Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed this week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally, and criticized Moscow for trying to "hush up" the issue for days. Ilham Aliyev seeks compensation, says Russia 'must admit its guilt' Azerbaijan’s president accuses Russia of …
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Russia targets Ukrainian energy infrastructure during Christmas Day attack
Russia launched a massive missile and drone barrage targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, striking a thermal power plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning. At least one person was killed in the Dnipro region in the attack, says Ukrainian official. Russia launched a …
Read More »On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis launches holy Jubilee year
Pope Francis presides over the Christmas Eve mass at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on December 24, 2024. Pope Francis marks Christmas Eve with a special ceremony launching Jubilee 2025, a year of Catholic celebrations set to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome. Over the next …
Read More »Syrian Christians call for greater protections after Christmas tree burned
Scores of Syrian Christians protested in the capital Damascus on Tuesday, demanding greater protections for their religious minority after a Christmas tree was set on fire in the city of Hama a day earlier. HTS representative says act committed by non-Syrians who will be punished, tree to be fully restored. …
Read More »Matt Gaetz paid thousands for drugs and sex, U.S. House panel finds
The U.S. House ethics committee on Monday accused Matt Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying women, including a 17-year-old girl, for sex and purchasing and using illicit drugs all while the Florida Republican was a member of Congress. Gaetz filed lawsuit against ethics panel in a bid to prevent the report’s release. …
Read More »With a Holy Door, Pope Francis to launch Jubilee year
Pope Francis waves to the crowd during the weekly general audience on Nov. 8, 2023 at St Peter’s square in The Vatican (AFP / Filippo Monteforte) VATICAN, Holy See — Pope Francis will mark Christmas Eve on Tuesday with a special ceremony launching Jubilee 2025, a year of Catholic celebrations …
Read More »Luigi Mangione, accused in UnitedHealthCare CEO killing, pleads not guilty
The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to state murder and terror charges while his attorney complained that statements coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough to receive a fair trial. Government officials have turned Mangione into a political pawn, …
Read More »Panama president hits back at Trump over canal U.S. takeover comments
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatened on Sunday to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage. The comments drew a sharp rebuke from Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino. U.S. president-elect accuses Panama of overcharging, warns of Chinese influence. Trump …
Read More »‘Who’s next?’: Misinformation and online threats after US CEO slaying
Luigi Mangione, suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, arrives at a heliport with members of the NYPD on December 19, 2024 in New York City. The 26-year-old was arrested in Pennsylvania on December 9 after being spotted at a McDonald’s in Altoona amid …
Read More »China sanctions Canadian institutions active on Uyghurs, Tibet
China’s countermeasures in response to Canadian sanctions against Chinese officials over human rights China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s office announced the measures on two Canadian organizations that advocate for Uyghur and Tibet. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty) China said on Sunday it was taking countermeasures against two Canadian institutions and 20 people involved …
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