International

• Monday, December 24th 2018 - 09:23 UTC

  “Peace on earth and goodwill to all, needed as much as ever”, Queen's Christmas message

  

  The Queen will say in her Christmas Day broadcast that the Christian message of “peace on earth and goodwill to all” is “needed as much as ever”. She will say the message is “never out of date” and can be “heeded by everyone”.

• Monday, December 24th 2018 - 08:41 UTC

  Xmas messages: Mrs. May praises the Armed Forces; Corbyn pays tribute to the Good Samaritans

  

  Theresa May has used her Christmas message to praise the work of the Armed Forces, particularly in Syria and after the nerve agent attack in Salisbury. The PM said UK forces had “continued to demonstrate why you are the finest in the world”.

• Monday, December 24th 2018 - 08:37 UTC

  Putin calls on Mrs. May not to succumb to calls for a second Brexit referendum

  

  Vladimir Putin has urged Theresa May not to succumb to calls for a second referendum on Brexit. Speaking at his annual question and answer session with journalists, the Russian president questioned whether re-running a vote could be construed as democratic.

• Sunday, December 23rd 2018 - 14:18 UTC

  Volcano erupts, tsunami kills at least 222 in Indonesia - more tremors not ruled out

  

  A tsunami in Indonesia after the eruption of the Anak Krakatau Volcano killed at keast 222 people, while hundrerds more were reported either injured or missing, local authorities explained Sunday. They were cautious, though, since these are just preliminary figures.

• Sunday, December 23rd 2018 - 04:08 UTC

  Funds have been allocated to Argentina's Forensic Anthropology Team

  

  Last Thursday December 20, the Argentine ministry of Justice and Human Rights confirmed the transfer and payment order of the first of two outlays planned for the fiscal year, to the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team, EAFF, which had complained a cut in funds.

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 09:00 UTC

  A builder drove his van for six weeks with the winning ticket of a £76m jackpot

  

  A builder found the winning ticket for a £76m EuroMillions jackpot tucked in the visor of his van six weeks after the draw. Andrew Clark, 51, had a stockpile of lottery tickets in his Peugeot van.

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 07:01 UTC

  Marine Protected Areas controversy in the South Atlantic

  

  In a brief communiqué released on Friday the Falkland Islands government takes note of a recent Argentine announcement indicating the creation of Marine Protected Areas to the south of the Budrwood Bank. The Falklands government said it “believes the designation of this area encroaches on our Fisheries Conservation Zone and steps are being taken to address the matter”.

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 06:11 UTC

  Catalonia protest President Sanchez decision to lead his weekly cabinet meeting in Barcelona

  

  Thousands of pro-independence protesters angry about Spain’s cabinet holding a meeting in Catalonia have blocked roads across the region and clashed with anti-riot police in its capital. Grassroots separatist groups and unions called the protests to show their disgust at Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s decision to lead his weekly cabinet meeting in Barcelona.

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 06:03 UTC

  Pope Francis pledges that “never again” will the Church cover up clergy sex abuse

  

  Pope Francis has vowed that the Catholic Church will “never again” cover up clergy sex abuse and demanded that priests who have raped and molested children turn themselves in. Francis dedicated his annual Christmas speech to the Vatican bureaucracy to abuse, evidence that a year of devastating revelations of sexual misconduct and cover-up has shaken his papacy and caused a crisis of confidence in the Catholic hierarchy.

• Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 05:46 UTC

  Gatwick Airport admits insufficient technology to prevent future drone disruptions

  

  The boss of London's Gatwick Airport has refused to rule out the possibility of future drone disruption once the military leave. Gatwick chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said there is currently no commercially available equipment he could put in place to neutralize the threat.