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 …
Read More »Pope pleads for migrants at Christmas mass
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 …
Read More »Russians endorse Navalny to challenge Putin in March vote
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 …
Read More »12th Palestinian dies since Trump declaration on Jerusalem
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 …
Read More »Philippines storm death toll tops 200, tens of thousands displaced
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, …
Read More »N. Korea slams new UN sanctions as an ‘act of war’
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 …
Read More »Venezuela says Brazilian, Canadian diplomats not welcome
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 …
Read More »World’s largest amphibious aircraft takes off in China
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. …
Read More »Dense fog disrupts UAE flights ahead of Christmas
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 …
Read More »Israelis hold anti-corruption demonstrations
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 …
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