Dec 29 South Korean leader returns to presidential palace avoided by ousted predecessor By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press South Korean President Lee Jae Myung commuted to Cheong Wa Dae, the country’s traditional presidential palace, for the first time since taking office in June. Continue reading
Dec 29 Fire at Indonesian retirement home kills 16 By Edna Tarigan, Gracey Wakari, Associated Press Firefighters needed more than two hours to extinguish the blaze after nearby residents reported the fire to emergency services. Neighbors reportedly helped rescue several occupants of the retirement home. Continue reading
Dec 29 UK opposition leaders demand activist be stripped of citizenship for past tweets By Danica Kirka, Associated Press Opposition leaders in the United Kingdom are calling for a human rights activist to be stripped of his citizenship over past social media messages. Continue reading
Dec 29 Young Africans turn to farming as urban life becomes too expensive By Mark Banchereau, Associated Press Farming has long been seen as low-status work across much of Africa, pushing young people to cities in search of office jobs. But the high cost of living and lack of job opportunities are pushing some youth to give agriculture… Continue reading
Dec 29 Official says 6 Islamic State militants and 3 police officers killed in clash in northwest Turkey By Associated Press Police stormed a house where the militants were hiding. Eight other police officers and a night guard were wounded, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Continue reading
Dec 29 Head of Iran's Central Bank resigns amid protests as rial hits record low against the dollar By Associated Press Iran's rial fell to 1.38 million to the dollar Monday, worsening inflation and straining budgets. Continue reading
Dec 29 U.S. pledges $2 billion for UN humanitarian aid as Trump slashes funding and warns agencies to 'adapt, shrink or die' By Jamey Keaten, Matthew Lee, Associated Press The money is a tiny fraction of what the U.S. has contributed in the past but reflects what the administration believes is a generous amount that will maintain the United States' status as the world's largest humanitarian donor. Continue reading
Dec 29 Families of Bondi Beach victims demand major federal inquiry on antisemitism and security failures By Rod McGuirk, Associated Press In an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 17 families of the dead and wounded called for a federal inquiry known as a royal commission to investigate a rise in antisemitism in Australia since the Israel-Hamas war began in… Continue reading
Dec 29 China stages military drills around Taiwan to warn 'external forces' after US, Japan tensions By Kanis Leung, Associated Press Taiwan says it has placed its forces on alert and called the Beijing government "the biggest destroyer of peace."… Continue reading
Dec 29 WATCH: Trump holds news conference as Netanyahu visits Mar-a-Lago By Will Weissert, Sam Mednick, Samy Magdy, Aamer Madhani, Associated Press President Donald Trump, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by his side, said he wants to get to the second phase of the Gaza deal “as quickly as we can.”… Continue reading