WORLD

Manila, Philippines | AFP | At least 200 people have been killed and scores are missing in the southern Philippines after a tropical storm triggered severe flooding and landslides that also wrecked Christmas for tens of thousands of survivors. Tropical Storm Tembin lashed Mindanao island, home to 20 million people, …

Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea slammed fresh UN sanctions imposed over its missile tests as an “act of war” on Sunday, its first response to the latest diplomatic move to punish Pyongyang’s ever-accelerating weapons drive. Tension has been high on the flashpoint peninsula as the isolated but nuclear-armed …

Caracas, Venezuela | AFP | Venezuela on Saturday said two diplomats from Canada and Brazil were no longer welcome, in an escalating showdown over their criticism of President Maduro’s socialist government. The head of the powerful pro-government Constituent Assembly, Delcy Rodriguez, said the body decided on the move against Brazil’s …

Beijing, China | AFP | China’s home-grown AG600, the world’s largest amphibious aircraft in production, took to the skies on Sunday for its maiden flight. The plane, codenamed “Kunlong” according to state news agency Xinhua, took off from the southern city of Zhuhai and landed after roughly an hour-long flight. …

Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | Thick fog on Sunday disrupted flights at major airports in the United Arab Emirates as thousands of foreign residents rushed to travel home for Christmas and the New Year. Dozens of flights were cancelled, diverted or delayed at the three main airports in …

Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Thousands of Israelis on Saturday held a demonstration in Tel Aviv for the fourth week running calling for the resignation of the “corrupt” government and its head. In Jerusalem, hundreds also took part in a rally against graft headed by a rightwing former member of Prime …

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 …

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,” …