Homes burn in California wildfire
Niland (California): A wind-driven wildfire destroyed homes and forced evacuations as it tore through a rural Southern California desert town near the Salton Sea, authorities said on Monday.
The fire erupted on Sunday evening in Niland, a small and poor agricultural community about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from San Diego.
Damage was still being assessed but the current estimate was 20 homes destroyed and about 130 people displaced, said Linsey Dale, a spokeswoman for Imperial County. (AP)
APEC summit cancelled
Wellington: New Zealand on Tuesday cancelled its plans to host a major meeting of U.S. and Asian leaders next year because of the coronavirus, opting instead to lead a virtual summit.
New Zealand was scheduled to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Auckland. The event would have brought thousands of people to the country throughout the year, culminating in a leader’s week in November 2021.
APEC focuses on trade issues and also provides a chance for world leaders to catch up. Its 21 members include the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia and Hong Kong. (AP)
IS inmates stage riot in prison
Damascus: Islamic State (IS) inmates staged a riot at a prison run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Hasakah province, a war monitor reported.
The riot broke out on Monday in the Ghweiran prison, demanding “fair trials” and allowing visits by their families, Xinhua news agency quoted the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying. The watchdog group said the IS inmates tried to destroy the walls and gates of the prison amid confirmed information of casualties among the prisoners. (IANS)
Protesters return to Sudan streets
Cairo: Sudanese protesters returned to the streets on Tuesday to pressure transitional authorities, demanding justice for those killed in the uprising last year that led to the military’s ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
The million-man march was called by the Sudanese Professionals’ Association, and the so-called Resistance Committees, which were incremental in the protests against al-Bashir and the generals who took over power for months after his removal. As the rallies got under way, police used tear gas to disperse protesters. (AP)