Iranian leaders facing pressure at home and abroad as public anger mounts over downed plane - CNN

Protests that began as vigils to mourn those who died in the crash quickly turned into mass anti-government demonstrations, with calls for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down and for those responsible for downing the plane to be prosecuted.

"Death to the dictator," some chanted in the capital, Tehran, in footage posted on social media. In one video, demonstrators chanted, "Khamenei have shame. Leave the country."

Khamenei has been in office for three decades, and there is no limit to his term.

Videos circulating on social media showed demonstrators in Tehran coughing and fleeing from tear gas as authorities apparently detained protesters while others shouted for police to release them

The Ukraine International Airlines jet that was shot down had passengers from around the world on board, but in Iran, many see the incident as a particularly domestic tragedy. Many people are angry that the government killed so many of its own people -- most of those on board were Iranian nationals and people of Iranian heritage.

Some protesters could be heard shouting "we will kill whoever killed our brothers" in video posted to social media that CNN could not independently verify.

Image of a unified country

Protests have spread to other cities, including Shiraz, Esfahan, Hamedan and Orumiyeh, Reuters reported, exposing widespread discontent with the regime.

The angry crowds are a marked difference from the image of a unified country in mourning seen following the death of top commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq last week.

Following his death, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran clutching photos of the revered and powerful figure and chanting "death to the USA."

Widespread reverence for Soleimani, who commanded a cult-like status in the country, had seemingly united Iranians of all political stripes in anger at the US.

But at protests over the weekend, posters of Soleimani had reportedly been torn down, according to Agence France-Presse.

Security forces were deployed in key areas of the capital over the weekend, including Azadi Square near Sharif University, Enghelab (Revolution) Square near Tehran University, and Ferdowsi Square.

Fully equipped riot police were on patrol, accompanied by water cannons and black vehicles that are sometimes used as mobile detention centers.

But protesters appeared undeterred in their anger, testing the limits and patience of the Iranian regime which is known for suppressing all dissent, often brutally.

Late last year thousands of Iranians took to the streets in nationwide anti-government protests sparked by a hike in gas prices in November.

The government responded by shutting down the internet and unleashing what Amnesty International described as a "bloody clampdown." The human rights organization estimated that at least 208 protesters had been killed in 21 cities, citing "credible reports." The United Nations said it had video evidence that Iranian security forces were "shooting to kill."

US President Donald Trump has tweeted his support for the demonstrators and warned Iran in a series of tweets over the weekend: "Do not kill your protesters."

"Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching," the President said, later retweeting his post in Farsi.

Pressure from home and abroad

During an open session of Iran's parliament in Tehran Sunday, the chief commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, Hossein Salami, apologized for unintentionally shooting down the Ukrainian plane and asked for forgiveness.

"We did made a mistake. Some of our compatriots were martyred because of our mistake but it was unintentional," Salami said. "In my all lifetime I haven't been as sorry as much as now. Never."

"I wish I had been on board and burned with them," he continued.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said his country "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake" and his "thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families."

Iran previously denied US claims that the country had struck down the plane before admitting the mistake Saturday.

The apologies did little to quell protests and, while the Iranian leadership faces public opposition at home, international pressure is piling on the regime to investigate the crash and hold those responsible to account.

The downed plane's victims included 57 Canadians, and that country's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a press conference Saturday that, "Canada will not rest until we get the accountability, justice and closure that the families deserve."

Fresh criticism was also leveled at Iran for the temporary arrest Saturday of British Ambassador Rob Macaire.

According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Macaire was arrested while in the middle of a crowd of protesters in front of Tehran's Amir Kabir University. He was accused of instigating and directing radical and destructive demonstrations, and later released. Macaire said on Twitter that he wasn't taking part in any demonstrations -- and was instead paying respect to victims of the downed Ukrainian plane.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called Macaire's arrest a "flagrant violation of international law" -- a sentiment echoed by the German and French foreign ministries.

Following his release, protesters gathered outside the embassy in Tehran on Sunday, with video showing demonstrators carrying images of Soleimani and burning the UK flag.

Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Khamenei on Sunday blamed the "corruptive presence of the US and its cohorts" for the "current turbulent situation" and has called for the strengthening of relations between countries in the region.

"The current situation in the region demands -- more than ever before -- the strengthening of relations between countries in the region as well as avoiding the influence of foreigners' inductions," Khamenei said, following a meeting with Qatar's leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Hours before the airline disaster, Iran fired missiles at Iraqi military bases housing US troops in retaliation for the drone strike. Amid rising tensions in the region, eight Katyusha rockets hit Iraq's Balad Air Base, north of Baghdad, on Sunday, wounding four Iraqi air force officers, the Iraqi military said in a statement. No American or coalition forces were at the base when the rockets struck, a US military official told CNN.

CNN's Sheena McKenzie, Madeline Holcombe, Artemis Moshtaghian, Joshua Berlinger and Hande Atay Alam contributed to writing and reporting.

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2020-01-13 07:43:00Z
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Why Kate Middleton Can Never Have a 'Normal' Marriage With Prince William - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry are dominating the headlines at the moment over their resignation. But Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William are bound to be the royals who deal with the spotlight 24/7.

Prince William is duty-bound to be the future king and to forever live in the goldfish bowl of royal life — just like his wife, Kate. The two have been together for well over a decade and have forged a relationship that, to many, seems solid and successful.

However, there’s no doubt that for Prince William and Kate, marriage will always be very different from most other couples. 

When did Kate Middleton and Prince William get married?

Kate Middleton | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Kate and Prince William first met around 2001, when they were both students at the prestigious St. Andrews University. They became roommates in 2002 and by the year 2003, they started dating.

After several years, the news of their romance became public knowledge and the two were spotted on getaways together all over the world. Kate even started meeting members of the royal family, proving that Prince William was very serious about his girlfriend.

In 2007, Kate and Prince William briefly broke up, due to media pressure. After less than a year, they were back together again, and this time, it was for good.

They got engaged in November 2010, with Prince William presenting her with his late mother’s fabulous sapphire and diamond ring. Their royal wedding in April 2011 was watched by thousands of people all over the world. It seemed as though Kate and Prince William were truly living a fairytale.

Kate Middleton and Prince William are trying to give their children a normal life

In July 2013, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed their first child: Prince George. They eventually welcomed two more children: Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

As parents, Prince William and Kate seem to be very hands-on, constantly holding, hugging, and reassuring their three young children. This is a marked break from royal tradition, as many royal parents have been more “hands-off” in their approach to parenthood. 

According to reports, the couple desperately wants their children to have a normal upbringing and to experience all the joys of childhood, without the pressures that come from growing up within the royal family. At home, Kate enjoys doing hands-on things such as baking and crafting with the children. While they do utilize nannies, they still do a lot of parenting duties on a daily basis on their own, just like other couples all over the world. 

Prince William and Kate Middleton will never have a normal marriage

Even if Kate and Prince William are determined to give their children a normal life, the sad reality is that they will likely never experience that sense of normalcy in their own marriage. According to a recent report, the royal couple is “discouraged” from any public displays of affection, such as hand-holding or even a peck on the cheek, due to the rules of royal decorum.

Although there isn’t any specific rule that states how often married couples can engage in PDA, there are some guidelines, and couples are encouraged to match their behavior to the structure of the event that they are attending. “Regular” married couples don’t have to worry about such things and are free to hold hands, hug, or affectionately touch each other whenever they choose.

Prince William and Kate are forever duty-bound to live this type of life, due to the nature of Prince William’s role in the royal family. Still, the report also claims that the two do truly seem to be happy and that they are more or less used to living in the spotlight. They will certainly need all of their strength as well as their reserve as they navigate the future of the monarchy.

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2020-01-13 07:45:01Z
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Taal Volcano erupts near Manila in the Philippines, spewing smoke and ash miles into the sky - CBS News

Plumes of smoke and ash rise as the Taal volcano erupts Sunday, January 12, 2020, outside Manila, Philippines. Aaron Favila / AP

Tagaytay, Philippines — A small volcano south of the Philippine capital that draws many tourists for its picturesque setting in a lake erupted with a massive plume of ash and steam Sunday, prompting thousands of people to flee and officials to shut Manila's international airport.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Taal Volcano in Batangas province south of Manila blasted steam, ash and pebbles up to 6 to 9 miles into the sky in a dramatic escalation of its growing restiveness, which began last year.

The volcanology institute raised the danger level around Taal three notches on Sunday to level 4, indicating "a hazardous eruption may happen within hours or days," said Renato Solidum, who heads the volcanology institute. Level 5, the highest, means a hazardous eruption is underway and could affect a larger area.

Trending News

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, but authorities scrambled to evacuate more than 6,000 villagers from an island in the middle of a lake, where the volcano lies, and tens of thousands more from nearby coastal towns, officials said. About 300,000 people were targeted to be moved to safety in Batangas overnight and in the next few days.

"We have asked people in high-risk areas, including the volcano island, to evacuate now ahead of a possible hazardous eruption," Solidum said.

Renelyn Bautista, a 38-year-old housewife who was among thousands of residents who fled from Batangas province's Laurel town, said she hitched a ride to safety from her home with her two children, including a 4-month-old baby, after Taal erupted and the ground shook mildly.

"We hurriedly evacuated when the air turned muddy because of the ashfall and it started to smell like gunpowder," Bautista said by phone.

Fallen ash covered the runways at Manila's international airport Sunday night. All departing and arriving international and domestic flights were suspended "due to volcanic ash in the vicinity of the airport" and nearby air routes, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said.

Taal lies more than 37 miles south of Manila.

A view of the Taal Volcano eruption seen from Tagaytay, Philippines, on January 12, 2020, in this still image taken from social media video. Jon Patrick Laurence Yen via Reuters

Norwegian Tonny Roger, who had flown to the Philippines to visit his wife, said he wasn't happy that his flight back to Norway was canceled, but he thought of the bright side. "Well, I can see her more. I will go back to her now," he told The Associated Press at the airport.

Authorities said they were considering diverting flights to unaffected airports outside Manila.

The volcanology institute reminded the public that the small island where the volcano lies is a "permanent danger zone," although fishing villages have existed there for years. It asked nearby coastal communities "to take precautionary measures and be vigilant of possible lake water disturbances related to the ongoing unrest."

Heavy to light ashfall was reported in towns and cities several miles from the volcano, and officials advised residents to stay indoors and don masks and goggles for safety. Motorists were hampered by poor visibility, which was worsened by rainy weather.

Hotels, shopping malls and restaurants line an upland road along a ridge overlooking the lake and the volcano in Tagaytay city, a key tourism area that could be affected by a major eruption.

Authorities recorded a swarm of earthquakes, some of them felt with rumbling sounds, and a slight inflation of portions of the 1,020-foot volcano ahead of Sunday's steam-driven explosion, officials said.

Classes in a wide swath of towns and cities were suspended Monday, including in Manila, to avoid health risks posed by the ashfall.

One of the world's smallest volcanoes, Taal is among two dozen active volcanoes in the Philippines, which lies along the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," a seismically active region that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

About 20 typhoons and other major storms each year also lash the Philippines, which lies between the Pacific and the South China Sea, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.

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2020-01-12 13:38:00Z
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Iran anti-government protests erupt over shooting down of Ukrainian passenger plane: ‘Death to the dictator’ - Fox News

Anti-government protests erupted across Iran late Saturday, where thousands of demonstrators called for a regime change with chants of “death to the dictator,” following the state’s reluctant admission that it shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane.

Iranians have expressed anger toward the government since the downing of the plane early Wednesday and the misleading explanations from senior officials that initially denied culpability. Iran finally accepted “full responsibility” for unintentionally shooting down the aircraft on Saturday.

IRANIAN FEMALE OLYMPIAN DEFECTS, CALLS OUT REGIME'S 'HYPOCRISY' AS SHE EXITS COUNTRY PERMANENTLY

A vigil at Tehran University for 16 Iranian students killed in the crash turned into a massive demonstration with chants of “death to the dictator” and “death to liars.” Demonstrators demanded Ayatollah Ali Khamenei step down and those responsible for the tragedy be fired and put on trial, a criticism that is punishable by two years in prison.

As many as 1,000 protesters tore up pictures of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in demonstrations in the streets on Tehran, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported in a rare instance of anti-government coverage, according to Reuters.

“They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here,” protesters chanted in the street, the outlet reported.

IRAN ADMITS TO 'UNINTENTIOANNLY' SHOOTING DOWN UKRAINIAN PLANE, SAYS IT MISTOOK AIRCRAFT FOR HOSTILE TARGET

The plane was shot down shortly after takeoff as Iran braced for retaliation after firing ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces. The ballistic missile attack, which caused no casualties, was a response to the killing of Soleimani in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad.

Debris at the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday. Iran announced Saturday that its military “unintentionally” shot down the Ukrainian jetliner after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)

All 167 passengers and nine crew members aboard were killed. The victims included 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, officials said.

"Even talking about it makes my heart beat faster and makes me sad,” Tehran resident Zahra Razeghi told The Associated Press. “I feel ashamed when I think about their families."

"The denial and covering up the truth over the past three days greatly added to the suffering and pain of the families, and me,” she continued.

Security forces riot gear responded to the crowds of demonstrators at the university and Vali-e Asr Square in the capital by shooting tear gas and beating several protesters, injuring at least six.

US-IRAN TENSIONS: A TIMELINE OF INCIDENTS BETWEEN TWO LONGTIME RIVALS

President Trump called the people of Iran “brave” for taking a stand against the regime, tweeting late Saturday night that America is “inspired by your courage.”

He followed up with another post on Sunday morning, backing up the Iranian demonstrators with a clear message to the leaders of Iran: “Do not kill your protesters.”

“Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching,” Trump wrote. “More importantly, the USA is watching. Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free! Stop the killing of your great Iranian people!”

Meanwhile, Iranian media has focused on the admission of responsibility for the crash, with several newspapers calling for those responsible to apologize and resign.

Two state TV hosts resigned in protest at the false reporting about the cause of the plane crash.

Bahareh Arvin, a reformist member of Tehran city council, took to social media to say she was resigning in protest at the government's lies and corruption, saying that "with the current mechanism, there is no hope of reform."

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

As further calls for protests against the Iranian government circulated for later Sunday, Revolutionary Guard members on motorbikes and plainclothes security men patrolled Tehran in force.

Fox News' Rick Leventhal and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2020-01-12 15:21:29Z
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Philippines volcano: Thousands evacuated as Taal spews ash - BBC News

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A volcano in the Philippines has emitted a giant plume of ash, prompting authorities to order the evacuation of some 8,000 people living nearby.

The plume coming from the Taal volcano, south of the capital Manila, stretched about 1km (0.6 miles) into the sky.

Rumbling sounds and tremors were also reported around Taal - the Philippines' second-most active volcano - on Sunday.

Authorities raised the alert level, warning that a "hazardous eruption" was possible within weeks.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology also warned residents living nearby of a possible "volcanic tsunami".

Ash began falling in nearby areas on Sunday, with residents advised to wear masks.

A man in the popular holiday resort of Tagaytay told Reuters news agency he was having lunch when he heard a rumbling sound.

"We saw the volcano erupting. It rained and some small pebbles fell to the ground," Jon Patrick Yen said. "I did not expect to see such spectacle."

The Philippine institute has urged people living around the volcano, located on an island in the middle of Taal lake, and two nearby "high-risk" municipalities to evacuate.

Tall is one of the world's smallest volcanoes. It has recorded at least 34 eruptions in the past 450 years.

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2020-01-12 13:16:59Z
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Iran admits to unintentionally shooting down Ukrainian plane: Live updates - CNN International

CNN has obtained video through Alireza Azami, an activist in the Netherlands, showing thousands of people gathered in front of the gate of Amir Kabir University in Tehran yesterday.

Azami told CNN the videos were shot by people at the protests who want to remain anonymous for safety reasons. 

In the video below, protesters can be heard chanting “Khamenei have shame. Leave the country."

Some context: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged Iran’s Armed Forces to investigate the “possible shortcomings” that led to the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane on Wednesday.

Watch Azami's video below:

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2020-01-12 13:09:00Z
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Warnings of ‘Volcanic Tsunami’ After Eruption in the Philippines - The New York Times

MANILA — A dramatic explosion of the Philippines’ second-most-active volcano on Sunday prompted warnings of a possible “volcanic tsunami” as villagers were evacuated and nearby communities were advised to take precautions against any lake water surges.

The explosion, which sent a plume of ash half a mile into the air, came months after the volcano — Taal, about 40 miles south of Manila — began exhibiting a state of unrest. Tremors were felt on the volcano’s island and in villages around the nearby town of Agoncillo in Batangas Province, and booming noises from the volcano raised fears among residents.

“The earthquakes were strong, and it felt like there was a monster coming out” as in the movies, said Cookie Siscar, who had left the area and was relaying a report from her husband, Emer, a poultry farmer, who was in their home in Batangas that overlooks the volcano island.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised its alert level for Taal Volcano to four out of five, indicating that a “hazardous eruption” was imminent.

Ordering the evacuation of hundreds of villagers, the institute warned that the eruption could cause a “volcanic tsunami” and advised nearby communities to take precautions against possible surges from the lake that surrounds the volcano. About 6,000 people live on the island, and boats took residents to safety in Batangas early on Sunday.

Manila’s international airport also said on Twitter that flights to and from the airport were suspended because of the eruption.

The volcano island has been showing signs of activity since last March, and the volcano has had about three dozen eruptions recorded in recent history. Siting on a lake that partly fills a caldera formed thousands of years ago, it is a popular attraction for tourists viewing it from a ridge in Cavite Province to the north.

Salvador Panelo, a spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte, said the government was “closely monitoring the situation of Taal Volcano.”

“Concerned agencies of the national government are now working closely with the provincial government of Batangas to ensure the safety of the residents, including their evacuation,” Mr. Panelo said. “We advise the public to continue to remain vigilant.”

Rea Torres, who is from the town of Dita in Batangas, said that when she went to check on the family residence, she felt tremors twice: “I felt as if the whole floor moved.”

“It is very scary,” she said, describing “ominous clouds above us” and thunder and lightning.

Last January, an eruption at the most active volcano in the island nation — the Mayon, in Albay Province, about 200 miles east of the Taal — prompted an alert level of four as it generated up to 1,600 feet of lava fountains and ash fell on two nearby villages.

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2020-01-12 11:33:00Z
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