WORLD

Beirut, Lebanon | AFP |  Syria’s conflict has killed more than 310,000 people, uprooted over half the population and left much of the country in ruins since it erupted almost six years ago. Here are some key statistics: – Huge death toll – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said …

Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories | AFP | Pilgrims on Saturday thronged Bethlehem for Christmas Eve as Europeans worked up some holiday spirit despite tight security in the shadow of the Berlin market attack. Crowds of Palestinians and tourists flocked to Bethlehem’s Manger Square near the Church of the Nativity, ahead of …

Putin warms to Trump, flexes muscles on Syria Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday appeared to cosy up to US President-elect Donald Trump while asserting his authority as the key powerbroker in Syria. At his annual end-of-year press conference, the confident Kremlin strongman praised Trump …

United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Friday rejected a US-drafted resolution on imposing an arms embargo and sanctions on South Sudan amid divisions over how to pressure leaders to end the three-year war. The measure presented by the United States garnered only seven votes …

Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP |  Israel lashed out at US President Barack Obama over a UN Security Council resolution passed Friday demanding it halt settlements in Palestinian territory, while vowing it would not abide by it. “Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by …

Rome, Italy | AFP |  Italy on Friday hailed its police officer heroes who caught Berlin truck attack suspect Anis Amri on the streets of Milan, with high praise for the rookie who shot him dead. Tributes flooded in for Luca Scata, the 29-year-old Sicilian trainee who fired off two …

Moscow, Russia | AFP |  Russian President Vladimir Putin called Syria’s Bashar al-Assad Friday to congratulate him on completing the “liberation” of Aleppo, the Kremlin said. “Russian President Vladimir Putin phoned the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and congratulated him with the end of the operation of liberation of Aleppo from …

After Israel vote, Trump promises change at UN Palm Beach, United States | AFP | US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday vowed that the country’s policies at the United Nations will change after he takes office. “As to the UN, things will be different after Jan 20th,” he said on …

Miami, United States | AFP | Tiger Woods, who played golf three years ago with Barack Obama, teed off Friday with White House successor Donald Trump at the real estate mogul’s swank Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Woods, who will celebrate his 41st birthday on December 30, …

Washington, United States | AFP |  A scathing US Congressional report released Thursday branded intelligence leaker Edward Snowden a “serial exaggerator and fabricator” and said he has had continual contact with Russian intelligence services. The partially redacted report, released by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, portrays Snowden as …