DR Congo Xmas slaughter kills 35
Goma (DR Congo): Attacks in villages and fighting between militias killed at least 35 people over the Christmas weekend in North Kivu, a majority Christian area in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The bloodshed began in Eringeti — a town 55 kilometres north of the regional hub Beni, which for two years has been hit by massacres killing hundreds, many of whom were hacked to death.
One police officer killed in Afghan blast
Kabul: An Afghan official says that at least one police officer has been killed after a car bomb exploded near the convoy of the deputy provincial police chief of southern Helmand province. Omar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor in Helmand, said today that four other policemen were wounded
in the attack and the targeted police official escaped unharmed.
Xmas typhoon kills four in Philippines
Batangas (Philippines): A powerful typhoon that spoiled Christmas Day in parts of the Philippines, leaving at least four people dead and destroying homes, roared over a congested region near Manila with slightly weaker but still-fierce winds, officials said.
Environment tax in China to fight pollution
Beijing: Battling recurring pollution enveloping its cities, China has passed a new law to levy environment tax on polluters, specially on heavy industries. The Environment Tax law was adopted by the legislature, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.
Dubai raises bar for entertainment!
Dubai: Dubai’s new 13.2 billion Parks and Resorts’ has come up with ‘Bollywood’ and ‘Hollywood’-themed parks that will bring world class entertainment to tourists and boost business in the Arabian desert. Spread across 30.6 million square feet, the Motiongate-themed parks — two of the three separate theme parks and a waterpark, including, legoland and Riverland — were formally opened on December 18. The entire destination, connected by a one km river front with a host of dining and retail offerings at Riverland Dubai and 500-room lapita Hotel, could turn out to be the breakout hit.
16 killed in Mexico during celebrations
Acapulco (Mexico): Sixteen people were killed during Christmas holiday celebrations in Mexico’s main drug- trafficking states and six human heads were found in one location, officials said.