BREAKINGBREAKING,
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 has hit Japan’s northeastern region, prompting a tsunami advisory from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The earthquake struck on Friday at 11:44am local time (02:44 GMT) and comes just days after a bigger, 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit the same region.
Intense rains that triggered “catastrophic flooding” in North America’s Pacific Northwest have finally eased, though meteorologists warn the effects of overflowing rivers and floodwaters will continue to be felt for several days.
Tens of thousands of people were told to evacuate on Thursday across the US states of Oregon and Washington, up through the Canadian province of British Columbia, after rainstorms battered the region for several days, causing rivers to burst their banks.
list of 3 itemsend of list
Western Washington state has borne the greatest brunt of the storm, with roughly 100,000 residents under “Level 3” evacuation orders.
State authorities have ordered people living south of the cities of Seattle and Tacoma to leave their homes, with aerial photographs showing farmland already under water, and populated areas perilously close.
In the city of Orting, south of Seattle, authorities warned there is a “significant threat to life and or property”.
There have been no reports of casualties or missing people due to the flooding, according to Karina Shagren, spokesperson for Washington’s emergency management division.
Across the border in British Columbia, swaths of the Canadian city of Abbotsford, east of Vancouver, were swamped as of Thursday night, with hundreds of properties at risk.
Five of the six highways leading in and out of Vancouver were also closed due to floods, falling rocks and the risk of avalanches, the province’s Ministry of Transport said, describing the situation as “evolving and very dynamic”.
The main highway route between Vancouver and Seattle remains open.
The intense downpours were swept into the Pacific Northwest region earlier this week by an atmospheric river, a vast airborne current of dense moisture funnelled inland from the Pacific Ocean.
The storm system, which dumped more than 250mm (10 inches) of rain in some places, also brought heavy showers and flooding as far away as western Montana and the edge of northern Idaho.
Though the downpour began to lessen on Thursday, the after-effects are expected to linger across the region as high volumes of water make their way through swollen river systems.
“While drier weather looks to be in store for this area of the country through the upcoming weekend, the major … catastrophic flooding effects are likely to continue for several days across portions of western Washington State and northwestern Oregon,” the US National Weather Service said.
The National Water Center has issued an updated Key Messages for the ongoing Catastrophic flooding impacts this week in Washington. More info: https://t.co/UZ3ekqUUkq #flooding #wawx pic.twitter.com/KwdS8a9T5y
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un praised the deployment of his troops in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine and promised to root out “evil practices” among some officials, state media reports.
In remarks concluding a key meeting of his ruling party on Thursday, Kim condemned “the wrong ideological viewpoint and inactive and irresponsible work attitude” of some officials, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
list of 4 itemsend of list
He also spoke of “shortcomings and evil practices that must be corrected”, KCNA said on Friday.
The North Korean news organisation did not offer any specifics regarding the targets of Kim’s comments, though it did say the ruling party had revealed numerous recent “deviations” in discipline – a euphemism often used to refer to corrupt practices.
Wrapping up the three-day meeting, Kim reserved praise for the North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine alongside Russia, of whom at least 600 have been killed and thousands more injured in the war, according to South Korean estimates.
“Over the past year, various soldiers of our military have participated in overseas military operations to demonstrate the reputation of our military,” KCNA said, quoting Kim.
The military deployment in support of Russia “demonstrated to the world the prestige of our army and state as the ever-victorious army and genuine protector of international justice”, Kim added.
The North Korean leader also hailed efforts this year in “modernising” his country’s defences in the face of great “global geopolitical and technological changes”.
South Korea’s official Yonhap news agency said Kim had assessed that bolstering military capabilities was an “exact direction to ensure the security and defence of the country”.
The meeting of Kim’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) comes in advance of a party congress that is scheduled for early next year.
The Ninth Party Congress, which is due to be held in January or February, is expected to see North Korea unveil its policy approach to dealing with the United States and South Korea, as well as policies on the economy and defence, Yonhap reports.
The congress will be watched closely, Yonhap said, to determine “whether North Korea will codify Kim’s ‘two hostile states’ stance in the party’s rules as experts forecast Pyongyang to intensify its animosity to Seoul in the new year”.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has taken several steps to ease tensions with the North since taking office in June, including removing propaganda loudspeakers along the border and banning the dropping of anti-Pyongyang leaflets.
Lee also said he was considering an apology to Pyongyang over cross-border provocations allegedly ordered by his predecessor, disgraced ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Yoon allegedly ordered drones carrying propaganda leaflets to fly over the North, in a bid, say prosecutors who have indicted the former president, to provoke military tension and boost his political support.
“I don’t think he quite knows what he’s walked into.”
Joe Hart likely did not mean it to sound like a criticism of Wilfried Nancy, but it wasn’t difficult to derive a note of concern in the former Celtic goalkeeper’s voice.
Nancy – just eight days into his reign as manager – had suffered a second defeat in his second game in charge, a meek 3-0 Europa League capitulation at the hands of Roma. That followed a home defeat against league leaders Hearts on Sunday.
No Celtic boss had ever lost his opening two matches. Not until now.
Frenchman Nancy – parachuted in from Columbus Crew in MLS without any managerial experience in Europe – was calm in the aftermath.
He spoke about how he saw “good things” in the second half against a Roma side who did not need to be anywhere near their best.
But that alarmed Hart, just as it will have the Celtic supporters. The consequences of a third defeat in a row, in Sunday’s League Cup final against St Mirren, does not bear thinking about.
“It’s not his fault that he doesn’t understand,” Hart, who left Celtic in summer 2024 after three seasons at the club, said on TNT Sports. “I didn’t walk in and just understand what it was to be Celtic. They expect you to win.
As the players walked out at a packed Celtic Park, and a stirring rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone echoed around the stadium, the camera cut to Nancy.
The disco lights, which were splurged out on for these European nights, flashed towards the Frenchman.
Hart said the ground in the east end of Glasgow is a “special place” on such occasions but the mood of that place has turned sour in recent times.
Long before Nancy’s arrival, the club was riven with disharmony.
The events of last summer – recruitment issues, Champions League dismay, Brendan Rodgers’ acrimonious departure – had cast a long shadow.
Martin O’Neill’s interim stint back at the club steadied matters, with seven wins from eight games and an uplift in the mood.
But by the time Roma had a fourth goal ruled out in the closing stages on Thursday, large swathes of the crowd had gone home. Many fans had seen enough.
“It breaks my heart to see [Celtic Park] like this,” said Hart. “The atmosphere just isn’t there. This is such a special football club, but it’s only special when it’s united.
“It’s not easy for a new manager and new system, but it’s not rocket science and Nancy’s got to learn quick.”
Perhaps one thing all of a green and white persuasion could agree upon was that Roma were rampant as they cantered to a second win in Glasgow this term.
“It wasn’t good enough, especially first half, we lost too many duels and too many sloppy balls,” midfielder Arne Engels – who missed a first-half penalty – said.
“We know we can do better and hopefully we can move on because we have a final in a few days. We need to keep our heads high and move on.
While the players who performed admirably for O’Neill look at themselves in a mirror, Nancy might need to retrieve his discarded tactics board.
He switched to an unfamilar back three for the defeat against Hearts and named an unchanged team to face Roma, and was rewarded with a horror first-half showing.
Celtic conceded three calamitous goals before Nancy could get them in at half time to regroup – making three significant changes with Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda all withdrawn.
Despite that, he maintains he still saw “good things”.
“The reality is we were not able to cope with the intensity,” Nancy told TNT Sports. “The first half was difficult, we were not able to come out of the pressure, but the second half was better.
“I’m not concerned, I really liked the reaction. They deserve at least to score one goal and the dynamic could change.
“The result isn’t what we want but I’ve seen good things. This is a bit difficult because my players deserve a bit more, the belief of my players is really strong.”
Nancy might have liked the reaction, but the pundits inside Parkhead were not as impressed.
Former Scotland international James McFadden said “it was a cruise for Roma in the end”, while ex-Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner said “the only thing Celtic can do now is try to save face” in the dying embers of the game.
But former Celtic centre-back and assistant manager Johan Mjallby arguably summed it up best.
Hugh: Key sentence in Nancy interview – “I’m not concerned” Really?! The fans are.
Dougie: The arrogance of Nancy is unbelievable. You can’t impose a complete change of formation mid-season. O’Neill’s good work totally undone in two games. St Mirren will be confident ahead of Sunday.
Eddie: Who in their right mind thought it’d be wise to bring in a new manager for a top-of-the-table clash, European tie and a cup final all in eight days? All losable and if it turns out to be, then the new manager will not be accepted. This football club has broken itself from within.
Norman: Every Celtic fan knew it was not wise to bring in a new manager with no Scottish experience, who played a different formation, with no time to work with the squad before such an important week.
The Midwestern state of Indiana has dealt a setback to United States President Donald Trump’s redistricting push ahead of the pivotal 2026 midterm elections, voting down legislation to redraw its congressional map.
Late on Thursday afternoon, Indiana’s state Senate voted 31 to 19 to reject the proposed congressional districts, despite a strong Republican majority in the chamber.
list of 3 itemsend of list
Of the state Senate’s 50 seats, 39 are held by Republicans, and the state has voted consistently Republican in every presidential race since 1968, save for a single flip for Democrat Barack Obama in 2008.
The vote is likely to reinforce the sentiment that the Republican Party is fracturing under Trump’s leadership, as his poll numbers slump during the first year of his second term.
Trump was confronted with the results of the Indiana vote at an Oval Office signing ceremony shortly after it happened.
“Just a few moments ago, the Senate there rejected the congressional map to redistrict in that state,” one reporter said. “What’s your reaction?”
Trump responded by touting his successes in pushing other Republican-led states.
“ We won every other state. That’s the only state,” the president said, before referencing his three presidential bids. “It’s funny because I won Indiana all three times by a landslide, and I wasn’t working on it very hard.”
Trump then proceeded to denounce the Indiana Senate president, Rodric Bray, and threatened to support a primary challenge against the Indiana leader.
“He’ll probably lose his next primary, whenever that is. I hope he does,” Trump said.
“It’s, I think, in two years, but I’m sure he’ll go down. He’ll go down. I’ll certainly support anybody that wants to go against it.”
Currently, Indiana sends nine Congress members to the US House of Representatives, one for each of its nine districts. Two of those seats are currently occupied by Democrats.
Republican leaders in the state, however, had proposed a new map of congressional districts that sought to disempower Democratic voters in the state, clearing the way for conservative candidates to claim all nine seats in next year’s midterm races.
The proposed map was part of a nationwide effort by the Trump administration to defend Republican control in the US Congress.
Already, the partisan map had passed the lower chamber of Indiana’s legislature. On December 5, Indiana’s House of Representatives voted 57 to 41 to send House Bill 1032 to the state Senate.
The bill had the backing of Indiana’s Republican Governor Mike Braun, who encouraged the state senators to emulate their colleagues in the lower chamber.
But even before the bill arrived in the state Senate, there were cracks in the Republican caucus. Twelve Republicans in the state House broke ranks to vote against the map.
And certain Republican state Senators likewise expressed reticence.
Some Republicans, like Indiana state Senator Greg Walker, had a history of opposing redistricting efforts. He was quoted in the Indiana Capital Chronicle as saying, “I cannot, myself, support the bill for which there must be a legal injunction in order for it to be found constitutional.”
Partisan redistricting has long been a controversial practice in US politics, with opponents calling the practice undemocratic and discriminatory.
Critics also pointed out that the Indiana proposal would force some voters in urban centres like Indianapolis to commute more than 200 kilometres (124 miles) for in-person voting.
Walker joined a total of 21 Republican state Senators, including Bray, in voting against the redistricting bill on Thursday.
But the Trump administration had invested significant time and effort into swaying the vote.
In October, Vice President JD Vance travelled to the Hoosier State to try to convince wary Republicans. US House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly made personal phone calls to state leaders. And a day before the critical state Senate vote, Trump took to social media with a mixture of cajoling and pressure.
“I love the State of Indiana, and have won it, including Primaries, six times, all by MASSIVE Majorities,” Trump began in a winding, 414-word post.
“Importantly, it now has a chance to make a difference in Washington, D.C., in regard to the number of House seats we have that are necessary to hold the Majority against the Radical Left Democrats. Every other State has done Redistricting, willingly, openly, and easily.”
Currently, the US House of Representatives holds a narrow 220-member Republican majority, out of a total of 435 seats.
All of those seats, however, will be up for grabs in the 2026 midterm elections, and Democrats are hoping to flip the chamber to their control.
Starting in June, reports began to emerge that Trump was petitioning the state legislature in the right-wing stronghold of Texas to redistrict, in an effort to help conservative candidates sweep up five extra congressional seats.
Texas Republicans complied, and in August, the state legislature embraced a new redistricted map, overcoming a walkout from state Democrats.
Republicans in other states, including Missouri and North Carolina, have followed suit, passing new maps that seek to increase right-wing gains in the midterm races.
But Democrats have fired back. In November, California voters passed a referendum to suspend their independent districting commission and adopt a Democrat-leaning map created by state lawmakers.
Indiana, however, appeared poised to buck the redistricting trend. In Wednesday’s lengthy post, Trump warned that the state could put Republican power “at risk” if it failed to pass a new map.
He also called Bray and other Republican splinter votes “SUCKERS” for the Democrats.
“Rod Bray and his friends won’t be in Politics for long, and I will do everything within my power to make sure that they will not hurt the Republican Party, and our Country, again,” Trump wrote.
“One of my favorite States, Indiana, will be the only State in the Union to turn the Republican Party down!”
In the wake of Thursday’s defeat, Trump and his allies doubled down on their threats to remove the 21 Republican state senators who voted against the bill from office.
“I am very disappointed that a small group of misguided State Senators have partnered with Democrats to reject this opportunity,” Governor Braun wrote on social media, calling it a decision to “reject the leadership of President Trump”.
Here’s where things stand on Friday, December 12: