NPR News: 12-17-2023 7PM EST
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Day: December 17, 2023
Beijing — Temperatures in parts of China, including in provinces Shanxi, Hebei and Liaoning, hit their lowest levels since records began, the state broadcaster said Sunday, as a cold snap gripped large swathes of the country.
The city of Yichun in Heilongjiang could see a record low of minus 47.9 C (minus 54.2 F), recorded in January 1980, broken early next week, according to a meteorological forecaster from the area.
The agriculture ministry launched an emergency response, and the national disaster prevention body issued a directive to local authorities to prepare emergency plans, as well as snow and ice removal equipment.
“Storage of thermal coal should be done in advance to ensure the normal power generation of power plants during the critical period,” added the directive.
It also called on local authorities “to ensure that the national energy supply and demand are stable and orderly.”
On Friday, President Xi Jinping called for an “all-out” emergency response to the cold snap that began at the start of the week with snowfall and icy roads along with heavy fog causing multiple accidents on the roads.
But in a sign that conditions were improving in Beijing, the local forecaster reduced the severity of its weather warning for the residents and authorities said schools would reopen for in-person classes after shutting for several days last week.
Beijing — Temperatures in parts of China, including in provinces Shanxi, Hebei and Liaoning, hit their lowest levels since records began, the state broadcaster said Sunday, as a cold snap gripped large swathes of the country.
The city of Yichun in Heilongjiang could see a record low of minus 47.9 C (minus 54.2 F), recorded in January 1980, broken early next week, according to a meteorological forecaster from the area.
The agriculture ministry launched an emergency response, and the national disaster prevention body issued a directive to local authorities to prepare emergency plans, as well as snow and ice removal equipment.
“Storage of thermal coal should be done in advance to ensure the normal power generation of power plants during the critical period,” added the directive.
It also called on local authorities “to ensure that the national energy supply and demand are stable and orderly.”
On Friday, President Xi Jinping called for an “all-out” emergency response to the cold snap that began at the start of the week with snowfall and icy roads along with heavy fog causing multiple accidents on the roads.
But in a sign that conditions were improving in Beijing, the local forecaster reduced the severity of its weather warning for the residents and authorities said schools would reopen for in-person classes after shutting for several days last week.
Russian peacekeeping KAMAZ lorry catches fire in Armenia’s south transporting munitions. One peacekeeper evacuated to Sisian hospital for treatment.
*Apparently Russian military continues using Armenia as a base for it’s NK peacekeepers.
Source: https://t.co/K30FC8m5UD pic.twitter.com/8E2nFarmrp
— Nagorno Karabakh Observer (@NKobserver) December 17, 2023
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NPR News: 12-17-2023 6PM EST
Categories
NPR News: 12-17-2023 5PM EST
Gaza/Israel Border — Israeli forces battling Hamas said they had uncovered an unusually large concrete and iron-girded tunnel, designed to carry carloads of militant fighters from Gaza right up to the border.
Razing or disabling hundreds of kilometers of underground passages and bunkers is among the aims of the offensive Israel launched after Hamas gunmen went on a killing and kidnapping spree in its southern towns and army bases on Oct. 7.
Among sites that Hamas overran in that attack was the Erez border crossing between Gaza and Israel. Just 100 meters (yards) south of the checkpoint, concealed in a sand dune, the military showed reporters the exit point of what it said was a flagship Hamas project.
The tunnel ran down diagonally to a depth of 50 meters, where it expanded to a relatively capacious 3 meters (10 feet) in height and width, with electrical fittings.
Chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari put the full length of the tunnel at 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) — enough to reach into northern Gaza City, once the heart of Hamas governance and now a devastated combat zone.
It was “the biggest tunnel we found in Gaza … meant to target the (Erez) crossing,” Hagari said, without specifying whether it was used by Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack.
“Millions of dollars were invested in this tunnel. It took years to build this tunnel … Vehicles could drive through.”
Hamas did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on the Israeli account.
Generally, the tunnels shown to the media by the group, or by the Israeli military after their discovery, have been narrow and low — designed for single-file movement of gunmen on foot. The tunnel shown by Hagari had shafts plunging vertically downward that, he said, suggested it was part of a wider network.
The tunnels have been a challenge for Israel’s engineers, worried that the networks could conceal hostages held by Hamas. That has slowed an offensive whose steep Palestinian civilian toll has alarmed world powers.
Hagari showed reporters a video of Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and himself a senior operative in the group, sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle that he said was driving inside the tunnel.
On Oct. 29, Israel’s Ynet news site reported that troops killed several gunmen who attacked Erez after accessing the area from a tunnel. Hagari’s office did not respond to a query on whether that referred to the tunnel he showed.
The Islamist militant group launched a surprise attack against southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 240 hostages, according to the latest Israeli figures.
In response, Israel set out to destroy Hamas and launched a relentless bombardment and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip to achieve that goal. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says Israel has killed more than 18,800 people, mostly women and children, during the war.
Gaza/Israel Border — Israeli forces battling Hamas said they had uncovered an unusually large concrete and iron-girded tunnel, designed to carry carloads of militant fighters from Gaza right up to the border.
Razing or disabling hundreds of kilometers of underground passages and bunkers is among the aims of the offensive Israel launched after Hamas gunmen went on a killing and kidnapping spree in its southern towns and army bases on Oct. 7.
Among sites that Hamas overran in that attack was the Erez border crossing between Gaza and Israel. Just 100 meters (yards) south of the checkpoint, concealed in a sand dune, the military showed reporters the exit point of what it said was a flagship Hamas project.
The tunnel ran down diagonally to a depth of 50 meters, where it expanded to a relatively capacious 3 meters (10 feet) in height and width, with electrical fittings.
Chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari put the full length of the tunnel at 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) — enough to reach into northern Gaza City, once the heart of Hamas governance and now a devastated combat zone.
It was “the biggest tunnel we found in Gaza … meant to target the (Erez) crossing,” Hagari said, without specifying whether it was used by Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack.
“Millions of dollars were invested in this tunnel. It took years to build this tunnel … Vehicles could drive through.”
Hamas did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on the Israeli account.
Generally, the tunnels shown to the media by the group, or by the Israeli military after their discovery, have been narrow and low — designed for single-file movement of gunmen on foot. The tunnel shown by Hagari had shafts plunging vertically downward that, he said, suggested it was part of a wider network.
The tunnels have been a challenge for Israel’s engineers, worried that the networks could conceal hostages held by Hamas. That has slowed an offensive whose steep Palestinian civilian toll has alarmed world powers.
Hagari showed reporters a video of Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and himself a senior operative in the group, sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle that he said was driving inside the tunnel.
On Oct. 29, Israel’s Ynet news site reported that troops killed several gunmen who attacked Erez after accessing the area from a tunnel. Hagari’s office did not respond to a query on whether that referred to the tunnel he showed.
The Islamist militant group launched a surprise attack against southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 240 hostages, according to the latest Israeli figures.
In response, Israel set out to destroy Hamas and launched a relentless bombardment and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip to achieve that goal. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says Israel has killed more than 18,800 people, mostly women and children, during the war.