Police confirm deaths as car ploughs into US parade
At least 5 people died and around 40 were injured after being hit by a car that jack-dived into a Christmas parade in downtown Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA. Police chief Dan Thompson confirmed there had been “some fatalities as a result of this incident” but would not give an exact number, as they were still working with the medical examiner to identify the victims and then notify families. A person has been arrested, he said at an evening news conference. In videos posted on social media, a red SUV is seen coming at great speed from behind the parade. In other images, the same vehicle is seen escaping after breaking some barriers but Thompson said a suspect vehicle had been recovered and “person of interest” was in custody. Fire Chief Steve Howard said first responders had “transported a total of 11 adults and 12 paediatric patients to six area hospitals”. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter tweeted there were also gunshots.
Maduro candidates win big
Candidates for the government of Nicolas Maduro, whose re-election to the presidency of Venezuela in 2018 is not recognised by the international community, won a landslide in yesterday’s regional elections. According to the National Electoral Council, Maduro’s candidates won 20 of 23 governor seats and the municipality of Caracas, facing a divided opposition that took part in a vote for the first time since 2017 after boycotting the presidential and legislative elections.
Bulgarian President Radev wins second term
Socialist-backed Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has won the presidential ballot by a large marginas voters in the European Union’s poorest country backed his strong anti-corruption message. Radev, 58, defeated his challenger Anastas Gerdzhikov, also 58, winning 66% to 32% in the presidential run-off after nearly winning outright in the first round on November 14. Sunday’s vote also registered a record low voter turnout.
Chile: Boric to face Kast in December runoff
With most of the votes counted, the top two candidates in Chile’s first-round presidential elections, Gabriel Boric and Jose Antonio Kast, will face off in a runoff election set for December 19. Boric,former student leader for the leftist Apruebo Dignidad coalition, has obtained over 25% of the vote, while far-right lawyer for the Partido Republicano, Kast, has won over 28% of the vote. Over 15 million Chileans were called upon to elect their new president, along with 155 lawmakers, 27 senators, and 302 regional councilors for the 2022-26 term.
Dutch protests erupt for third night in row. Belgians follow suit.
Anger and frustration against measures to curb spiraling COVID rates boiled over across Europe for a third night in a row. The international media carried pictures of the Brussels riot police confronting demonstrators as they featured COVID protests taking place across Europe. The continent is facing an “increasingly violent backlash” against new restrictions, the papers say. The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Denmark and Switzerland have all witnessed “violent scenes” as governments introduce new curbs to tackle the record number of cases in Europe. Dutch police have arrested more than 30 people during unrest in The Hague and other towns in the Netherlands that followed an “orgy of violence”. On Friday, in Rotterdam, police opened fire on rampaging rioters and arrested 51 people; 19 people others were arrested in The Hague, where police used water cannons to extinguish fires on the street. In Brussels, on Sunday, several hundred people were seen confronting officers by throwing smoke bombs, fireworks and rocks as others were pictured smashing cars and setting rubbish bins on fire. An estimated 35,000 people took to the streets.
Peng Shuai tells IOC she is ‘safe and well’
Chinese tennis star Peng Shaui, whose disappearance from the public eye after making a sexual assault allegation raised safety concerns, has had a 30-minute video call with top officials of the International Olympic Committee. She told IOC President Thomas Bach she was safe and well, living at her home in Beijing. She asked to have her privacy respected.
Taliban issue new media ‘religious guidelines’
The Taliban have published new “religious guidelines” for the media that urge Afghanistan television channels to stop screening shows and soap operas with actresses. Journalists must wear the Islamic hijab while presenting their services. TV stations are also asked not to broadcast films or programmes that show the Prophet Mohammed or other revered figures.
