SRN News

2 face federal terror charge over train track interference (Mon, 30 Nov 2020)
SEATTLE (AP) — Federal authorities in Seattle have charged two people with a terrorist attack on train tracks, suggesting they were motivated by opposition to the construction of a natural gas pipeline across British Columbia when they interfered with the operation of a railroad in Washington state. Samantha Frances Brooks, 27, and Ellen Brennan Reiche, 23, both of Bellingham, are accused of placing “shunts” on Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks Saturday night. Such devices consist of a wire strung across the tracks, mimicking the electrical signal of a train. The devices can cause trains to automatically brake and can disable railroad crossing guards, investigators said in a complaint filed Monday. The pair are charged only in Saturday night’s incident, but there have been 41 such cases involving the BNSF tracks since January, with a message claiming responsibility posted on an anarchist website early this year, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force said. In one, shunts were placed in three locations in northwest Washington on Oct. 11, prompting emergency brakes to engage on a train that was hauling hazardous materials and flammable gas. The braking caused a bar connecting the train’s cars to fail; the cars became separated and could have derailed, U.S. Attorney Brian Moran said in a news release. “These crimes endanger our community,” Moran said. Brooks and Reiche were arrested after triggering a game camera on BNSF property, the complaint said. They made an initial court appearance Monday and were released pending a Dec. 14 hearing. Their attorneys declined to comment Monday afternoon. The charge carries a prison term of up to 20 years. Opponents say the 416-mile (670-km) Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project would worsen environmental damage and infringe on the rights of First Nations people in British Columbia. The message claiming responsibility for the shunts said the goal was to keep supplies from reaching the U.S.-Canada border. “This tactic is fast and discreet,” the message said. “On a single rail track with a Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) system, this simple action can generate enough confusion in the system to cause big slow downs and bureaucratic delays.” TC Energy, the Alberta company behind the pipeline proposal, has said it is committed to partnering with the 20 First Nations that have executed agreements related to the project and has provided them an opportunity to invest in it. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com
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Australia hosts first group of overseas students since virus (Mon, 30 Nov 2020)
DARWIN, Australia (AP) — Australia has welcomed its first group of international students to arrive since the coronavirus pandemic began, with more due to follow. A charter flight carrying 63 students from mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia landed Monday in the northern city of Darwin. The students will all attend Charles Darwin University, with some new to the campus and others previously enrolled. They are part of a pilot program aimed at boosting the local economy and providing a template for international students to arrive in other parts of Australia. The arrival comes amid growing tensions between Australia and China after a Chinese official this week posted a fake image on Twitter of an Australian soldier appearing to slit a child’s throat. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the image “repugnant” and demanded an apology from the Chinese government, but China has not backed down. The post took aim at alleged abuses by Australian soldiers during the conflict in Afghanistan. The arriving students were required to undertake a pre-departure health screening and have been placed in a quarantine facility for two weeks before they can begin attending classes. Simon Maddocks, the vice chancellor of Charles Darwin University, told reporters they have been working with officials for seven months to make the trip happen. “All being well, we hope we can continue to run these flights through the early part of next year as we see the Australian higher education system and the vocational training system return to engaging international students,” he said. “They are very important for universities, they are very important for our local economy here in Darwin.” Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison said the students are the first international students allowed back into the country since March 20 and more are expected to follow. She said each student contributes an average of more than 40,000 Australian dollars ($30,000) per year to the economy. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com
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Audio News – SRN News

SRN Hourly News 11-30-20 – 07:00 PM CST (Mon, 30 Nov 2020)
Top News Stories Nov 30, 2020 – 07:00 PM CST Brought to you by www.srnnews.com
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Arizona, Wisconsin certify election results formalizing Biden’s victory (Mon, 30 Nov 2020)
Two battleground states critical to President Trump’s legal challenges have certified their election results. Arizona officials certified the state’s election results, formalizing Joe Biden’s narrow victory over Donald Trump. Republican Governor Doug Ducey defended the integrity of the election. Meanwhile, Biden’s victory in Wisconsin has been confirmed following a partial recount that added slightly to his 20-thousand-600-vote margin over the president. With the confirmation, the Trump team has five days to file a lawsuit — an action promised by the president. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com
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