Train crash 'kills 33' in Democratic Republic of Congo

A train crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 33 people, UN radio station Okapi reports.
It happened in Buyofwe in the province Lualaba, in the south of the country.
Radio Okapi said that the train caught fire after crashing into a ravine. According to reports, it was carrying flammable material.
The train was running between Lubumbashi, the second-largest city, and the town of Luena, 2,000km (1,200 miles) from the capital, Kinshasa.
The province's Governor Richard Muyej told the BBC there had been an accident but he could not confirm deaths.

A top Democratic lobbying firm caught up in Mueller's Russia probe is on the verge of shutting down

Podesta Group, a well-known lobbying firm with close ties to the Democratic Party and the Obama administration, might close its doors after being caught in the crosshairs of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election, CNN reported on Saturday.
Podesta Group — which was founded by brothers John and Anthony Podesta — got roped into the investigation over work it did for Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.
Manafort was recently indicted, along with his associate Rick Gates, on 12 counts related to money laundering and his work as a foreign agent primarily associated with Ukraine's pro-Russia Party of Regions.

World-famous Russian basejumper dies in Himalayas after leaping 22,000ft off mountain

A renowned Russian basejumper has been killed in a horror plunge after leaping 22,000ft (7,000m) from a Himalayan mountain, according to reports.
Valery Rozov, 52, fell to his death in a tragic wingsuit accident on Mount Ama-Dablam, eastern Nepal.
The extreme sportsman held the record for the highest ever basejump from an altitude of 25,200ft from Tibet's Mount Cho-Oyu last year.
He smashed into a cliff during his latest stunt and leaves behind a wife and sons.

Texas town of Sutherland Springs holds first Sunday service since church attack

Hundreds of people gathered in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs for the first Sunday service since a gunman stormed the First Baptist Church and killed more than two dozen people in the worst mass shooting in Texas history.

Pastor Frank Pomeroy led an emotional sermon that called on mourners to worship in the face of evil.

"Rather than choose darkness as that young man did that day, we choose life," said Mr Pomeroy, whose 14-year-old daughter was among those killed in the 5 November rampage. His voice cracked as he spoke about losing his child.

"I know everyone who gave their life that day," he said, pausing to gather himself. "Some of whom where my best friends and my daughter." He paused to wipe his eyes. "I guarantee they are dancing with Jesus today."

The crowd stood, clapped and raised their hands to heaven as he spoke.
The initial plan was to hold the service at the community center next to the First Baptist Church. But it can only accommodate a few dozen people, and when organisers realised hundreds planned to attend, the service was moved to a massive white tent erected in a baseball field.

Hackers steal at least 250,000 web logins each week - Google

Tech giant, Google is digging into the dark corners of the web to better secure people's accounts. Looking at cybercriminal black markets and public forums, the company found millions of usernames and passwords stolen directly through hacking.

Google published its research, conducted between March 2016 and March 2017 last week and It also uncovered billions usernames and passwords indirectly exposed in third-party data breaches. For one year, Google researchers investigated the different ways hackers steal personal information and take over Google accounts.

Cristiano Ronaldo & girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez welcome their daughter, Alana Martina

Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez have welcomed their daughter, Alana Martina. The Real Madrid superstar took to Instagram to break the news and share a photo of the new family, including his eldest son Cristiano Jr.

This would be the fourth and only child not born through surrogacy for the Real Madrid superstar.

The $850 million airplane bed revolution

It's been nearly 38 years since Philippine Airlines unveiled the first fully flat bed on a commercial jet in the shape of slim, bunk-style "Skybeds" on the first class upper deck of its Boeing 747.
That luxury was short-lived, and airlines mostly spent the ensuing decades plotting ways to stuff more and more passengers onto their planes, no matter the class.
Luckily trends change, and the past few years has seen a resurgence in airlines providing for personal space, privacy, and -- yes -- a quality rest.
Singapore Airlines has now revealed the latest luxury sleeps in the sky, thanks to an investment of $850 million dollars in its aircraft interiors, bringing about "Suites" that look more like hotel rooms, and business class seats that convert to double beds.

Will Iran and Saudi Arabia Go Into War?

First, it was the Egyptian embassy, second the American embassy, later Denmark, then the British embassy was ransacked by mostly Basijis, and now, it is the turn of Saudi Arabia’s embassy to be attacked by crowds of Iranians. What kind of diplomacy is Rowhani’s government referring to?

These kinds of assaults on foreign embassies and diplomats have several dimensions; they appear to be a systematic reaction as they follow strong remarks from Iran’s Supreme Leader. Iranian media outlets normally refer to these attackers as passionate young people or “followers of the Imam’s route,” rather than aggressors.

In addition, it is intriguing that Iranian forces which are very quick at identifying demonstrations, are always late to act when it comes to these types of pre-organized and sophisticated attacks on embassies. Moreover, the perpetrators of these attacks generally attempt to show their loyalty to the ideals of the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic’s revolutionary principles. As a member of Iran’s semi-militia group, the Basiji, pointed out: “We will stand by the Supreme Leader against any country which he views as the enemy.”

China is facing a historic corruption battle

China must win its battle against corruption or face being erased by history, its new top graft buster said in an editorial on Saturday, underscoring the ruling Communist Party's focus on eliminating corrupt behavior.

Zhao Leji, appointed to the new seven-member Politburo Standing Committee last month and tasked to lead President Xi Jinping's signature war on corruption, wrote in the state-run People's Daily that failure would lead to the party's downfall.

"If our control of the party is not strong and party governance is not strict, then the party won't be able to avoid being erased by history and the historic task the party carries will not be able to be fulfilled," Zhao wrote.

Xi has previously warned that rampant official corruption could weaken the party's grip on power.

Russia remains unfazed by US oil sanctions

Western energy sanctions vis-à-vis Russia have become a steady phenomenon of the global oil and gas market.

Most Russian oil companies don’t expect sanctions to be scrapped anytime soon—an assessment espoused by the political elites of the country, too. The sides even seem to have resigned their minds to the current frosty relations.

The Russian economy has swung back to growth this year, with an anticipated 1.7 percent GDP increase this year, and the ruble solidified following a disastrous 2015-2016 period.

Russian oil companies have mostly overcome the lending obstructions U.S. sanctions present by finding new partners in Asia and taking use of their free cash flow, and were it not for the OPEC+ agreement, they would ramp up production even more swiftly than the 4-5 percent since the sanctions regime kicked in. As a consequence, the current consolidation will soon move to a new phase: testing the sanctions unity of the United States and European Union.

'Accident' at nuclear facility sends cloud of radioactive pollution over Europe

An accident at a nuclear facility in Russia or Kazakhstan has been blamed for a cloud of radioactive pollution over Europe in recent weeks, officials have said.

French nuclear safety institute IRSN said the incident likely happened in the last week of September.

The IRSN ruled out an accident in a nuclear reactor, saying it was likely to be in a nuclear fuel treatment site or centre for radioactive medicine.

There has been no impact on human health or the environment in Europe, the IRSN said.

IRSN, the technical arm of French nuclear regulator ASN, said it could not pinpoint the location of the release of radioactive material but that based on weather patterns, the most plausible zone lay south of the Ural mountains, between the Urals and the Volga river.

North Carolina air traffic controller arrested on weapons charge

Authorities say an air traffic controller at a North Carolina airport has been arrested on charges of possessing a weapon of mass destruction.

Local media outlets report that the FBI says 30-year-old Paul George Dandan was arrested Friday in Charlotte. The FBI is assisting Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police with the investigation but said federal charges aren't expected against Dandan at this point.

What’s it like living in Catalonia after independence declaration?

Catalonia is at a standstill on Wednesday after protesters blocked roads, highways and train tracks as part of a regionwide strike, called by a pro-independence union. Dave Walsh, a pro-independence supporter who lives in Sant Cugat, explains what it has been like to live in the region since indpendence was declared on October 27th.
Having escaped police violence during Catalonia’s independence referendum on October 1st, trouble arrived this week in the town of Sant Cugat, where I live, just north of Barcelona.

Here Are The 5 Women Who Have Accused Louis C.K. Of Sexual Misconduct

Just a month after the disturbing allegations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein were published in two detailed exposés from the New Yorker and the New York Times, another well-known man is being called out for alleged sexual misconduct by five women. The New York Times reports that Louis C.K. has been accused of sexual misconduct by Dana Min Goodman, Julia Wolov, Abby Schachner, Rebecca Corry, and a woman who wishes to remain anonymous. All five of the women accuse the comedian of masturbating or asking to masturbate in front of them, in most cases without their consent. Many of these instances took place in professional settings.
Earlier today, the Hollywood Reporter wrote that the New York premiere of Louis C.K.'s upcoming movie, I Love You, Daddy, was abruptly canceled due to "unexpected circumstances." A source told the outlet that this move was made in anticipation of the New York Times story. His planned appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert was also canceled.

Taylor Swift: Reputation – track by track review of the new album

Taylor Swift’s Reputation, her new album that will sell by the truck load, is a new dawn in the singer’s career and she’s cleaning up all of the extracurricular and very public drama she took part in (or orchestrated) for the last few years. When you listen to Swift’s music, you generally need a fine comb to work your way through all of the references but when she went into overload with album precursor Look What You Made Me Do in August, it felt like a bad omen in a year where almost everything is a bad omen.
For the last 18 months or so, Taylor went into hiding. She retreated to recover from the media backlash she suffered and on Reputation, she’s showing us the scars.
She’s lost friends and she’s not afraid to tell you that some of them are now enemies but when she boats about that on This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things and End Game, it feels unintentionally sad.
End Game, Don’t Blame Me, Gorgeous, Dancing with our Hands Tied and Dress are all a bit so-so – but once you get to Delicate, Getaway Car and New Year’s Day, she returns to clever and insightful songwriting, finding tenderness and beauty in tiny details.
Taylor’s career is built on heartbreak and while her older songs held a starry-eyed optimism that love will save day, she’s knows a little bit better now but instead of examining the wounds, she holds a grudge and doubles up on her ammunition.
New Year’s Day, the final song on the album, is the finest. It’s simple in its delivery and after 14 songs of sex, petty revenge and toying with an R&B sound, it feels like she’s got something out of her system.