'Worst Christmas ever' in birthplace of Jesus as impact of war empties Bethlehem
Bethlehem is normally at its busiest at Christmas but this year war has scared away tourists and pilgrims from the Palestinian town.
Sat Dec 23 2023
20,000 flights cancelled in US since Christmas Eve: The Hill
Airlines for weeks have been forced to cancel flights because of staff shortages driven by the surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide.
Sat Jan 08 2022
Thailand warns of spike in COVID-19 cases after 'super-spreader' event
The cluster identified on Christmas eve has been linked to a couple who had travelled from Belgium and visited bars, concerts and markets.
Wed Dec 29 2021
Stranded truckers spend Christmas in their cabs
Besides the occasional miniature tree and paper chains hung from cabs, there was little festive cheer for the thousands of truckers stuck on an old airfield in southeast England on Christmas Eve.
Fri Dec 25 2020
Christmas Eve concert held in Paris' fire-wrecked Notre Dame
Wearing hard hats and protective suits, members of the choir of Notre Dame Cathedral sang inside the medieval Paris landmark for the first time since last year's devastating fire
Fri Dec 25 2020
Pope urges help for poor at low-key Christmas Eve Mass curbed by COVID
Pope Francis celebrated a low-key Christmas Eve Mass made sombre by the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday.
Fri Dec 25 2020
Obamas send final Christmas greeting from the White House
"Merry Christmas everybody! One of the best parts of the holiday season is spending time with the special people in your life."
Sun Dec 25 2016
Sixteen hurt in Christmas eve blast at Catholic church in Philippines
Security forces across Southeast Asia are on alert ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Sun Dec 25 2016
Dilwale reaches RM64 million mark, Shah Rukh Khan proves he is still the King of Bollywood
The ticket sales started to pick up significantly during Christmas Eve, with a few countries, such as United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia, recorded the highest sales.
Sat Dec 26 2015
Beatles songs being made available for streaming
The announcement comes after years when the Fab Four's songs were not available on the sites and five years after they were first made available for downloading on Apple's iTunes.
Wed Dec 23 2015
Traffic halted after money falls from the skies
Traffic screeched to a halt in Hong Kong as people rushed to grab as much as they could after an armoured vehicle spilled cash on the road.
Thu Dec 25 2014
China city bans Christmas in schools, warns over 'Western' culture
A Chinese city has banned schools from holding Christmas events highlighting official suspicions about the increasingly popular festival because of its foreign origins.
Thu Dec 25 2014
Santa's sleigh comes with inbuilt GPS and a Spotify Christmas playlist
The Gadget Sleigh (GS-900) comes courtesy of UK-based brand Metals4U with a price trage of US$312,320.
Tue Dec 23 2014
Restaurant in Japan bans couples on Christmas Eve for lonely singletons
Spaghetti diner PiaPia a restaurant in Japan has banned all couples on Christmas Eve -- "with no exceptions!".
Sat Dec 13 2014
Pope marks first Christmas as crowds flock to Bethlehem
Pope Francis held his first Christmas Eve mass in the Vatican on Tuesday by highlighting the role played by humble shepherds in the Nativity, as thousands flocked to Bethlehem.
Wed Dec 25 2013
Who is Prabowo Subianto, incoming president of Indonesia?
A wealthy ex-general with ties to Indonesia's popular outgoing president and its dictatorial past, looks set to be its next leader.
Sat Oct 19 2024
Iran's supreme leader says Hamas leader's death will not halt 'Axis of Resistance'
The "Axis of Resistance", built up with years of Iranian support, includes Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah group, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shi'ite groups in Iraq and Syria.
Sat Oct 19 2024
Putin says Russia willing to seek compromises between Iran and Israel
Russia is ready to help seek compromises between arch-foes Israel and Iran, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying these would be difficult but possible.
Sat Oct 19 2024
What proposals will Russia push at the BRICS summit?
The proposal is also to establish a BRICS reinsurance company to allow uninterrupted shipment of goods and key commodities between members.
Sat Oct 19 2024
Indonesia's free meals plan in the spotlight as Prabowo readies for office
Prabowo calls the programme one of the main drivers of economic growth, eventually set to add an estimated 2.5 million jobs.
Sat Oct 19 2024
Astro AWANI's revamped English news website, AWANI International, launches on Oct 21
Astro AWANI's revamped English platform delivers in-depth global news and expert analysis to keep you informed on key developments.
Sat Oct 19 2024
Israeli strikes kill 33 people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, medics say
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
Sat Oct 19 2024
Liam Payne's ex-partner calls for media restraint after 'painful' death
Cheryl Tweedy used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.
Sat Oct 19 2024
Analysts: Indonesia's strong MoF leadership team to boost investor confidence
Sri Mulyani Indrawati as head of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is expected to instil confidence among investors.
Sat Oct 19 2024
Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Israel has frequently resisted US advice and has caused political difficulties for the Biden administration.
Sat Oct 19 2024