World news in brief
Indonesia volcano spews 6km-high column of ash
The most active and volatile volcano in Indonesia has erupted twice, spewing ash and hot gas in a 6kilometre high column into the sky yesterday. Mount Merapi, located between the Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces, produced thick clouds of ash that blanketed several villages on the main island of Java. Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre did not raise the volcano’s alert status, which was already set at the third-highest level since it began erupting in August.
Tom Petty’s family objects to Trump using song
The family of the late Tom Petty has issued a statement objecting to Donald Trump’s use of the song “I Won’t Back Down” in his campaign. Mr Trump played the hit 1989 song at his rally in Tulsa on Saturday
night, but Petty’s estate has claimed he was not authorised to use it. In a statement, the family said Mr Trump’s campaign “leaves too many Americans and common sense behind”.
Biggest daily rise in global cases reported by WHO
More than 183,000 new cases of coronavirus were reported worldwide in the largest daily increase since the start of the outbreak, according to the World Health Organisation. The UN health agency said yesterday that 183,020 cases were recorded in the latest 24 hour period, bringing the global total to 8,708,008. Brazil led the way with 54,771 of the daily total, followed by the US with 36,617. Over 15,400 came were in India. A further 4,743 deaths were also reported worldwide yesterday as the global death toll rose to 461,715. More than two-thirds of those new deaths were reported in the Americas, the new epicentre of the pandemic.
Drug check in Germany sparks riot
Police in Stuttgart said yesterday that 24 people were arrested and 19 officers injured after a check for drugs sparked attacks followed by widespread vandalism of storefronts in the city center. Police said several hundred people were involved. The disturbance started after officers stopped a 17-year-old on suspicion of drug possession as several hundred people partied outside around 2330 local time on Saturday, police said. Bystanders started throwing stones and bottles, and smaller groups ran through surrounding streets breaking shop windows, according to police.
Police said 40 businesses were vandalized and nine of them had been looted, while 12 police vehicles were damaged before officers brought the situation under control around 04.00. Only one of the injured officers was seriously hurt enough to be considered unable to work, police said.