London, United Kingdom | AFP | English third-tier footballer Joe Thompson will enjoy a “special” Christmas after his second return from battling cancer on Saturday, exactly a year since being diagnosed. The 28-year-old Rochdale midfielder has twice beaten Hodgkin lymphoma and came off the bench for the last 18 minutes of …

Juba, South Sudan | AFP | A ceasefire between South Sudan’s warring parties went into effect just after midnight Sunday, in what is the latest bid to end a devastating four year war. Government and several armed groups signed a ceasefire deal Thursday during peace negotiations in Addis Ababa, to begin …

Davao, Philippines | AFP | At least 37 people, including call centre staff from an American firm, are believed to have perished in a fire that tore through a shopping mall in the southern Philippine city of Davao, local authorities said on Sunday. President Rodrigo Duterte, himself a Davao native, …

Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories | AFP | Preparations were under way in Bethlehem on Sunday for Christmas, with tensions still simmering in the city and the region following Washington’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The controversial December 6 announcement by President Donald Trump unleashed demonstrations and clashes, including in …

Manila, Philippines | AFP | Tens of thousands have been forced from their homes by a tropical storm that battered the southern Philippines leaving at least 182 dead, police and aid agencies said Sunday. Tropical Storm Tembin, which triggered flash floods and mudslides as it lashed the nation’s second-largest island …

Bangui, Central African Republic | AFP | Two rival armed groups in the northwest of the Central African Republic have signed a ceasefire agreement, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), which helped mediate the accord, announced on Saturday. The anti-Balaka, a self-proclaimed mostly Christian “self-defence” militia, and the 3R group, …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday named the former army chief who led a coup that ended Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule, as one of his two deputies in the ruling party, his office said. Retired general Constantino Chiwenga was appointed “with immediate effect” as …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | A white Zimbabwean farmer forced from his land as part of controversial mass evictions became this week the first to return to his property under a new government bid to reverse illegal land seizures. Robert Smart, 71, was thrown off his tobacco and corn farm …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Jurgen Klopp insisted he won’t ditch his go-for-broke game plan after Liverpool blew a two-goal lead in their thrilling 3-3 draw at Arsenal. Klopp’s side were on course for an early Christmas present at the Emirates Stadium on Friday after goals from Philippe Coutinho …

Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump again took aim Saturday at deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe, saying he was “racing the clock to retire,” as US media reported McCabe plans to step down. “FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits,” …