Yoel Romero gets title shot at Bellator 290 against Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson winner

AFP
Desertions spark panic, and pardons, in Ukraine's army
Oleksandr deserted from the front line in eastern Ukraine after watching his fellow servicemen being pulverised by Russian bombardments for six months.It was the final straw for Oleksandr, 45, who had been holding the line in the embattled Lugansk region in the early months of the war.
AFP
China sanctions US firms over Taiwan military support
China on Friday slapped sanctions on seven US companies after Washington's approval last week of a $571.3 million military aid package to Taiwan, which Beijing said infringed on its "sovereignty and territory".Last Friday, US President Joe Biden authorised the drawdown of up to $571.3 million for defence assistance to the self-ruled island, which China regards as its own territory.
Reuters
Malaysian man publicly caned for Islamic crime of close proximity
A Malaysian man was caned at a mosque in the northeastern state of Terengganu on Friday for the Islamic crime of close proximity with a non-family member of the opposite sex, local media reported, in a rare public sentencing. Muslim-majority Malaysia practices a dual-track legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws applicable to Muslims alongside secular laws. Mohd Affendi Awang, 42, was convicted of the Islamic crime of "khalwat" and sentenced to six strokes of the cane and a fine after he pleaded guilty to the offence last month.
AFP
Asian markets mostly rise but political turmoil holds Seoul back
Asian markets mostly rose on Friday, with Japanese shares gaining on a weaker yen, although Seoul shares plunged as South Korea's political crisis deepened with a second impeachment vote.In Seoul, the market closed down by 1.02 percent after the won plunged to a 16-year low of 1,480.20 per US dollar on Friday morning.
CNN
China launches new amphibious assault ship in a race to rival US military
China has launched its first next-generation amphibious assault ship, adding a powerful cutting-edge warship to the country’s fast-expanding navy as it races to rival the military power of the United States.
Reuters
WHO says crew member suffered serious injury in Yemen airport strike
The U.N. air crew member hurt in an air strike on Yemen's main international airport on Thursday suffered serious injuries but is now recovering in hospital, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization said on Friday. Israel said it struck multiple targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen, including Sanaa International Airport, and Houthi media said at least six people were killed.
Yahoo Finance
The year Washington tried to humble Big Tech
The US government long had the nation’s biggest tech giants in its sights, and in 2024 it hit bullseye. But Wall Street doesn't appear rattled — yet.
AFP
N. Korean soldier captured in Russia-Ukraine war dies: Seoul
A North Korean soldier who was captured while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine has died of his wounds, South Korea's spy agency said on Friday. "It has been confirmed through an allied intelligence agency that the North Korean soldier captured alive on December 26th has just passed away due to worsening wounds," the South's spy agency said in a statement.
CNN
Severe storms across US threaten to disrupt one of the busiest travel weekends of the year
Storms across both the Western and Southern United States threaten to disrupt flights as millions of holiday travelers prepare to close out the year.
Reuters
China extends license age limit for truck, bus drivers as population ages
China will extend licence age limits for drivers of medium-sized and large buses as well as trucks, as part of broader efforts to address the challenges posed by an aging population, falling birth rate and a shrinking labour pool. Keeping older transportation workers on the payroll will be key to helping maintain stability across China's vast transportation system in the medium-term as the sector plans to adopt more autonomous vehicles. Just over a decade ago, the capital Beijing allowed male bus drivers to retire five years earlier - at the age of 55 - for health reasons, as it was concerned about operational safety.
AFP
South Korean lawmakers impeach acting President Han Duck-soo
South Korean lawmakers impeached the acting president on Friday, as the country struggles to shake off political turmoil sparked by his predecessor's martial law declaration that shocked the world.It became the second impeachment of a South Korean head of state in just two weeks, adding to the turmoil of the country's dynamic political landscape.
TODAY
Should smartwatches be banned from weddings? One dress code request sparks debate
A social media post about an Apple Watch ban went viral, and the internet is divided on whether smartwatches should be banned at weddings. What does an expert say?
CNN
Israeli forces surround Gaza hospital and order evacuation: hospital director
Staff at a hospital in northern Gaza say the building has been surrounded by Israeli forces and they are being ordered to evacuate along with all patients, after reports of a nearby airstrike that the local health ministry said killed about 50 people.
Reuters
Osamu Suzuki, who led Japanese automaker into India, dies at 94
Osamu Suzuki, an ingenious pennypincher who led Japan's Suzuki Motor for more than four decades and played a key role in turning India into a flourishing auto market, has died aged 94. The inexpensive, boxy, 660-cc cars specific to Japan benefited from generous tax breaks, but demanded a stringent reining-in of costs that proved to be a key part of the automaker's DNA. Even so, Suzuki's thriftiness was legendary: he would order factory ceilings lowered to save on air-conditioning and fly economy class on airplanes even at an advanced age.
CNN
Japan’s scenic hot springs town restricting tourists amid fights over the best photo spots
Ginzan Onsen, a popular Japanese hot spring town known for its scenic snowy views, has begun limiting entry to day trippers during winter peak season.
CNN
Black boxes of downed Azerbaijani jet recovered as questions mount over Russian involvement. Here’s what we know
Early indications suggest a Russian anti-aircraft system may have downed the passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan, a US official told CNN, as authorities recovered a second black box that they hope will shed light on the cause of the disaster that killed dozens of people.
CNN
Christmas Eve stowaway caught on Delta airplane at Seattle airport
A stowaway was caught trying to nab a ride on a Delta Air Lines plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Christmas Eve.
Reuters
Ghost tales won't spook Japan PM Ishiba from moving to official home
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Friday he was eager to move into his official residence despite long-standing rumours about hauntings at the historic site witness to military rebellions. Ishiba, elected in October after predecessor Fumio Kishida stepped down, has held off moving in pending inspections and repair work, but is expected to move in soon, though he declined to specify the date on security grounds. "I'm not particularly afraid," Ishiba said, when asked about the hauntings during an impromptu press conference, adding that he would like to move in as soon as possible.
Associated Press
South Korea's opposition-controlled National Assembly votes to impeach acting President Han
South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo despite vehement protests by governing party lawmakers, further deepening the country’s political crisis set off by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment. Han’s impeachment means he will be stripped of the powers and duties of the president until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him.
Associated Press
Leaders and politicians pay homage to India’s former prime minister, Manmohan Singh
Authorities in India have declared a seven-day mourning period to honor Manmohan Singh, officials said Friday, as politicians and public paid tributes to the country’s former prime minister widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program. Officials canceled all cultural and entertainment events for the week, with government buildings flying the national flag at half staff across India. Singh, who died late Thursday at age 92, is scheduled to be cremated on Saturday.

Yoel Romero gets title shot at Bellator 290 against Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson winner

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Twitter reacts to Yoel Romero's brutal KO of retiring Melvin Manhoef at Bellator 285

Latest Stories

Desertions spark panic, and pardons, in Ukraine's army

China sanctions US firms over Taiwan military support

Malaysian man publicly caned for Islamic crime of close proximity

Asian markets mostly rise but political turmoil holds Seoul back

China launches new amphibious assault ship in a race to rival US military

WHO says crew member suffered serious injury in Yemen airport strike

The year Washington tried to humble Big Tech

N. Korean soldier captured in Russia-Ukraine war dies: Seoul

Severe storms across US threaten to disrupt one of the busiest travel weekends of the year

China extends license age limit for truck, bus drivers as population ages

South Korean lawmakers impeach acting President Han Duck-soo

Should smartwatches be banned from weddings? One dress code request sparks debate

Israeli forces surround Gaza hospital and order evacuation: hospital director

Osamu Suzuki, who led Japanese automaker into India, dies at 94

Japan’s scenic hot springs town restricting tourists amid fights over the best photo spots

Black boxes of downed Azerbaijani jet recovered as questions mount over Russian involvement. Here’s what we know

Christmas Eve stowaway caught on Delta airplane at Seattle airport

Ghost tales won't spook Japan PM Ishiba from moving to official home

South Korea's opposition-controlled National Assembly votes to impeach acting President Han

Leaders and politicians pay homage to India’s former prime minister, Manmohan Singh