.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Xi responded by telling Mr Trump it was Beijing's "unswerving goal to maintain peace and stability in north-east Asia and denuclearise the Korean peninsula," Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> China is North Korea's biggest ally and most important trading partner, and the two share a land border.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Experts say the height reached by the inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) indicates Washington could be within range, although North Korea is yet to prove it has reached its aim of miniaturising a nuclear warhead.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Hwasong-15 missile, described as North Korea's "most powerful", was launched in darkness early on Wednesday.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> It landed in Japanese waters but flew higher than any other missile the North had previously tested.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px currentColor; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [BBC SOURCES]</div>

North Korea: US urges all nations to cut ties with Pyongyang

Speaking at the UN Security Council, US envoy Nikki Haley said President Trump had asked his Chinese counterpart to cut off oil supplies to...

Read more »