Author: France 24

A drone attack on Monday targeted a military base in northern Iraq used by US and anti-jihadist coalition forces, US and Iraqi officials said, in the latest such incident. Issued on: 25/12/2023 – 21:43Modified: 25/12/2023 – 21:44 1 min The number of attacks targeting the coalition, which deployed troops to Iraq to fight the Islamic State group, has surged since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. In Monday’s incident a drone was launched towards a base close to Arbil airport, in Iraqi Kurdistan, Yehia Rasool, the Iraqi prime minister’s spokesman for military affairs, said in a statement.The attack…

More than a hundred people have been killed in central Nigeria in a series of attacks on villages, local government officials said Monday.  Issued on: 25/12/2023 – 19:11 1 min The toll marked a sharp rise from the initial figure reported by the army Sunday evening of just 16 dead in a region plagued for several years by religious and ethnic tensions. “As many as 113 persons have been confirmed killed as Saturday hostilities persisted to early hours of Monday,” Monday Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos, Plateau State, told AFP. Military gangs, locally called “bandits”, launched “well-coordinated” attacks in…

Issued on: 25/12/2023 – 16:49Modified: 25/12/2023 – 17:38 03:43 There has been no break in the fighting over Christmas, said FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Jerusalem, Luke Shrago. “Palestinian authorities said over a hundred peope have now been killed in an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in central Gaza.” The night between Sunday and Monday was one of the dealiest in over 80 days of warfare.  Read more on related topics: Source link

Serbian police said Monday they have detained at least 38 people who took part in a protest against reported widespread irregularities during a recent general ballot that declared the governing populists as winners of the parliamentary and local councils’ elections.  Issued on: 25/12/2023 – 17:30 2 min Opposition group Serbia Against Violence has been staging protests since the Dec. 17 elections, saying there has been election fraud, particularly in the capital, Belgrade. Some politicians began a hunger strike. On Sunday evening, protesters tried to enter Belgrade’s city council, breaking windows, before riot police pushed them back using tear gas, pepper spray…

Issued on: 20/12/2023 – 22:35 Singer-songwriter Adele and footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the celebrities caught up in the disinformation war between Israel and Hamas, as users claim they have expressed their support for Palestine. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.  Source link

A plane with close to 300 Indian passengers detained near Paris over suspicions of human trafficking took off Monday after being cleared for departure by French police, an AFP reporter said. Issued on: 25/12/2023 – 16:22 1 min The Airbus A340 carrying 303 Indians had been bound for Nicaragua when it was detained last Thursday at Vatry airport, east of Paris, where it had stopped for refuelling.It had arrived from Dubai and there was an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying potential victims of human trafficking.Of the original passenger list, 276 were on the plane that took off just before…

Issued on: 21/12/2023 – 15:01Modified: 21/12/2023 – 15:49 03:39 © FRANCE 24 The World Health Organization said on Thursday that northern Gaza has been left without a functional hospital due to a lack of fuel, staff and supplies. “There are actually no functional hospitals left in the north,” Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative in Gaza, told reporters via video link from Jerusalem. “Al-Ahli (Hospital) was the last one but it is now minimally functional.” Read more on related topics: Source link

Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been moved to a penal colony in an Arctic region of northern Russia, his spokeswoman said on Monday after supporters lost touch with him for more than two weeks.  Issued on: 25/12/2023 – 14:24Modified: 25/12/2023 – 14:25 1 min Navalny was tracked down to the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets region, about 1,900 km (1200 miles) north east of Moscow, spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said.Navalny’s lawyer managed to see him on Monday, Yarmysh said.Navalny’s allies, who had been preparing for his expected transfer to a “special regime” colony, the harshest grade…

Issued on: 25/12/2023 – 11:39Modified: 25/12/2023 – 12:11 01:58 Palestinian Christians, who make up 2% of the West Bank’s population, observed on Sunday a subdued Christmas Eve in Bethlehem as the town remained under tight surveillance. Since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza broke out on Oct 7, Bethlehem – a major Christian pilgrimage destination – has been cut off from the world at large. The town’s Christmas festivities were scrapped amid the ongoing conflict, leaving the usually vibrant streets with only a handful of worshippers and tourists. FRANCE 24’s Luke Shrago reports. Read more on related topics: Source link

Pope Francis on Monday deplored the desperate humanitarian situation of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and the freeing of hostages in his Christmas message. Issued on: 25/12/2023 – 12:53 3 min “My heart grieves for the victims of the abominable attack of 7 October, and I reiterate my urgent appeal for the liberation of those still being held hostage,” the 86-year-old said in his traditional Urbi et Orbi message.”I plead for an end to the military operations with their appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims, and call for a solution to the desperate humanitarian situation by…