Trump makes first visit to US troops in harm’s way
In an unannounced trip to Iraq on Wednesday, President Donald Trump staunchly defended his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from neighboring Syria despite a drumbeat of criticism from military officials and allies who don’t think the job fighting Islamic State militants there is over.
Wall prototypes sit on the US-Mexico border
Border wall prototypes stand in San Diego near the Mexico-U.S. border as President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats are locked in a standoff over border wall funding that has shut down parts of the U.S. government.
Lobster divers risk injury, death in Honduras
Saul Ronaldo Atiliano was diving for lobster in the clear waters off Honduras’ Caribbean coast when he felt a pressure, a pain in his body. And he knew he’d gotten the sickness that has killed or disabled so many of his Miskito comrades.
Police free Bosnian Serb who led protests over son’s death
Bosnian Serb authorities on Wednesday released from detention the man who has sparked anti-government protests with his demands for the truth about his son’s death.
Israeli lawmakers dissolve parliament, paving way for April elections
Israeli lawmakers dissolved the parliament on Wednesday evening, paving the way for early elections on April 9.
Wave of sexual abuse allegations shakes Argentina
For months, Claudia Guebel could only tell family and friends about a traumatizing encounter with a colleague in Argentina’s Senate.
Series to focus on mental disorders
LIHUE — Kauai volunteers will sponsor a NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program specifically for families of persons diagnosed with serious mental illness. The free series of classes will start in Lihue on Jan. 7. The class will meet on Monday and Thursday evenings. Each class will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m., and the series will end Feb. 14.
Ige updates carnival rules
Circus and carnivals in Hawaii can’t bring lions, tigers or bears in for the show thanks to updated state rules signed by Gov. David Ige, and the head of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture says it’s been a long time coming.
Economic indicators remain strong
Hawaii’s economy remained relatively strong through the year, with continued job growth, increasing wages and tax revenues that exceeded government projections in 2018, according to an annual financial report released last week by the Department of Accounting and General Services.
It’s a wrap at Nihoku
More than 100 threatened and endangered seabirds have fledged from the Nihoku restoration site within the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge in the past four years.
2.7% unemployment in November
Kauai’s unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the month of November, and statewide rates are the lowest in the country, according to figures released by the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations last week.
AARP offers Smart Driver Courses
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is starting AARP Smart Driver Courses on Jan. 22 for Kauai seniors.
Offensive questions emphasized in Hawaii Bowl defeat
The season finale may have created more questions than it answered as the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors hosted the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday. After an 8-5 regular season that featured plenty of highs along with some intermittent lulls, the ‘Bows fell 31-14 to Louisiana Tech.
Obituaries for Wednesday, December 26, 2018
• William ‘Whitey’ Pascua • Marc Nobuo Cuizon • Peter Allen Tegan
The digestive system and leaky gut, part 2
In my previous article I talked about the importance of digestion, and what may cause leaky gut. The walls of the intestine serve as a physical barrier, separating food and the bacterial populations of the intestine from the rest of the body. Intestinal permeability, or “leaky gut”, occurs when antigens that normally can not go through the intestinal tract are able to make their way through and enter into the bloodstream.
Hawaii’s minimum wage needs to be a living wage.
Every person working 40 hours a week, deserves to earn a wage that provides basic shelter, food and medical care. This statement should not be debatable.
Letters for Wednesday, December 26, 2018
• Elected officials shouldn’t get paid during shutdown • Why no criminal prosecution for DLNR official?
Happy Camper for Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Welcome back, Jeff and Cindy Haigh! Jeff creates those fabulous sand sculptures at Kalapaki Beach (happy holidays to Morris Unotoa’s family who was cruising the beach walk following Sunday brunch)! Jeff is planninganother display for the New Year’s (how about Chinese New Year?) that should be up by Monday.
Asian markets slip on fears of US slowdown
Asian markets were mostly lower on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said that there was “nothing new” in efforts to end the partial government shutdown over a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Japan says it will leave IWC to resume commercial whaling
Japan says it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts but says it will no longer go to the Antarctic to hunt.
Indonesia asks people to avoid coast near erupting volcano
Indonesian authorities asked people near an island volcano to avoid the coast while eruptions and weather and sea conditions were being monitored for tsunami risks.
Koreas hold groundbreaking ceremony for railway project
South Korean officials have traveled to North Korea by train to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for an aspirational project to modernize North Korean railways and roads and connect them with the South.
Thailand legislature legalizes medical marijuana and kratom
Thailand’s legislature on Tuesday agreed to amend the country’s drug law to allow the licensed medical use of marijuana, as well as kratom, a locally grown plant traditionally used as a stimulant and painkiller.
Hawaii to roll out database to track school repair backlog
The Hawaii Department of Education is rolling out an online database to track the estimated $868 million backlog of repair and maintenance projects in the public school system.
Big Island summits could see snow on Christmas Day
The summits on the Big Island could experience a white Christmas as clouds are expected to sweep westward across Hawaii bringing showers and snow.