Associated Press PERTH, Australia (AP) — Tonga’s parliament has elected Aisake Eke as the country’s new prime minister. The vote came in a special session of the house on Christmas Eve. Eke’s predecessor quit earlier this month just ahead of a no-confidence vote by lawmakers. Eke — who assumes office less than a year before
Continue Reading By Nic Robertson, CNN’s International Diplomatic Editor (CNN) — 2024 was the year of the vote. More than 60 countries – home to nearly half the planet’s population – selected their leaders. In the history of democracy, it is a first. In the history of humankind, it was a remarkable coming of age, an evolution,
Continue Reading By Mostafa Salem, CNN (CNN) — Protests erupted in Christian neighborhoods of the Syrian capital Damascus after a Christmas tree was set on fire in another town by unidentified men on Monday evening. A video showing men setting fire to a publicly displayed Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, near the city of
Continue Reading Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Straddling the scaffolding high up in a historic Boston church, murals conservator Gianfranco Pocobene is working to uncover eight angels that were hidden under layers of paint for more than a century. The painted angels — with round childlike faces and wings — once were among the defining features of
Continue Reading Associated Press HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — In Southern Africa, where democracy remains relatively stable, elections held in 2024 saw long-governing liberation parties struggling to survive. Across Africa, power struggles involving military governments, coup attempts and armed conflict are common, but the southern region has largely been more stable and elections in some countries brought joy
Continue Reading By Lex Harvey, CNN (CNN) — A Swiss International Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday due to smoke in the cabin and cockpit, the airline said. Flight LX1885 was en route from Bucharest, Romania to Zurich when the crew decided to abort the journey due to engine issues and smoke
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Springfield man Carl Simon is in the Boone County Jail on Monday after he was accused of fleeing from Boone County sheriffs leading to a fatal car crash on Dec. 7 that left a 32-year-old passenger in the vehicle dead. Following the crash, Simon allegedly ran away from deputies and was later
Continue Reading Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s main liberal opposition party said Tuesday it will seek to impeach acting leader Han Duck-soo, as Seoul grapples with the turmoil set off when impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol made a short-lived declaration of martial law. The country’s political parties are now tussling over how to
Continue Reading Associated Press KURUKKAL MADAM, Sri Lanka (AP) — Pulled from the mud as an infant after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and reunited with his parents following an emotional court battle, the boy once known as “Baby 81” is now a 20-year-old dreaming of higher education. Jayarasa Abilash’s story symbolized that of the
Continue Reading AP Business Writer Technology stocks led a broad rally on Wall Street Tuesday during a holiday-shortened trading session ahead of Christmas. The S&P 500 rose 1.1% for its third-straight gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.9%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. While Big Tech companies, including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom
Continue Reading Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday vetoed a once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal district judgeships, saying “hurried action” by the House left important questions unanswered about the life-tenured positions. The legislation would have spread the establishment of the new trial court judgeships over more than a decade to give three
Continue Reading Por Marlon Sorto, CNN en Español Un policía de Perú protagonizó este fin de semana una redada antidrogas de una forma singular: disfrazado como “El Grinch”, el personaje de los libros infantiles del Dr. Seuss que se ha vuelto icónico en Navidad. El operativo se realizó en Lima, cuando el agente, disfrazado con atuendo navideño,
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Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Dylan Holloway scored three times, Jordan Binnington made 19 saves and the St. Louis Blues beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-0. St. Louis had dropped three in a row. Alexandre Texier also scored, and Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko each had two assists. Holloway scored in each period in his
Continue Reading Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A powerful government panel has failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of a nearly $15 billion proposed deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. Steel. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on Monday sent its long-awaited report to President Joe Biden,
Continue Reading Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signed the annual defense authorization bill into law despite his objections to language banning transgender health care for military children. The legislation Biden signed Monday also aims to counter China’s growing power, authorizes significant pay raises for junior enlisted service members and boosts overall military spending
Continue Reading SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador’s Congress has approved a law that would lift the country’s seven-year-old ban on mining for metals. The law, proposed by President Nayib Bukele and passed Monday on a 57 to 3 vote, would allow mining everywhere except nature reserves and sensitive watersheds. It’s expected to go into
Continue Reading By Lauren Mascarenhas and Javon Huynh, CNN (CNN) — President Joe Biden’s announcement that he’s taking 37 people off federal death row resulted in praise from some families and deep disappointment from others. The 37 inmates impacted by the decision, whose crimes include murders tied to drug trafficking and the killings of prison guards or
Continue Reading KCRA, BRETT FEDERICO, CNN By Kelly Murray and Veronica Miracle, CNN (CNN) — Five skiers were transported to the hospital Monday after an “incident” on a chair lift at Heavenly ski resort in Lake Tahoe, according to Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Bryce Cranch. The patients’ conditions are not yet known. The incident
Continue Reading Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico prosecutors won’t pursue an appeal of a court’s decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting on a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie, the Santa Fe district attorney’s office announced Monday. Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey withdrew the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Auxvasse man was charged with four counts of possessing child pornography in Callaway County. Ryan Joele Gamble, 43, is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Callaway County Courthouse. According to the probable cause statement, a child
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