December Current Events 2023: World News

Updated December 31, 2023 | Infoplease Staff

U.S. News | Disaster News | Science & Technology News | Current Events This Week

The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the World news events you need to know so far for December 2023.

  1. First Day Of Ceasefire Begins, With Hamas Releasing 24 Hostages
  2. Madagascar President, Andry Rajoelina Re-Elected For A Third Term In Office
  3. China Promise To Deepen Trade Ties With Vietnam
  4. Qatar Confirms the Extension of Ceasefire Between Israel And Hamas By Two Days
  5. After 17 Days Of Being Trapped In An Indian Tunnel, All 41 Workers Have Been Rescued
  6. European Union Court Ruled that Government Offices Have The Autonomy To Ban Wearing Of Religious Symbol
  7. Israel-Hamas Truce Ends, As Israel Launches Attack On Gaza
  8. President Putin Orders Increase In The Size Of Russian Military
  9. Burkina Faso And Niger Announce Their Withdrawal From G5
  10. Woman Confirmed Dead In A Shark Attack In A Beach In Mexico
  11. Army Airstrike Meant For Terrorist Mistakenly Kills Worshippers During Festival In Nigeria
  12. Former President Of Peru, Alberto Fujimori Released From Jail
  13. President Putin Confirms He Would Run For Fifth Term As The President Of Russia
  14. Fire Breaks Out In Hospital In Rome, Leaving At Least Four People Dead
  15. 14 Confirmed Dead Due To Clash Between Criminal Gang And Villagers
  16. General Assembly Of The United Nations Has Voted For An Immediate Ceasefire In Gaza
  17. Militants Attack Army Camp And Village In Mali, Killing Dozens Of People
  18. Village Councilor In Ukraine Throws Grenade Into Meeting
  19. Emir Of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Dies At The Age Of 86
  20. Over 60 Migrants Feared Dead Due To Shipwreck Of Libya
  21. Pope Gives Priests In Catholic Churches The Authority To Bless Same-Sex Couples
  22. Brazil To Eliminate Primary Deficit In 2024, Following The Approval Of The Congress
  23. Prime Minister Geraldo Martins Of Guinea-Bissau Sacked By President Embalo
  24. Gunman That Killed 14 In Prague Killed Himself As Police Approached
  25. Russian Electoral Commission Votes To Invalidate Candidacy Of Other Presidential Candidate
  26. Blast In Indonesian Nickel Factory Kills 13 Workers, Leaving Several Others Injured
  27. Russian Opposition Leader, Navalny Found In Remote Penal Colony
  28. Man Suspected Of Killing Wife And Children Arrested In France
  29. Eight North Korean Sanctioned By South Korea Over Arms Trade

 

First Day Of Ceasefire Begins, With Hamas Releasing 24 Hostages

Palestinians walk by destroyed buildings in Gaza City on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, the sixth day of the temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Mohammed Hajjar

Friday, November 24, 2023 – After a long intense battle between Israel and Hamas, the first group of hostages were released from Gaza on Friday. Hamas released 24 hostages, 13 of them being Israelis, 10 Thais, and a Philippine national. The hostage release is part of the deal that facilitated a ceasefire and the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

Israel also released a total of 39 Palestinian prisoners on Friday evening. Those that were released included 24 women, including some who were convicted of attempted murder, and 15 teenagers who were jailed for offenses such as throwing stones.

According to the agreement, Hamas is expected to release not less than 50, out of the 240 Israeli hostages. Israel on the other hand is expected to release at least 150 Palestinian prisoners and allow close to 300 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Source: The Guardian 

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Madagascar President, Andry Rajoelina Re-Elected For A Third Term In Office

President Andry Rajoelina addresses supporters at an election rally in Antananarivo, Sunday Nov. 12, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Alexander Joe

Saturday, November 25, 2023 – The Current President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, has won a third term in office, following a controversial election that was boycotted by his opposition and their supporters. He won 59% to defeat the two closest rivals, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko and the ousted ex-president, Marc Ravalomanana.

The turnout of voters for the election was 46%, which is the lowest in the history of the country. Following the low turnout, 10 presidential candidates called for a boycott of polls. In addition, they withdrew their candidacies over concern about the credibility of the election and the validity of President Rajoelina, given his dual French nationality.

Their appeal to annul Mr. Rajoelina’s candidacy was dismissed by the constitutional court. The constitutional court now has nine days to confirm the result of the presidential election that was announced by the Madagascar electoral body on Saturday.

Source: BBC 

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China Promise To Deepen Trade Ties With Vietnam

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks to U.S. President Joe Biden during a business roundtable meeting at the Government Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Minh Hoang, Pool

Sunday, November 26, 2023 – During a meeting with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, the commerce minister of China, Wang Wentao promised to deepen the bilateral trade ties between China and Vietnam. Mr. Wang said though the relations with Vietnam had already achieved fruitful results, it would now include strategic areas like digital economy, green development, and cross-border e-commerce.

Both China and the United States have been trying to get influence among Southeast Asian nations, which includes Vietnam, which stepped up its ties with Washington in September to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Vice Foreign Minister of China, Sun Weidong held a talk with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Vu concerning bilateral ties, land border, and maritime issues. Though Chinese President Xi Jinping was expected to travel to Hanoi in late October or early November, it was postponed till December.

Source: Reuters

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Qatar Confirms the Extension of Ceasefire Between Israel And Hamas By Two Days

Relatives and friends of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group call for their release during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah in the Hostages Square at the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Monday, November 27, 2023 – Officials confirm that the truce which led to the release of 50 Israelis and several other nationals has been extended by two days. The Red Cross and Israel Defense Forces confirmed that 11 Israelis were freed by Hamas on Monday, which brings the total number of freed hostages to 69.

Israel also released 33 Palestinian prisoners, bringing the total number of Palestinians that were released over the cause of the truce to 150. Spokesperson of the foreign ministry of Qatar, Majed Al-Ansari posted on X to confirm the extension of the truce.

Hamas confirmed that it accepted the truce extension, under the same condition that it was reached before. Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel, Mark Regev, said that Israel is willing to extend the truce by another day if Hamas releases 10 hostages.

Source: CNN 

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After 17 Days Of Being Trapped In An Indian Tunnel, All 41 Workers Have Been Rescued

Pushkar Singh Dhami, right, Chief Minister of the state of Uttarakhand, greeting a worker rescued from the site of an under-construction road tunnel that collapsed in Silkyara in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, India, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo

Tuesday, November 28, 2023 – A group of 41 workers were greeted with excitement as they emerged from a collapsed tunnel under the Himalayas on Tuesday. The men had been trapped in the tunnel for 17 days, as recovery teams drilled an escape route through the mountains.

The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand state, Pushkar Singh, was seen meeting with the workers as they emerged from the tunnel. During a press conference, he confirmed that all 41 workers seemed to be healthy, but he added that they would follow the advice of the doctor and monitor them closely since they just come out of a different environment.

According to the statement posted on X by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, he said a successful rescue operation is making everyone emotional. He also encouraged the bravery of the men who were trapped in the tunnel.

Source: CNN

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European Union Court Ruled That Government Offices Have The Autonomy To Ban Wearing Of Religious Symbol

A man walks by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg

Photo Source: AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 – The top court of the European Union has ruled that government offices can ban employees from wearing religious symbols, such as Islamic headscarves, to promote neutrality. According to the decision that was published by the Court of Justice of the European Union, it said that such bans are very important to enforce an “entirely neutral administrative environment.

The court ruling was requested, after a Muslim employee in the municipality of Ans, eastern Belgium, was told that she could not wear a headscarf at work. The municipality then went ahead to amend its term of employment to require all employees to observe strict neutrality.

However, a complaint was lodged with the local court, by the employee who described the ban as discriminatory, saying that her rights to freedom of religion had been infringed.

Source: The Guardian

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Israel-Hamas Truce Ends, As Israel Launches Attack On Gaza

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Leo Correa

Friday, December 1, 2023 – Israel launched an attack at targets across Gaza following the end of a seven-day ceasefire on Friday, after the negotiation of the release of more hostages failed overnight. More than 100 Palestinians were killed in the recent attack from Israel.

According to Israel’s military, they confirmed that by lunchtime, they had already attacked 200 targets from land, sea, and air across the north and south of the strip, which include a south city that Israel had ordered civilians to evacuate from, Khan Younis.

Israel confirmed that the reason the truce broke and could not be renewed was because Hamas had failed to release the remaining female hostages in Gaza. According to an Israeli Government spokesperson, Eylon Levy, he said that “Having chosen to hold on to Israeli women, Hamas will now take the mother of all thumping.”

Source: The Guardian 

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President Putin Orders Increase In The Size Of Russian Military

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool

Saturday, December 2, 2023 – The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has ordered the military of the country to increase the number of troops by 170,000, as the war between Russia and Ukraine enters its 22nd month. With the increase, the overall number of Russian military personnel will amount to more than 2.2 million, including 1.32 million troops.

According to the country’s defense ministry, it said the expansion was due to “growing threats to the country,” which includes the war with Ukraine and the continuing expansion of NATO. The ministry also said that the increment would be implemented in stages through a recruitment drive.

The latest order from Putin comes as Russia’s war with Ukraine is about to enter its second winter, and it is also the second time since the start of the war that such an order was given.

Source: CNN 

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Burkina Faso And Niger Announce Their Withdrawal From G5

Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum delivers a speech after a video summit with leaders of G5 Sahel countries at the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris, Friday July 9, 2021.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Stephane de Sakutin, Pool 

Sunday, December 3, 2023 – Following Mali’s decision, Burkina Faso and Niger have also announced their withdrawal from an international force known as G5. The international force was set up to fight Islamists in the Sahel region. All three countries, which are governed by military rulers because of coups have formed their mutual defense pact known as Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which was signed in September.

According to statements from the governments of both Burkina Faso and Niger, they said that the G5 forces have failed to make the Sahel region safer. They also added that the anti-jihadist force undermined the two African nations’ desire for greater independence and dignity.

The two countries also question the impact that their international force will have on the Islamist militant groups that have been growing in strength across the Sahel region.

Source: BBC

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Woman Confirmed Dead In A Shark Attack In A Beach In Mexico

A tourist watches as Mexican federal environmental authorities and navy sailors close a section of beach.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Israel Leal

Monday, December 4, 2023 – A woman has been confirmed dead in a shark attack at a beach resort on the Pacific coast of Mexico. According to the statement from the local civil protection and fire service, the body of the woman, who has not been named officially, was found at the scene in Melaque Bay.

According to the statement posted on Facebook, one of the legs of the victim was severed and confirmed that the injury appeared to have been caused by a shark attack. The incident is believed to have happened on the same day as the swimming race took place in the bay, which is located in Jalisco state, western Mexico.

According to a video that has circulated throughout the internet, it shows a person who was carried away from the water with a missing leg.

Source: CNN  

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Army Airstrike Meant For Terrorist Mistakenly Kills Worshippers During Festival In Nigeria

Victims of an army drone attack receives treatment at a hospital in Kaduna Nigeria, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Kehinde Gbenga

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 – Authorities have confirmed that at least 85 civilians were killed in Kaduna state, during an air strike during a Muslim celebration. The governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani said the civilians were mistakenly killed by a military drone that was intended for terrorists and bandits. 

The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu said that they were killed in a bombing mishap but did not give the death toll. President Tinubu has called for a full and thorough investigation into the accident and calls for calm while the authorities investigate the incident.

According to a witness, he said an aircraft dropped a bomb at the venue and killed several people including women and children. Another bomb was dropped as some of the residents were trying to retrieve the dead bodies of the victims of the first blast.

Source: BBC 

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Former President Of Peru, Alberto Fujimori Released From Jail

Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori, 85, center, is driven away from a prison by one of his lawyers, accompanied by his son Kenji, left, and daughter Keiko, after his release in Callao, Peru, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Martin Mejia

Thursday, December 7, 2023 – Peru’s former leader, Alberto Fujimori has been released from jail after the country’s highest court ruled that he should be granted a humanitarian pardon. His release came despite a request from the regional Inter-American Court of Human Rights to delay his release.

The 85-year-old was welcomed by his lawyer, and two of his children and was led into the van through cheers from his supporters. His vehicle left the Barbadillo police base and prison where the former leader was serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and ordering massacres, which were committed by an army death squad in the early 1990s.

The decision of the court upholds its appeal in 2022 to restore a controversial humanitarian pardon, which was granted to Fujimori on Christmas Eve in 2017 but was later overturned because of pressure from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Source: The Guardian

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President Putin Confirms He Would Run For Fifth Term As The President Of Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks addressing the 4th Railway Congress at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.

Photo Source: Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Friday, December 8, 2023 – President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has confirmed that he would stand again for a fifth term in power. He announced an award ceremony for participants of the full-scale war he launched against Ukraine in 2022. His announcement comes a day after election officials in Russia confirmed that the presidential election will be held on 15-17 March 2024.

Mr. Putin ruled the country from 2000 – 2008 and returned to power in 2012. This means he has been in power in Russia longer than any ruler since Josef Stalin. In 2020, the Russian constitution was amended, which increased the presidential term from four to six years. This gives Mr. Putin a clean slate to run again next year by canceling out his previous term.

Power was handed over to Mr. Putin at the very end of 1999 by his ailing predecessor, Boris Yeltsin.

Source: BBC 

 

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Fire Breaks Out In Hospital In Rome, Leaving At Least Four People Dead

Italian Firefighters vehicles are parked outside the San Giovanni Evangelista Hospital after a fire broke out causing the death of four people in Tivoli, Italy, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.

Photo Source: Italian Firefighters Via AP

Saturday, December 9, 2023 – Italy’s fire brigade confirmed that at least four people have died and over 200 people were evacuated due to a fire outbreak close to the mortuary of the San Giovanni Evangelista hospital in the Roman suburb of Tivoli. The fire started in the lower level between the mortuary, clinic, and kitchen area.

The spokesperson of the hospital confirmed that seven children and lots of newborn babies were part of those evacuated from the hospital and that they have been transferred to a nearby hospital. 

According to the fire brigade spokesperson, the fire might have been caused by the wiring at the building and some of the chemicals that were stored there. Firefighters fought the fire for close to five hours, and once the structure has cooled down, they will conduct a thorough search for more victims.

Source: CNN 

 

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14 Confirmed Dead Due To Clash Between Criminal Gang And Villagers

Soldiers walk past the City Hall pocketed with bullet holes the day after a mass shooting in San Miguel Totolapan, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo

Saturday, December 9, 2023 – Local Authorities have confirmed that 14 people were killed and seven others injured because of a clash between gunmen from a criminal gang and residents of a small farming community in Mexico. Videos that were posted on social media showed villagers chasing down suspected gang members.

The violence was condemned by the Governor of Mexico state, Delfina Gomez, and other local leaders. She said the incident was due to regional violence that has been brewing slowly for years. She assured local people that maintaining order was among her top priorities and promised them that they were not alone.

According to the officials, they said 10 out of the people who were killed were gang members, while the remaining 4 were residents of the village. However, the gang was not identified by the police.

Source: The Guardian

 

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Polish Parliament Elects Donald Tusk As Prime Minister

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrives for an EU-Western Balkans summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

Monday, December 11, 2023 – The Parliament of Poland has given former Prime Minister, Donald Tusk the mandate to form a new coalition government. The new administration will be sworn in at the Presidential palace by President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday. 

The decision of the Parliament will put an end to an eight-year rule of the Nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), which clashed with the authorities of the European Union on several occasions. Led by Mateusz Morawiecki, the PiS came out as the single biggest party after the election but did not have the support of other parties, and was unable to form a majority in the parliament.

The coalition of Mr. Tusk won most of the seats in the election held in October, but they had been unable to take office until now.

Source: BBC 

 

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General Assembly Of The United Nations Has Voted For An Immediate Ceasefire In Gaza

Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike on residential buildings in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Hatem Ali

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 – The General Assembly of the United Nations has voted to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The votes oppose the United States, which has repeatedly blocked ceasefire calls in the United Nations Security Council. During the General Assembly emergency special session on Tuesday, 153 nations voted for the ceasefire, 10 voted against it and 23 abstained.

Although the vote of the General Assembly is politically significant, it majorly carries a moral weight, and it is nonbinding, unlike a Security Council resolution. Last week, the United States vetoed a ceasefire resolution in the Security Council, which had already been approved.

Israel has vowed not to stop its military campaign until it has eradicated the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, after its October 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people.

Source: CNN 

 

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Militants Attack Army Camp And Village In Mali, Killing Dozens Of People

Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori, 85, center, is driven away from a prison by one of his lawyers, accompanied by his son Kenji, left, and daughter Keiko, after his release in Callao, Peru, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Moustapha Diallo

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Militants attack a military camp and village in central Mali, killing close to two dozen soldiers and at least five civilians. Armed assailants stormed the village of Farabougou and a military camp that was nearby, shooting everywhere.

Officials who do not wish to be named confirmed that the militants seized and destroyed the camp, killing close to 30 soldiers. The officials also added that they have found the body of five villagers and many more were injured during the attack.

Mali is one of the West African countries that is fighting a jihadist insurgent that was established in its arid north after militants hijacked a Tuareg rebellion in 2012. Since then, the violence has spread across the Sahel region south of the Sahara, where groups that are linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have seized lots of territories.

Source: Reuters 

 

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Village Councilor In Ukraine Throws Grenade Into Meeting

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Police Press Office, blood is seen at the scene of an incident with exploded grenades, in Keretske, Zakarpattia region, Ukraine, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.

Photo Source: Ukrainian Police Press Office via AP

Friday, December 15, 2023 – Police confirm that a councilor of a village in Ukraine threw grenades onto the floor of a council meeting, which left 26 people wounded. The incident happened on Friday morning at the village council headquarters in Keretsky.

A discussion concerning the budgets for 2024 has been going on amongst the councilors, and this year’s financial results. A vote was also being held to determine whether to award a bonus to the council chief. After 90 minutes of the meeting, one of the village councilors was seen shouting objection to the budget.

He went out of the room and returned few minutes after and brought out several grenades from his jacket pockets. He then got people’s attention before tossing the grenades in the middle of the room which exploded moments later.

Source: BBC 

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Emir Of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Dies At The Age Of 86

Image removed.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Tara Copp

Saturday, December 16, 2023 – Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait has died at the age of 86 after he ruled the country for three years. Sheikh Nawaf was admitted to the hospital in November due to an emergency health issue.

He once served as the minister for defense in 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait in what was referred to as the Gulf War. In his political career, he also served in positions such as Interior Minister and Minister of Social Affairs. He was then named the crown prince in 2006 and held the position for 14 years. He was sworn in as Emir in 2020.

After an emergency cabinet meeting, the government of Kuwait announced that Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who is 83 years old would be crowned the new Emir of Kuwait.

Source: CNN 

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Over 60 Migrants Feared Dead Due To Shipwreck Of Libya

Image removed.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Paolo Santalucia

Sunday, December 17, 2023 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that they believe over 60 migrants have drowned in a shipwreck on the coast of Libya. The United Nations agency said that the vessel left the city of Zuwara, with close to 86 people on board.

Most people who ae attempting to cross the Mediterranean to get into Europe often use Libya as their departure point. According to the statistics from IOM, over 2,200 people have drowned this year, while attempting the crossing, which makes it one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world.

According to the agency, most of the victims of the latest incident were from Nigeria, Gambia, and other African countries. The agency also confirmed that they had transferred 25 survivors to a Libyan detention center, where they are being given medical support.

Source: BBC

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Pope Gives Priests In Catholic Churches The Authority To Bless Same-Sex Couples

Image removed.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Paolo Santalucia

Monday, December 18, 2023 – Pope Francis has given his blessing regarding same-sex couples. The news serves as a significant advance for LGBT people in the Roman Catholic Church. The leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said priests should be permitted to bless same-sex couples and irregular under certain conditions.

According to the Vatican, it said it should be a sign that “God welcomes all,” but said priests must decide on a case-by-case basis. While introducing the text, the Church prefect, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, said that the new declaration remained “firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage.

The declaration serves as a softening tone from the Catholic Church, which is however not a change in position. The Pope in 2021 said priests do not have permission to bless same-sex marriage because God cannot “bless sin.”

Source: BBC 

 

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Brazil To Eliminate Primary Deficit In 2024, Following The Approval Of The Congress

Image removed.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Eraldo Peres

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 – The Congress in Brazil has approved its budgetary guidelines bill, which sets the goal of eliminating the primary deficit by 2024. The bill was passed during a joint session between the senators and deputies.

According to the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, he said in October it was not necessary to erase the budget deficit given the importance of funding for priority projects and construction investment. According to the Finance Ministry, the minimum increase of 0.6% is expense should always be met.

Under the bill that was approved, allocations following the spending rule of the government’s new framework should not be subject to limitation. The effect of this is that it is expected to cap government budget cuts in 2024 at about 23 billion reals ($4.59 billion).

Source: Reuters 

 

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Prime Minister Geraldo Martins Of Guinea-Bissau Sacked By President Embalo

Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo speaks at the Peace Forum on Nov. 11, 2022 in Paris.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool, File

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 – The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo has sacked the Prime Minister, Geraldo Martins just a week after he was reappointed. The president announced that the former Prime Minister, Rul Duarte de Barros was the new Prime Minister.

President Embalo had earlier dissolved the parliament of Guinea-Bissau because of what he referred to as a foiled coup and accused the government of passivity in response to the clashes. Martins was later reappointed as Prime Minister on Dec. 12. However, the president did not mention a particular reason for dismissing Martins.

The newly appointed Prime Minister, De Barros has previously worked as the minister for the economy of the country and served as the commissioner at the West African Economic and Monetary Union before he served as the Prime Minister of a transition government between 2012 and 2014.

Source: Reuters

 

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Gunman That Killed 14 In Prague Killed Himself As Police Approached

Image removed.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Denes Erdos

Friday, December 22, 2023 – The police in Prague have confirmed that the gunman who killed 14 people at a university on Thursday afternoon has ended his own life after he was surrounded by the authorities. The attack by the gunman, which happened at the Faculty of Arts building of Charles University is considered the worst in the history of Czech.

The director of police in the city, Petr Matejcek said that there were piles of ammunition in the corridors and said there is a possibility that there could have been more bloodshed if the police had not arrived early.

25 other people were confirmed to have been injured during the attack, including a Dutch citizen and two people from the United Arab Emirates. It was also believed that the gunman, identified as 24-year-old Dabid Kozak had killed his father at a separate location.

Source: BBC 

 

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Russian Electoral Commission Votes To Invalidate Candidacy Of Other Presidential Candidate

Image removed.

Photo Source: Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Saturday, December 23, 2023 – The Russian electoral commission has unanimously voted to reject the candidacy of a former TV journalist, who announced that she would be contesting against President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming Russian presidential election. 

Yekaterina Dunsova, who is an independent politician planned to run in a bid to end the Ukrainian war. The electoral commission said the reason for rejecting her candidacy was because of 100 mistakes that were cited on her form.

Ms. Yekaterina quickly responded to the decision of the commission regarding her candidacy and said she would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court since the decision is not based on the law.  According to the commission, 29 people have filed to run for the presidency, but Mr. Putin remains the only candidate to be able to register as a candidate.

Source: BBC 

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Blast In Indonesian Nickel Factory Kills 13 Workers, Leaving Several Others Injured

Relatives weep during the funeral of Irfan Bukhari, one of the victims of the explosion of a smelting furnace at a Chinese-owned nickel plant on Indonesia's Sulawesi island, at a cemetery in Polewali Mandar, Indonesia, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Yusuf Wahil

Sunday, December 24, 2023 – A nickel factory in Indonesia which is owned by a Chinese has suffered a furnace explosion, which killed at least 13 workers and left 38 others injured. The factory is being operated by Chinese steel and nickel giant, Tsingshan, which has stakes in Indonesia’s nickel mining industry.

According to a statement that was issued by the company, the blast is believed to have occurred when workers were repairing a furnace. Based on investigations that were carried out initially, the explosion occurred during the repair process, which was caused by some residue of explosion-inducing liquid at the bottom of the furnace.

Indonesia is the largest exporter of nickel in the world. They are also rich in copper, cobalt, and bauxite, which are used in the making of the batteries of electric vehicles.

Source: CNN

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Russian Opposition Leader, Navalny Found In Remote Penal Colony

Image removed.

Photo Source: The Russian Federal Penitentiary Service via AP

Monday, December 25, 2023 – A Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who was jailed has been found in a remote prison colony above the Arctic Circle after he went missing for over three weeks. His spokesperson confirmed that they tracked Navalny down to the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, which is about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow.

Navalny was sentenced to close to three decades in jail after he started a nationwide political opposition against President Vladimir Putin. He then disappeared from a prison in the Vladimir region close to Moscow on December 6. Three lawyers who were representing Navalny were previously detained by Russian authorities so that they could isolate him completely.

Navalny was previously poisoned in Russia in 2020, after which he was evacuated to Germany for treatment. He returned to Russia in 2021, after which he was arrested and sentenced to 30 decades in prison on charges of fraud.

Source: The Guardian 

 

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Man Suspected Of Killing Wife And Children Arrested In France

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Photo Source: AP Photo/Nicolas Garriga

Tuesday, December 26, 2023 – The French police have arrested a man, who is a suspect in the death of his wife and four children. An investigation was launched after five bodies were discovered in a flat in Meaux, Paris.

Prosecutor Jean-Baptiste Bladier said the scene was a display of extreme violence when the police arrived at the flat. According to the Prosecutor, there was no sign of a breaking-in, and the father of the children was not present. The police were able to trace the suspect to his father’s home near Sevran, with the aid of CCTV footage.

According to Mr. Bladier, documents that suggested admission to a psychiatric hospital in 2017 were found during the search of the apartment. Mr. Bladier said that the suspect was known to the police because of previous cases of domestic violence.

Source: BBC 

 

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Eight North Korean Sanctioned By South Korea Over Arms Trade

A sign of North Korea is seen on a map at the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.

Photo Source: AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File

Wednesday, December 27, 2023 – Eight North Korean citizens have been sanctioned by South Korea because they are linked to nuclear and missile development through arms trade, cyberattacks other illicit activities. The sanctions came days after an intercontinental ballistic missile was fired by North Korea. This action was strongly condemned by South Korea and the United States because it violates the resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations.

Part of the people that were blacklisted include Ri Chang Ho, head of the Reconnaissance General Bureau which is involved in overseas hacking operations, and Yun Chol who assisted in supplying nuclear materials while working with the North Korean Embassy in China.

Since October 2022, a total of 83 individuals and 53 entities related to North Korea’s weapons program have been blacklisted by South Korea.

Source: Reuters

 

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