27-12-2023 GAZA CITY: Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has said at least 241 people were killed in the past 24 hours, as Israel’s military operation continues in the territory. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called the war a “grave crime” against his people. Israel’s army chief Herzi Halevi said the conflict …
Read More »Israeli airstrike in Syria kills senior Iranian General
26-12-2023 TEHRAN/ DAMASCUS: An Israeli airstrike outside the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday killed a senior adviser in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, three security sources and Iranian state media said. The sources told media that the adviser, known as Sayyed Razi Mousavi, was responsible for coordinating the military alliance between Syria …
Read More »Plains blizzard snarls Christmas travel for millions across US
26-12-2023 KEARNEY: Dangerous blizzard conditions from a strong storm system are snarling travel along major interstates in the central U.S. for the millions of holiday travelers hitting the road or catching a flight as the Christmas holiday comes to an end. A powerful storm that already caused problems for Southern …
Read More »300 Indians on flight grounded in France over trafficking fears
26-12-2023 PARIS/ VATRY: Four French judges on Sunday began questioning more than 300 Indians travelling on a plane detained near Paris over suspicions of human trafficking. The Nicaragua-bound Airbus A340 has been held at Vatry airport, 150 kilometers (95 miles) east of Paris, since arriving from Dubai on Thursday for …
Read More »‘Philippine actions in South China Sea extremely dangerous’
26-12-2023 BEIJING: Chinese state media accused the Philippines on Monday of repeatedly infringing on China’s territory in the South China Sea, spreading false information and colluding with extraterritorial forces to cause trouble. The Philippines has relied on U.S. support to continually provoke China, with such “extremely dangerous” behavior seriously harming …
Read More »‘Blasphemous’ same-sex scene angers conservatives in Italy
26-12-2023 CAPOCASTELLO DI MERCOGLIANO: A church nativity scene which features two mothers of the Baby Jesus, instead of the conventional Mary and Joseph figurines, has sparked anger among conservative Catholics and politicians in Italy. Nativity scenes are popular in the largely Catholic country, but in recent years they have been …
Read More »Migrants caravan in Mexico ahead of Blinken visit
26-12-2023 HOUSTON/ MEXICO CITY: A sprawling caravan of migrants from central and southern America has trekked through Mexico heading north towards the United States border. Up to 8,000 people of all ages, mainly from Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico, are part of the procession following a banner which reads “Poverty Exodus”. …
Read More »Sri Lanka detains nearly 15,000 in drug crackdown
26-12-2023 COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s police announced Sunday the arrests of nearly 15,000 people during a week-long military-backed anti-narcotics drive, a crackdown denounced by rights activists. Police said their operation, code-named “Yuktiya” or “Justice”, led to the seizure of almost 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of narcotics, including 272 kg of cannabis, …
Read More »Israel paying ‘heavy price’ for war: PM Netanyahu
26-12-2023 JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Gaza war has come at a “very heavy price” for his side. The military says more than a dozen soldiers have been killed in the territory since Friday, bringing the total of the ground assault to 154. Saturday was one of …
Read More »Pope Francis laments ‘futile’ war in Holy Land
25-12-2023 VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Sunday lamented that Jesus’ message of peace was being drowned out by the “futile logic of war” in the very land where he was born, as the pontiff led the world’s Roman Catholics into Christmas. Francis, celebrating the 11th Christmas of his pontificate, presided …
Read More »