By Yadnom Awu/ Asaba
America
Shutdown: America To Cancel Flights
The American Federal Aviation Administration says it will significantly cancel flights across all airports in the country with effect from tomorrow.
The cuts may reach 4 per cent on Friday, and 10 per cent by next week, according to sources who said that if the shutdown which triggered the cancellations persists long after next week, 40 per cent of the flights may be cancelled.
The cancellations have been triggered by the shut down which implies that up to 1.2 million American workers are without pay.
Many of the workers are in the aviation sector where unpaid workers and volunteers had complained of exhaustion and generic stress.
Some of the unpaid workers are also doing part time jobs to earn money for their needs.
The shutdown, the longest in American history,is in its 37th day today.
Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party have traded blame on who caused the shutdown.
Palestine
Hamas Hands Over Body Of One More Israeli Hostage
The Palestinian group, Hamas, has released the body of a deceased Israeli hostage.
The Israeli government later identified the body as that of Joshua Loitu Mollel
He is the 22nd dead hostage to be handed over to Israel via the Red Cross, and the third such hand over this week.
The development leaves Hamas with six more bodies to hand over .
Under the terms of the ceasefire between them, Israel is to release the bodies of 15 Palestinians in exchange for one deceased Israeli hostage.
America
Investigators Identify Cause of UPS Plane Crash
A preliminary report into the crash of the cargo plane belonging to the giant courier firm, United Parcel Services, UPS, has established the cause of the mishap.
In the report published today,investigators said the loss of the left engine of the craft was responsible for its crash shortly after takeoff from Louisville Airport, Kentucky.
It had been bound for Honolulu.
The report said the left side engine of the plane fell off as it took off, leading to its crash shortly afterwards.
12 persons have been reported dead on account of the crash , according to the Governor of Kentucky,Andry Beshear.
Sudan
Sudanese Govt Rejects Truce Proposal, Warns of Dire Regional Effects
The Sudan Military has rejected an American proposal for a truce with the Rapid Support Forces, RSF.
The Chief of Staff of the Sudanese Army, General Ibrahim Burhan made the disclosure after a security meeting in Khartoum, the capital.
He gave no details beyond saying that the Army would sustain its fight against the RSF which took the city of Al- Fasher from it penultimate week.
The President of America, Donald Trump, had proposed a freeze in fighting to make way for negotiations between both sides.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Sudan, Kamil Idris, has warned that the Sudan crisis, unless effectively resolved on time, could become regional and destabilise much of Africa.
Addressing the press, he stressed that those behind the RSF must be sanctioned to whittle the capacity of the rebel group to sustain its fight against the state
In the interim, the United Nations has warned against further actions that could worsen the humanitarian situation in the country, especially Al- Fasher and other parts of Darfur Region .
It alleged that recent satellite images showed mass graves in Al- Fasher.
Local human rights groups had said that more than 2,000 civillians had been killed by fighters of the rebel group as they took over the city.
In reaction to charges of widespread human rights abuses in Darfur, the RSF had reportedly arrested some suspects including one known by the nickname of Abu Lulu.
The Phillipines
Govt Declares State of Calamity After Typhoon Kamaelgi
Authorities in Manilla have declared a State of Calamity after a typhoon swept through the country, leaving trails of destruction in its wake.
More than 114 have been confirmed dead in the typhoon, and more than 100 others declared missing.
In Sabu city in the island by the same name, evidence of total destruction was evident everywhere, as search and rescue operations continued.
United Kingdom
Again, Prisoners Released Prisoners in Error.
For the second time in as many weeks, the British Prisons system has released two inmates in error.
Those freed in error are 24- year old Ibrahim.Shatif, an Algerian migrant, and 35- year old William Smith.
The errors followed last week’s mistaken release of an Ethiopian migrant who was serving a jail term for the rape of a woman and a 14 year old girl.
The Minister of Justice, David Larmey described the development as appalling, especially coming after the government had introduced tighter control measures
One of those freed was released a whole six days before the error was officially reported to the police.
