WORLD

Caracas, Venezuela | AFP | Venezuela saw almost 70 newspapers, TV and radio stations close in 2017 while attacks on journalists rose, the main union representing the media said Wednesday, accusing the socialist government of trying to “silence” the press. The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) said 46 radio …

Paris, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron came under fire Wednesday over his policy on jobless benefits after a press leak pointed to plans to tighten monitoring of people on the dole. The investigative weekly Canard Enchaine, citing an internal memo, said those receiving jobless benefits would be …

London, United Kingdom | AFP |  Former US President Barack Obama told Britain’s Prince Harry he was concerned social media was “corroding civil discourse”, in what he said was his first interview since leaving the White House, aired Wednesday. “One of the dangers of the internet is that people can …

Paris, France | AFP | From German political colossus Helmut Kohl to rock pioneer Chuck Berry, here are some of the personalities who passed away this year. – Politics – – January 7: Former president Mario Soares, seen as the father of Portugal’s modern-day democracy, aged 92 in hospital. – January …

Paris, France | AFP | From the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, to record hurricanes, here are the 12 key events which marked 2017: – A year of Trump – On January 20, Republican billionaire Donald Trump, 70, is inaugurated as the 45th US president, vowing to follow a policy …

Tunis, Tunisia | AFP | Tunisia on Sunday suspended Emirates Airlines flights after a public outcry over security measures in the United Arab Emirates targeting women from the North African country. The transport ministry said it had “decided to suspend” Emirates flights to Tunis “until the airline is able to …

Washington, United States | AFP | It’s the question every good little girl and boy asks on Christmas Eve: When is Santa coming? As it has done every year since 1955, a Canadian and American defense agency is tracking the jolly old man’s path around the globe in his reindeer-powered …

Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis in his Christmas eve mass Sunday urged the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics not to ignore the plight of migrants who are “driven from their land” because of leaders willing to shed “innocent blood”. “So many other footsteps are hidden in the …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Thousands of Russians on Sunday endorsed the candidacy of Alexei Navalny, seen as the only Russian opposition leader who stands a fighting chance of challenging strongman Vladimir Putin in a March vote. Thousands of people who back the charismatic 41-year-old lawyer were meeting in 20 …

Gaza City, Palestinian Territories | AFP | A Palestinian teenager died on Sunday, nine days after being wounded by Israeli fire during a Gaza protest against US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the health ministry said. Mohammad Sami al-Dahduh, 19, from Gaza City was shot on December 15 during …