Berlin, Germany | AFP | Tunisia said Saturday it had arrested three men linked to the suspected Berlin Christmas market attacker, including his nephew. Here is what we know about the case so far. – Shot dead in Italy – German authorities launched a Europe-wide manhunt for 24-year-old Tunisian Anis …
Read More »Website charts Santa’s journey around the globe
Washington, United States | AFP | An online Santa tracker run by a Canadian and American defense agency mapped the jolly old gift-giver’s path around the globe Saturday, in what has become a Yuletide tradition. Every Christmas Eve since 1955, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been tracking …
Read More »Syria’s war in numbers: 310,000 dead, 4.8m refugees
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 …
Read More »Pilgrims in Bethlehem, fears in Europe on Christmas Eve
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 …
Read More »PUTIN: Nobody believed that Trump would win except us
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 …
Read More »UN Security Council rejects arms embargo on South Sudan
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 …
Read More »Israel rejects UN settler vote, lashes out at Obama
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 …
Read More »Italy salutes hero cops who took down Berlin attack suspect
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 …
Read More »Putin calls Assad to congratulate on Aleppo ‘liberation’
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 …
Read More »Next on Trump’s radar is the UN
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 …
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