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A 19 year old dad in Utah killed his 7 week old son because he wouldn't stop crying.

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families house caught on fire from Christmas lights

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Californians near a series of wildfires that continue to spread across the southern part of the state are being urged to wear face masks because of hazardous air conditions. At least three people have been injured from the fire.

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Californians near a series of wildfires that continue to spread across the southern part of the state are being urged to wear face masks because of hazardous air conditions. At least three people have been injured from the fire.

The Carpinteria High School gym was packed Thursday night as concerned residents of the oceanside city near Santa Barbara feared they could be next in the path of the massive Thomas fire -- the largest and most destructive fire in the state - which has burned 115,000 acres since Monday, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Hazardous is the worst classification that air quality has," said Polly Baldwin, medical director at Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, during a town hall meeting with the crowd. She urged locals to don face masks outside as the air quality in the city, north of Los Angeles, continues to deteriorate.

Santa Barbara County fire officials said the fire has not yet reached county lines, but residents should be prepared, according to the newspaper.

Farther south in San Diego County, classes at multiple schools were canceled Friday after a fire broke out there a day earlier amid dry, hot and windy conditions across the region.

Retirement communities built on golf courses, semi-rural race horse stables and other usually serene sites were engulfed by flames as a result.

Three people were burned while escaping, said Capt. Nick Schuler of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Two firefighters also suffered minor injuries battling the blazes, Cal Fire San Diego added.

The National Weather Service on Thursday also extended a red-flag warning through the weekend across much of Southern California, which indicates "critical" fire conditions exist in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

"If fire ignition occurs, there will be the potential for very rapid spread of wildfire with long-range spotting and extreme fire behavior that could lead to a threat to life and property," the weather service warned.

Fire officials warned those powerful winds can help to fan dangerous flames in any blaze that develops.

"These winds are pretty much unprecedented," Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Chief Trent Aronson told Fox News on Thursday.

Firefighters in Ventura- 130 miles to the north - tried to corral the Thomas Fire on Thursday, which has grown to 180 square miles and destroyed 430 buildings. Crews made enough progress against large fires around Los Angeles to lift most evacuation orders, according to The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, the fire north of San Diego, driven by winds above 35 mph, razed rows of trailer homes in a retirement community, leaving charred and mangled metal in its wake.

It wasn't immediately known what sparked the fire next to State Highway 76, but strong winds carried it across six lanes to the other side.

Evacuations were ordered in the area near the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base and schools and casinos were being used as shelters.

Cynthia Olvera, 20, took shelter at Fallbrook High School.

She had been at her Bonsall home with her younger sister and nephew when her father called from the family nursery to say the fire had reached the gate of their sprawling property.

After starting to drive away, the family turned around to recover forgotten personal documents - but it was too late. Trees were ablaze and flames were within 10 feet of the house.

"I didn't think it would move that fast," she told The Associated Press.

As the flames approached the elite San Luis Rey Downs training facility for thoroughbreds, many of the more than 450 horses were cut loose to prevent them from being trapped in their stables if barns caught fire, said Mac McBride of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

Herds of horses galloped past flaming palm trees in their chaotic escape of a normally idyllic place. Not all survived.

Horse trainer Scott Hansen said he knows that some of his 30 horses at the facility died.

"I don't know how many are living and how many are dead," he said. "I guess I'll have to figure that out in the morning."

All of Friday's races at Los Alamitos Race Course were canceled as the racing community mourned.
Fox News' Travis Fedschun and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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California wildfires leaves 3 injured, residents urged to wear face masks

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Californians near a series of wildfires that continue to spread across the southern part of the state are being urged to wear face masks because of hazardous air conditions. At least three people have been injured from the fire.

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within 4hrs of hitting the last record, they hit a new record of over 3,000. Bitcoin is growing fast with over 5.8 million users

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Bitcoin has given investors whiplash yet again.

Just after hitting a new record of more than $17,000, the digital currency plummeted Friday in Asia. Its price nosedived more than $2,500 in less than four hours.

Bitcoin investors have been on a wild ride this year. Its price has soared from less than $1,000 in January -- but with occasional sudden drops along the way.

Trading has become especially frenzied in recent weeks as new investors have dived into the volatile market.

Related: I bought $250 in bitcoin. Here's what I learned

Arthur Hayes, CEO of Hong Kong-based bitcoin exchange Bitmex, said he thought the sharp correction Friday was "healthy" given that the digital currency's price had jumped roughly 80% in the past week.

He predicted more sharp moves early next week when the Chicago Board Options Exchange starts allowing investors to trade bitcoin futures.

On Friday afternoon in Hong Kong, bitcoin was trading close to $16,000, according to tracking site CoinDesk, up from its earlier low of around $14,500.

CNNMoney (Hong Kong) First published December 8, 2017: 2:39 AM ET

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Bitcoin plunges more than $2,500 after hitting new record

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Just after hitting a new record of more than $17,000, the digital currency plummeted Friday in Asia. Its price nosedived more than $2,500 in less than four hours. Bitcoin investors have been on a wild ride this year. Its price has soared from less than $1,000 in January -- but with occasional sudden drops along the way.

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California fires: Blazes stretch from Ventura to San Diego County

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Six large wildfires have scorched 141,000 acres in the state this week, Cal Fire officials said. At least 5,700 firefighters from several agencies are working to contain the massive walls of flames.

The fires have forced 190,000 people out of their homes, some with nothing but their pets and a few mementos. The latest blaze, Lilac Fire, broke out in San Diego County, leaving three people with burn injuries, authorities said.

Dry air and strong winds are forecast through Sunday, which may lead to dangerous fire conditions, CNN meteorologist Rachel Aissen said.

Residents in those areas should be ready to evacuate at a moments notice.

"They need to prepare as if they will be impacted. Where are they gonna go? What are their escape routes? What is their communication to their families? What are they going to do with their pets and do they have their vehicles loaded to go?" Cal Fire Division Chief Nick Schuler said Thursday night.

Latest developments

* New fire: The Lilac Fire in San Diego County started Thursday and grew to 4,100 acres in a few hours, leading to new evacuation orders. Evacuation centers have been set up in affected areas.

* More injuries: The Lilac Fire has left three civilians with burn injuries and two firefighters hurt. One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation while the second one had a dislocated shoulder. The latter popped it back into place and continued working, Schuler said.

*Train system affected: Amtrak has suspended service between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo as a result of the wildfires in the area. Union Pacific Railroad has closed the tracks between Ventura and Santa Barbara.

* School closings: Officials have shut down schools spanning at least 16 districts.

* Declarations: Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency proclamation for Santa Barbara and San Diego counties. The declarations free state resources such as the National Guard to support response efforts. He's also requested federal assistance to supplement state and local emergency response.

Fast winds: Wind gusts in the region will be between 35 mph to 55mph through Sunday, which can can fan the fire, Aissen said.

Firefighters are battling six wildfires across various counties in Southern California.

Thomas Fire: The largest of the six blazes started Monday in Ventura County, and has scorched 115,000 acres. It's only 5% contained, and has destroyed at least 73 residential.

Creek Fire: The second-largest fire is in neighboring Los Angeles County, and ignited a day later. It has burned 15,323 acres and is 20% contained.

Rye Fire: It broke out Tuesday in Los Angeles County and has burned 7,000 acres. Firefighters are making progress, with 25% of the blaze contained.

Lilac Fire: This fast-moving fire erupted Thursday in San Diego County, and has consumed 4,100 acres in just a few hours. It's unclear what percentage of it is contained.

Skirball Fire: It started Wednesday as a brush fire in Los Angeles County, and is now 30% contained.

Liberty Fire: The blaze in Riverside County has burned 300 acres since it ignited Thursday. It's 5% contained.

The firefighters

In addition to long hours battling blazes, firefighters are also grappling with the effects of smoke inhalation and embers irritating their eyes.

About 5,700 firefighters -- almost half of them assigned to the massive Thomas Fire alone -- have been working to contain the flames.

"Honestly, the firefighters are taking a beating, but we have to acknowledge the residents because they're taking a beating, too, but they're cooperating with our orders," said Thomas Kruschke, spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department.

Other agencies have stepped in to help the firefighters, with military and navy helicopters set to join the Lilac Fire effort Friday morning, Schuler said.

The state National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing out of Oxnard has also joined the fight, even though roughly 50 of the National Guardsmen involved had to be evacuated themselves, said spokeswoman Maj. Kimberly Holman. Three lost their homes in the blazes, she said.

How bad is it?

The Thomas Fire has burned more than 100,000 acres north of Los Angeles, which is more than twice the size of Washington DC.

It spread over 31,000 acres in nine hours, which is nearly an acre per second. At that rate, it would have consumed New York's Central Park in about 15 minutes.

The fire was so destructive, it prompted officials to upgrade their color-coding system to include purple for the first time. It ranks as the 19th most destructive fire in California records.

CNN's Paul Vercammen reported from Carpinteria, and Faith Karimi and Steve Almasy reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Nicole Chavez contributed to this report.

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california fires: 3 people burned in new blaze  - cnn

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California fires: 3 people burned in new blaze

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Six large wildfires have scorched 141,000 acres in the state this week, Cal Fire officials said. At least 5,700 firefighters from several agencies are working to contain the massive walls of flames. The fires have forced 190,000 people out of their homes, some with nothing but their pets and a few mementos.

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A missing pregnant Queens mother was found walking in lower Manhattan

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A pregnant Queens woman who disappeared under mysterious circumstances earlier this week was found wandering the streets of lower Manhattan early Friday, police said.

Amarit Kuar, 34, was found about 6 a.m. roughly 15 miles from her home in South Richmond Hill.

She appeared to be in good health. Medics took her to Lower Manhattan Hospital for observation.

Police are now trying to find out where she has been and why she abandoned her car, cell phone and a worried husband and children behind.

Pregnant Queens mom mysteriously goes missing

"On the face of it, it does not appear that she is a victim of a crime, but we are still investigating why she disappeared," a police source said.

(DCPI)

The NYPD is also doing an internal review to find out why her panicked husband's report to police was initially deemed unfounded and a report wasn't taken for several hours.

Kuar left her home on 128th St. near 107th Ave. in Ozone Park about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and was supposed to pick up her twin 7-year-old sons at school in the afternoon.

She never showed up and when school officials called her husband, Lakhwinder Multani, 47, he launched his own investigation, police sources said.

Using a GPS, Multani found his wife's red Mercedes parked on 113th St. at Liberty Ave. by the Chase bank where she went earlier in the day. Her cell phone was inside her car.

(NBC)

Multani asked workers at a nearby cell phone store to review their surveillance video, which showed Kaur, who is six weeks pregnant, parking the car at 10:30 a.m. and walking away, sources said.

Just before she abandoned her car, Kuar had a five-minute phone call with a number that her husband didn't recognize, police sources said.

When Multani called the number, the person who picked up said he had reached out to Kuar to collect a debt but realized he had the wrong number.

Police are trying to determine if the call had anything to do with her disappearance.

(Obtained by Daily News)

Multani reported his wife missing to police shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday but responding officers didn't take a report, deeming his call unfounded.

When he heard that, Multani called the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau. Police went to his home about 1 a.m. Wednesday to finally take a report, officials said.

IAB has launched an investigation into why Multani's initial report was quickly dismissed, an NYPD spokesman said.
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Queens mom who mysteriously disappeared found in lower Manhattan

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A pregnant Queens woman who disappeared under mysterious circumstances earlier this week was found wandering the streets of lower Manhattan early Friday, police said. Amarit Kuar, 34, was found about 6 a.m. roughly 15 miles from her home in South Richmond Hill. She appeared to be in good health.

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two students killed in a shooting in New Mexico, the shooter was a man but has not been said if he was a student or visitor.

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Man cements head in microwave in Wolverhampton (UK) and firefighters say it took an hour to free him. He did it for a video.

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An internet "prankster" had to be freed by firefighters after cementing his head inside a microwave oven.

West Midlands Fire Service said it took an hour to free the man after they were called to a house in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton.

Friends had managed to feed an air tube into the 22-year-old's mouth to help him breathe, the service said.

Watch Commander Shaun Dakin said the man "could quite easily have suffocated or have been seriously injured".

Mr Dakin said: "He and a group of friends had mixed seven bags of Polyfilla which they then poured around his head, which was protected by a plastic bag inside the microwave.

"The oven was being used as a mould and wasn't plugged in. The mixture quickly set hard and, by the time we were called, they'd already been trying to free him for an hour and a half."

Midlands Live: Rare diamond raises £1.1m at auction; £2m fund to tackle gang violence in West Midlands

Crews from the technical rescue team helped with taking the microwave apart, he added.

"It took us nearly an hour to free him," added Mr Dakin.

"All of the group involved were very apologetic, but this was clearly a call-out which might have prevented us from helping someone else in genuine, accidental need."

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An internet "prankster" had to be freed by firefighters after cementing his head inside a microwave oven. West Midlands Fire Service said it took an hour to free the man after they were called to a house in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton. Friends had managed to feed an air tube into the 22-year-old's mouth to help him breathe, the service said.

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Houston drivers start shooting at each other.

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Two Texas residents took road rage to a new level when a minor fender bender turned into a pistol-wielding showdown that left an innocent bystander and one of the shooters injured.

On Wednesday around 2:45 p.m. gunfire erupted after two men were involved in a car crash on Houston's busy Westheimer and South Kirkwood roads. The two drivers emerged from their vehicles and began opening fire on each other. The entire incident was captured on video by ABC affiliate KTRK, as video journalist Gerzain Garcia and reporter Erica Simon happened to be at a nearby Starbucks.

Hearing gunshots nearly 100 yards away, Garcia and Simon jumped into action, driving closer to the scene to find the aftermath of a relatively minor rear-end collision between a Jeep and a gray Nissan sedan.

Capturing the entire display on camera, Garcia said, "I thought they had stopped shooting."

Garcia began recording after the last shot ended, but the men continued to threaten and wave the guns at each other.

After the gunfire ended, Simon recalls walking from behind the truck where she took cover, to find a woman bleeding. A bystander from across the street had been grazed in the head by one of the bullets. Simon says she attempted to comfort the woman by assuring her medical help was on the way.

KTRK

An off-duty paramedic nearby helped stop the bleeding until ambulances arrived.

After arriving to the scene, police discovered one shooter had sustained a wound to the chest.

Police took both men into custody and the wounded shooter was taken to Ben Taub Hospital.

"If you get into an accident, call the police, or drive to a gas station to wait," Garcia said. "Don't start shooting at each other. A bystander who had nothing to do with this was injured. And it could have been even worse."

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Drivers open fire on each other in Houston street after road rage incident

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Two Texas residents took road rage to a new level when a minor fender bender turned into a pistol-wielding showdown that left an innocent bystander and one of the shooters injured. On Wednesday around 2:45 p.m. gunfire erupted after two men were involved in a car crash on Houston's busy Westheimer...

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A Tennessee couple's Christmas light catches their house on fire

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A Tennessee couple's Christmas went up in flames this week when their holiday lights set their house on fire.

"Thank God the smoke detectors went off," homeowner Danielle Huckaby, of Columbia, told Fox 17 Nashville.

Huckaby told the station that she, her partner and a guest were sleeping when the blaze started.

"It is the most terrifying thing to be woken up to a fire on your home," Mary Morrison, Huckaby's partner, told Fox 13 Memphis.

After they realized what was happening, Morrison rushed outside to control the fire, Fox 17 Nashville reported.

"Our guest that was staying with us yelled, 'Fire! Fire!' and then you grabbed the fire extinguisher," Morrison told thre station.

All the Christmas lights were new, Morrison said.

"Our mistake was leaving them on 24/7. We thought because it was only one strand of lights and weren't overloading an outlet, we would be OK," she told Fox 13.

"Our mistake was leaving them on 24/7. We thought because it was only one strand of lights and weren't overloading an outlet, we would be OK."
- Mary Morrison, Columbia, Tenn., resident

Morrison told Fox 17 Nashville some safety tips she learned from her sparks-filled experience.

"Unplug your lights at night and always have fire extinguisher and make sure they're up to date and change our batteries on your smoke detector," she said.

Tony Scott, the Columbia Fire Department's assistant chief, told Fox 17 Nashville that homeowners should also check for breaks in the wiring and "bulbs that are shot are replaced."

"If you're decorating in the yard, is the grass really dry where you're putting these lights?" Scott said. "You want to be aware of that and also the type of light. The LED light isn't going to get as hot as a regular standard light bulb."

The couple told Fox 17 Nashville they are glad they are safe and still have their home.

"You always hear about it, but you don't think this would happen," they said.

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Tennessee couple's Christmas lights set house on fire

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A Tennessee couple's Christmas went up in flames this week when their holiday lights set their house on fire. "Thank God the smoke detectors went off," homeowner Danielle Huckaby, of Columbia, told Fox 17 Nashville. Huckaby told the station that she, her partner and a guest were sleeping when the blaze started.

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A flordia nanny found dead in woods they said that she was tortured before her murder.

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A nanny in Florida whose body was found in a wooded area in September was tortured before she was ultimately killed, according to reports.

Jennifer Fulford, 56, went missing on Sept. 27 and was found dead days later when her body was spotted by a police helicopter.

Fulford "was stabbed and suffocated before being dumped in the woods," the Orlando Sentinel reported, citing court documents. Her wrists and ankles were also reportedly bound.
PERSON OF INTEREST IN DEATH OF FLORIDA NANNY IS APPREHENDED
She was last seen the morning of Sept. 27 leaving a dental office in Winter Park. Her husband, Robert, had posted on Facebook that his wife's purse was found on the floor of a home where she worked as a nanny, and she didn't pick up her boss's son from school, prompting concern.

Robert Fulford had detected a $300 withdrawal from their joint bank account that night, which led to the arrest of 53-year-old Scott Edward Nelson, who was later caught on surveillance footage using Fulford's ATM card.

Nelson was arrested in Fulford's death the day after her body was found, and reportedly confessed to the murder days later after he sent a judge a letter which stated: "Allegedly, I kidnapped/murdered a woman in Winter Park and have spoken to no law enforcement. Their [sic] are many things they don't know!"

"The man we suspect took her life, she probably would've done anything to help him out, just like she helped out other people," Robert Fulford told the Orlando Sentinel in October. "It's just so indescribable. ... She was just so full of life."
FLORIDA NANNY FOUND DEAD, PERSON OF INTEREST SOUGHT
Police reportedly found Fulford's car abandoned in a public parking lot days after her body was discovered. In the truck was a blood-stained towel, a t-shirt and a watch, which Fulford was wearing the day she was murdered. The blood on the towel reportedly matched Fulford's DNA.

Nelson was charged with murder, kidnapping, carjacking, burglary, robbery with a deadly weapons and hindering communication with law enforcement, according to the Sentinel.

Nicole Darrah covers breaking and trending news for FoxNews.com. Follow her on Twitter @nicoledarrah.

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Florida nanny found dead in woods reportedly tortured before her murder

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A nanny in Florida whose body was found in a wooded area in September was tortured before she was ultimately killed, according to reports. Jennifer Fulford, 56, went missing on Sept. 27 and was found dead days later when her body was spotted by a police helicopter.

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A family in Tennessee was sleeping while all of a sudden their house caught on fire by their Christmas lights.

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see christmas lights cause house fire - cnn video

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See Christmas lights cause house fire - CNN Video

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A family in Columbia, Tennessee said a single strand of Christmas lights led to their house catching fire. HLN's Robin Meade has the story.

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2 students dead after a man shot up there school.

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Elite thoroughbred race horses killed in California wildfire

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Hundreds of elite thoroughbred race horses sprinted away from flames Thursday as one of California's major wildfires tore through a training center in San Diego County.

Not all made it.

There was no official count of how many animals were killed in the hazy confusion as both horses and humans evacuated, but trainers at San Luis Rey Downs estimated that at least a dozen had died, possibly far more.

Horses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars who are usually carefully walked from place to place were simply set free and encouraged to run away as flames engulfed the center near Bonsall, which is just a few miles from where the fire broke out.

Mac McBride, who was working with the center's trainers, said it was "total pandemonium when several hundred horses were cut loose," but he believes most of the about 450 horses stabled there survived. McBride, who works at the Del Mar race track, said some horses were evacuated to the nearby track where many of them compete.

"There was so much smoke it was difficult to see," said horse trainer Dan Durham, who got his 20 horses rounded up and was loading them into vans to be evacuated. "Some of the horses were turned loose so they could be safe. They were scattered around."

San Luis Rey Downs is home to horses that run at nearby Del Mar and other top-flight California tracks like Santa Anita Park. Doug O'Neill, whose horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup races, is among the trainers who keep at least part of their stable there.

The sign at the front calls it "Home of Azeri," the now-retired mare who was the 2002 U.S. Horse of the Year who earned over $4 million in her career.

Horse trainer Scott Hansen said he knows some of the 30 horses he had at the facility were killed.

"I don't know how many are living and how many are dead," Hansen said. "I guess I'll have to figure that out in the morning." For now, he said he was concentrating on getting his horses that survived to evacuation centers.

Another trainer, Cliff Sise, told KFMB-TV that he saw about 10 horses die, including his own filly.

"It was dark, everything was hot and she wouldn't come out. I opened the pen and tried to get behind her and get her out, and she wouldn't get out," Sise said. "She burned to death that quick."

---

Dalton reported from Los Angeles.

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Elite thoroughbred race horses killed in California wildfire

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Hundreds of elite thoroughbred race horses sprinted away from flames Thursday as one of California's major wildfires tore through a training center in San Diego County. Not all made it. There was no official count of how many animals were killed in the hazy confusion as both horses and...

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The “hero” caught on video rescuing a rabbit from the California wildfires may have actually made things worse for the rabbit. Local animal experts warn that any wildlife spotted near a blaze should be left alone especially desert cottontails.

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The hoodie-wearing "hero" caught on video rescuing a rabbit from the California wildfires may have actually made things worse for the poor critter.

Local animal experts warn that any wildlife spotted near a blaze should be left alone - especially desert cottontails like the ones common to Southern California.

This is due to the fact that they are still giving birth to litters around this time of year and are typically keeping them safe underground in their burrows, according to Live Science.

So in reality, while the video of the rabbit rescue is heartwarming, some say it should really serve as an example of what not to do when you spot an animal near the flames.

"If you encounter a wild animal in our neighborhood, leave it alone," California Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira told SFGate back in October as wildfires were raging in Northern California.

"Fire or no fire, just let the animals be," he said.

The comments were in response to a Facebook post going around at the time asking local residents to provide water and shelter for any wildlife that shows up in their yards.

"Fire is something animals have to deal with constantly," Tira explained.
Click for more from NYPost.com

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Man who 'saved' rabbit from wildfire probably made things worse

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The hoodie-wearing "hero" caught on video rescuing a rabbit from the California wildfires may have actually made things worse for the poor critter. Local animal experts warn that any wildlife spotted near a blaze should be left alone - especially desert cottontails like the ones common to Southern California.

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North Korea's mystery ship: The curious case of the Hao Fan 6 banned from every single port in the world

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On October 10, the hulking, 460-foot (140 meter) cargo ship was banned from entering every single port across the globe, punished for violating sanctions on North Korea.

It was just south of South Korea the day the news was announced, according to tracking information by MarineTraffic. Its transponder pinged continuously until 11:17 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time, the data showed.

Fighter jets under sugar

The Hao Fan 6 was one of four ships the UN slapped with global port bans.

But it's not the first time North Korean ships have been sanctioned. The Jie Shun, one of the four banned ships, was caught by Egyptian authorities smuggling thousands of North Korean rocket-propelled grenades in 2016. Panamanian authorities detained the Chon Chon Gang in 2013 after finding MiG fighter jets, anti-aircraft systems and explosives hidden under bags of sugar.

Now, the net seems to have widened. The UN has recently passed resolutions blocking North Korea's ability to export goods like coal and metal ores -- big moneymakers for Pyongyang, that help fund everything from the lavish lifestyles of North Korea's elite to its rapidly advancing nuclear and missile programs.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson renewed the call after North Korea tested a long-range ballistic missile in late November. He said the international community needs to take additional measures against the country, "including the right to interdict maritime traffic transporting goods to and from the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)."

"Shipping is the area that is in the most trouble now given the squeeze by the sanctions," said George Lopez, a former member of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea who now teaches at the University of Notre Dame. "Once you're in a situation like you are in now, when there's virtually no exports allowed, then you get a chance to really interdict virtually everything."

The sanctions dovetail with US President Donald Trump's plan to quash North Korea's nuclear march by putting together a global coalition dedicated to cutting off North Korea's cashflow. The hope is to eventually get the hermit nation's leader, Kim Jong Un, to relinquish his nuclear arsenal in exchange for sanctions relief.

The US Treasury Department has gone even further than the UN, sanctioning 59 vessels for their dealings with North Korea. But independent North Korea watchers have identified as many as 180 ships connected to the hermit state, which begs the question: How many North Korean ships like the Hao Fan 6 are still roaming the high seas, bringing in cash for the Kim regime?

A ship crosses dry land

The Hao Fan 6's journeys in the weeks before the ban show the massive ship, which can transport 8,343 tons of cargo, appearing to travel on land across large swaths of South Korea.

These aren't errors. They're clues.

This map from Big Ocean Data shows the Hao Fan 6's routes for about the past two years. The lines crossing land show the ship would turn off its transponder, only to turn it on in a new location.

Most modern vessels are tracked using an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder. The International Maritime Organization stipulates large ships must have one on board.

Turn it off and a ship can hide from prying eyes or potential threats. Once turned back on, tracking data will show a big and unusual jump.

"There is little that can be done to prevent captains independently switching them off," Andrea Berger, a senior research associate who specializes in North Korea's weapons programs and sanctions at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, told CNN.

After going silent on October 10, the Hao Fan 6 didn't turn on its transponder for the rest of the month.

Berger said it's common for North Korean-linked vessels engaging in illegal behavior to turn off their transponders for periods of their voyage.

Experts say one above-board transponders are usually shut off if a ship is being threatened, often due to piracy.

Three trips to North Korea

The Hao Fan 6's historical data shows three visits to North Korea in 2016 and activity on traditional coal shipping routes.

Twice in the fall it was tracked near a North Korean port city, Nampo. The first time was September 27.

The Hao Fan 6 pinged these locations from January 1, 2014 to November 14, 2017. Data supplied to CNN by MarineTraffic.com

The Hao Fan 6 next pinged on October 17. It was near Lanshan, a coastal city in China with a port and coal terminal. Tracking data shows the ship then headed back to Nampo. It was off the North Korean coast again on October 20. Then it went silent for days.

If the Hao Fan 6 was transporting coal, it would've been in violation of a UN Security Council Resolution passed in March 2016. The Security Council has passed multiple rounds of sanctions since, most recently in September this year.

CNN asked Hugh Griffiths, the coordinator of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea -- the body charged with monitoring the enforcement and efficacy of sanctions on the hermit nation -- about the possibility the Hao Fan 6 was moving coal. He did not comment, but said it's vital that UN members fully implement Security Council resolutions.

"Part of that is very much paying close attention to vessels delivering coal," Griffiths said.

Coal has provided a crucial economic lifeline for Pyongyang. In 2015, coal exports netted nearly a billion dollars of revenue, according to UN data. Chinese companies were big buyers, as North Korean coal is close by and cheap.

North Korea's 2015 exports
Source: Interactive graphic from MIT Observatory of Economic Complexity
Marshall Billingslea, the assistant secretary for terrorist financing at the US Treasury Department, in his testimony to the US Senate in September, used satellite imagery and AIS data to show three ships transporting illicit North Korean coal -- and turning off their AIS transponders while doing so -- while traveling between China and Russia.

More recently, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, called for the global community to do more to crack down on North Korean sanctions violations.

"This Council has banned coal exports from North Korea. And yet, we have reports of the regime continuing to smuggle coal into neighboring Asian countries using deceptive tactics to mask the coal's origins," Haley told the United Nations shortly after the November North Korean missile test.

Two offices in Hong Kong

On paper, the Hao Fan 6 is owned by a Hong Kong-based company -- Trendy Sunshine Hong Kong Limited. The company's address is listed as the 10th floor of Hong Kong's Billion Centre, according to Equasis -- a shipping information database developed by European Union and French Authorities -- and publicly availablecorporate records provided to the Hong Kong government.

When CNN visited the building, Trendy Sunshine was not there. Instead, the office, with its gleaming marble foyer and glass walls overlooking Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbor, is the headquarters for SBC International, Trendy Sunshine's company secretary.

In Hong Kong, it's not illegal for companies to share an address with their company secretary. Hong Kong requires companies to have both a director and company secretary, but only the director has to be an actual person. Companies based outside Hong Kong that do business in the city do it in order to avoid incurring the cost of a new office.

But, it's also not an uncommon tactic for alleged sanctions evaders. A CNN investigation in October found that companies accused of helping North Korea evade sanctions create shell companies in Hong Kong due to the city's relatively lax oversight laws.

Businesses like SBC offer incorporation services to foreign companies. They sometimes work for thousands at a time -- SBC International's website says its staff of more than 400 service more than 400,000 clients. It has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Nanjing.

The Hao Fan 6's operator, Shen Zhong International Shipping, also shares an address with one of SBC International's four offices in Hong Kong. While a ship's operator doesn't own the vessel, it is in charge of managing the day-to-day operations, and hiring a captain and crew.

SBC's sharing of addresses with Trendy Sunshine and Shen Zhong isn't a sign of wrongdoing in itself. But they are red flags.

"This is not what I would expect to see from a normal ship. This is more along the lines of what I would expect to see in a case where we already know something strange is going on," said Jessica Knight, the director of analysis at Sayari Analytics, a Washington-based firm that analyzes connections between businesses across the globe.

Trendy Sunshine has one sole owner and shareholder: Yue Diangang. According to Hong Kong corporate records, he is based in Rongcheng City in China's Shandong province. Knight and the Sayari Analytics team were only able to find one individual with that name in all of Shandong -- a cement trader.

It's odd that a cement trader is listed as the owner of a ship, instead of a person in the logistics or shipping industry.

"That is really weird," Knight said. "We're not seeing people behind these companies that I would expect to be behind these companies."

One former owner

Trendy Sunshine took control of the Hao Fan 6 from a company called Zhejiang Haofan Shipping on February 24, 2017, Equasis records show.

That same day, Zhejiang Haofan Shipping transferred ownership of a different ship in its fleet, the Hao Fan 2, to a company called Advance Superstar (Hong Kong) Limited. Like Trendy Sunshine, Advance Superstar shares an address with a branch of SBC International.

Equasis records show Zhejiang Haofan currently owns only one ship: Hao Fan 3.

Like the Hao Fan 6, the Hao Fan 3's AIS data shows it making massive jumps -- it can be seen crossing land on South Korea and Japan, a sign its transponder was turned off.

This map from Big Ocean Data shows the Hao Fan 3's routes for the three months prior to November 27. The lines crossing land show the ship would turn off its transponder, only to turn it on in a new location.

Though the Hao Fan 2 and 3 have not been caught doing anything wrong and have not been sanctioned by the United Nations or United States, both ships have been turning off their AIS transponders and sailing in the same areas as the Hao Fan 6 -- which Knight says is enough to warrant monitoring.

"You have the UN taking action against this vessel (the Hao Fan 6), saying that it's been engaged in this unacceptable behavior on behalf of North Korea, and at the same time there are two other vessels controlled by the same people that are still active," Knight said.

"You can show not only are they controlled by the same people but the people are not engaged in what appears to be normal commercial structures and normal activities," she said.

CNN texted Griffiths at the United Nations if his team was aware of the Hao Fan 2 and 3's potentially suspicious activity, but did not receive a reply.

Going in circles

More than a month after it went dark on October 10, the Hao Fan 6's signal pinged in the East China Sea. It was hundreds of kilometers away from its last location.

Then it sailed in circles for more than two weeks.

This could be a way to distract investigators, according to Lopez, the former Panel of Experts member. He said he had not seen anything like this before, though the panel was not as focused on North Korean shipping when he was a member.

Location tracking from Big Ocean Data shows the Hao Fan 6's position history from October 31 until December 4. The ship stopped sending its location in mid-October and restarted on November 13.

If the Hao Fan 6 tries to enter a law-abiding port, authorities would likely look at the ship manifest and route history before it requests to dock. Sketchy or incomplete traffic data would be a red flag, and the ship would likely run into problems with customs.

With nowhere to go, no port to call home and traveling with no apparent direction, the Hao Fan 6 now seems to be a drifter.

It's still sailing in circles.

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north korean shipping: how the united nations punished the hao fan 6 - cnn

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North Korea's mystery ship: The curious case of the Hao Fan 6

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On October 10, the hulking, 460-foot (140 meter) cargo ship was banned from entering every single port across the globe, punished for violating sanctions on North Korea. It was just south of South Korea the day the news was announced, according to tracking information by MarineTraffic. Its transponder pinged continuously until 11:17 p.m.

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Japan to buy long-range missiles for first time

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"We will implement stand-off missiles capable of defending ourselves adequately, when we are outside the range of the opponent, in order to ensure the safety of the Self Defense Force and to defend our nation effectively," Onodera told reporters.

A spokesman from Onodera's office told CNN Japan will be purchasing missiles from Lockheed Martin to put on its F-15 fighter jets. It will also buy JSM missiles from the Norwegian company Kongsberg, which will be deployed on the new, state-of-the-art F-35 stealth fighter jets.

The spokesman also said Japan will be making an additional request in next year's budget to make the purchase.

North Korea's fast-progressing nuclear and missile programs have had Japan and other countries in East Asia on edge. Pyongyang test-fired two missiles that overflew northern Japan this year, which set off warning sirens.

Kaori Enjoji reported from Tokyo and Joshua Berlinger reported and wrote from Hong Kong

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japan to buy long-range missiles for first time - cnn

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Japan to buy long-range missiles for first time

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"We will implement stand-off missiles capable of defending ourselves adequately, when we are outside the range of the opponent, in order to ensure the safety of the Self Defense Force and to defend our nation effectively," Onodera told reporters. A spokesman from Onodera's office told CNN Japan will be purchasing missiles from Lockheed Martin to put on its F-15 fighter jets.

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Teen who stole rifle from police turns himself in.

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A 16-year-old from Florida turned himself in to police on Thursday after he was caught on surveillance video stealing an assault rife and bulletproof vest from a police car.

ABC affiliate WPLG says Christopher Clarke turned himself in at the urging of family and friends after the video was shared widely online.

Police said they were still searching for the items stolen from the vehicle.

Florida police were searching for the teen after he was caught stealing police equipment right out of a cop car, including an AR-15 assault rifle with three fully loaded magazines.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, the suspect was caught on surveillance camera stealing from a marked Opa Locka Police Department patrol vehicle while it sat in a neighborhood driveway, according to the Pembroke Pines Police Department.

In the video, the man walks up to the car, opens the unlocked passenger door and begins stealing equipment, such as a tactical vest with police markings. The suspect is seen making three trips to his car, including one carrying the rifle. He also made off with a Taser and cartridges, and a 16-round, .45-caliber magazine, according to police.

Pembroke Pines police believe the suspect was also responsible for additional vehicle burglaries which occurred around the same area Tuesday morning.

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Teens turns himself in after stealing AR-15 assault rifle from police car

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A 16-year-old from Florida turned himself in to police on Thursday after he was caught on surveillance video stealing an assault rife and bulletproof vest from a police car. ABC affiliate WPLG says Christopher Clarke turned himself in at the urging of family and friends after the video was shared...

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California fires: Blazes stretch from Ventura to San Diego County.

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Six large wildfires have scorched 141,000 acres in the state this week, Cal Fire officials said. At least 5,700 firefighters from several agencies are working to contain the massive walls of flames.

The fires have forced 190,000 people out of their homes, some with nothing but their pets and a few mementos. The latest blaze, Lilac Fire, broke out in San Diego County, leaving three people with burn injuries, authorities said.

Dry air and strong winds are forecast through Sunday, which may lead to dangerous fire conditions, CNN meteorologist Rachel Aissen said.

Residents in those areas should be ready to evacuate at a moments notice.

"They need to prepare as if they will be impacted. Where are they gonna go? What are their escape routes? What is their communication to their families? What are they going to do with their pets and do they have their vehicles loaded to go?" Cal Fire Division Chief Nick Schuler said Thursday night.

Latest developments

* New fire: The Lilac Fire in San Diego County started Thursday and grew to 4,100 acres in a few hours, leading to new evacuation orders. Evacuation centers have been set up in affected areas.

* More injuries: The Lilac Fire has left three civilians with burn injuries and two firefighters hurt. One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation while the second one had a dislocated shoulder. The latter popped it back into place and continued working, Schuler said.

*Train system affected: Amtrak has suspended service between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo as a result of the wildfires in the area. Union Pacific Railroad has closed the tracks between Ventura and Santa Barbara.

* School closings: Officials have shut down schools spanning at least 16 districts.

* Declarations: Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency proclamation for Santa Barbara and San Diego counties. The declarations free state resources such as the National Guard to support response efforts. He's also requested federal assistance to supplement state and local emergency response.

Fast winds: Wind gusts in the region will be between 35 mph to 55mph through Sunday, which can can fan the fire, Aissen said.

Firefighters are battling six wildfires across various counties in Southern California.

Thomas Fire: The largest of the six blazes started Monday in Ventura County, and has scorched 115,000 acres. It's only 5% contained, and has destroyed at least 73 residential.

Creek Fire: The second-largest fire is in neighboring Los Angeles County, and ignited a day later. It has burned 15,323 acres and is 20% contained.

Rye Fire: It broke out Tuesday in Los Angeles County and has burned 7,000 acres. Firefighters are making progress, with 25% of the blaze contained.

Lilac Fire: This fast-moving fire erupted Thursday in San Diego County, and has consumed 4,100 acres in just a few hours. It's unclear what percentage of it is contained.

Skirball Fire: It started Wednesday as a brush fire in Los Angeles County, and is now 30% contained.

Liberty Fire: The blaze in Riverside County has burned 300 acres since it ignited Thursday. It's 5% contained.

The firefighters

In addition to long hours battling blazes, firefighters are also grappling with the effects of smoke inhalation and embers irritating their eyes.

About 5,700 firefighters -- almost half of them assigned to the massive Thomas Fire alone -- have been working to contain the flames.

"Honestly, the firefighters are taking a beating, but we have to acknowledge the residents because they're taking a beating, too, but they're cooperating with our orders," said Thomas Kruschke, spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department.

Other agencies have stepped in to help the firefighters, with military and navy helicopters set to join the Lilac Fire effort Friday morning, Schuler said.

The state National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing out of Oxnard has also joined the fight, even though roughly 50 of the National Guardsmen involved had to be evacuated themselves, said spokeswoman Maj. Kimberly Holman. Three lost their homes in the blazes, she said.

How bad is it?

The Thomas Fire has burned more than 100,000 acres north of Los Angeles, which is more than twice the size of Washington DC.

It spread over 31,000 acres in nine hours, which is nearly an acre per second. At that rate, it would have consumed New York's Central Park in about 15 minutes.

The fire was so destructive, it prompted officials to upgrade their color-coding system to include purple for the first time. It ranks as the 19th most destructive fire in California records.

CNN's Paul Vercammen reported from Carpinteria, and Faith Karimi and Steve Almasy reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Nicole Chavez contributed to this report.

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california fires: 3 people burned in new blaze  - cnn

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California fires: 3 people burned in new blaze

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Six large wildfires have scorched 141,000 acres in the state this week, Cal Fire officials said. At least 5,700 firefighters from several agencies are working to contain the massive walls of flames. The fires have forced 190,000 people out of their homes, some with nothing but their pets and a few mementos.