Australian firefighters spend Christmas Day containing blazes; temperatures to soar
Australian firefighters used cooler conditions on Christmas Day to try and contain bushfires ahead of hot, dry weather later in the week, as leaders and communities thanked them for sacrificing time with their families over the holidays.
Japan’s Abe tells China no improvement in ties without stability in East China Sea
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday told Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that there would be no true improvement in bilateral relations without stability in the East China Sea, Japan’s foreign ministry said.
Earthquake of magnitude 6.3 strikes west of Port Hardy, Canada: USGS
An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck 177 km (109.98 miles) west of Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Japan lawmaker arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes over casino: NHK
Tokyo prosecutors arrested ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Tsukasa Akimoto on Wednesday on suspicion of accepting bribes from a Chinese company interested in setting up a casino in Japan, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Colorado bank robber throws cash in air, shouting ‘Merry Christmas’
A man with a white beard was being held on $10,000 bond for allegedly robbing a Colorado bank and throwing the stolen cash into the air while shouting, “Merry Christmas” to passersby, police and local media reported on Tuesday.
Fire in Chilean city of Valparaíso destroys about 50 homes: firefighters
A fire in a poor neighborhood of the coastal Chilean city of Valparaíso destroyed dozens of houses on Tuesday and firefighters struggled to control the blaze, authorities said.
Mexico accuses Bolivia of more harassment, even as president sees let-up
Mexico’s foreign ministry on Tuesday again accused Bolivian security and intelligence officials of harassing its diplomatic staff in La Paz, despite remarks by the Mexican president earlier in the day that obtrusive surveillance was easing.
Tijuana bus serves as school for children of asylum seekers
On a cold rainy day in Tijuana, 30 children of families awaiting possible asylum in the United States piled into a bus for a morning of coloring, storytelling and some holiday cheer before Christmas eve.
British father, two children drown in Spanish pool on Christmas eve
Three members of the same British family – the father and two children – were found dead on Tuesday in a swimming pool of a Costa del Sol resort in southern Spain where they were staying, local authorities said.
Don’t let Church failings distance you from God, Pope says on Christmas Eve
Pope Francis led the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas on Tuesday, urging them not to let the Church’s failings lead them away from accepting God’s love.
