Toy Appeal spreads Christmas cheer

The appeal to support families in and around Winchester received a record 1000 gifts for local families, beating last year’s total of around 500. Toys were taken to the collection point at Waterstone’s bookshop in The Brooks Centre, and staff sorted through the huge number of donations on Monday.

A look at key events in Syriaa s Aleppo since March 2011

After the government’s capture of the rebel-held east of the city, here’s a look at key events in Aleppo since the start of Syria’s uprising nearly six years ago: – March 2011: Protests erupt in the southern city of Daraa over the detention of a group of boys accused of painting anti-government graffiti on a school wall. On March 18, security forces fire on a protest in Daraa, killing four people in what activists regard as the first deaths of the uprising.

Dogs wowed by the wonder of Santa Paws

A special visitor turned up to take some of the limelight away from Santa Clause at a ‘Christmas event with a twist’ in a local canal centre yesterday. Blackwood-based Four Paws animal rescue centre partnered up with the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust at its Rogerstone-site where two grottos took place instead of one upon the arrival of Santa Paws.

editorial | Goodbye and good riddance to 2016

Terrorism shows no signs of abating, with Islamic State taking credit for a string of shocking attacks, from Brussels Airport in March, to the Bastille Day horror in Nice, France, to this week’s truck plowing into a crowd of holiday shoppers at a Berlin market. Closer to home, tragedy struck the LGBT community with the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando in June, and in the Bay Area, the horrific Ghost Ship fire broke all of our hearts.

Finch hits form as Renegades down Thunder

If Australia’s ODI selectors needed reassurance embattled opener Aaron Finch isn’t far off making some runs he gave it to them with a man-of-the-match performance in the Melbourne Renegades’ big BBL win over the Sydney Thunder. Finch found his groove with a swashbuckling half-century as the Renegades cruised to a 48-run win over the Thunder on Thursday night.

5 things to know about Syriaa s Aleppo

Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces and years of fighting have laid waste to much of the city of Aleppo, but he has won it back after nearly six years of war. The president now looks more secure than ever since the 2011 uprising against his family’s four-decade rule.

Donald Trump, Rep. Ted Deutch in rare agreement on UN Israel resolution

But part-time Palm Beacher Trump and Deutch both released statements today calling for the U.S. to use its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to nix a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The U.S. has traditionally vetoed such measures, but President Barack Obama ‘s position on the current measure was in doubt before the UN postponed consideration of the resolution today.

Israeli court delays demolition of West bank outpost

Israel’s Supreme Court has postponed the imminent demolition of a Jewish outpost in the West Bank until next year. The court ruled in 2014 that it was built on private Palestinian land and must be demolished by Dec. 25. Residents accepted a government plan this week to leave the outpost peacefully and move to neighboring land, but Israel says it now appears it will not be able to move the settlers to one of the planned areas.

New Diana letters revealed

The late Princess Diana on the Maid of Mist in Niagara Falls in 1991 with her sons Prince Harry, then 7, and Prince William, then 9. A slew of lost letters from Princess Diana to a palace confidante provides an intimate look at the childhoods of William and Harry. Already at age eight, it emerges that Prince Harry was developing the cheeky rebellious streak he’s become known — and loved — for.

Tunisian Suspect’s Fingerprints Found in Berlin Truck Cab

Tunisian suspect Anis Amri’s fingerprints have been found in the cab of the truck that plowed into a Christmas market in Berlin, strengthening the case linking him to the deadly attack, Germany’s top security official said Thursday. Authorities across Europe were scrambling to find the 24-year-old suspect, a day after Germany issued a wanted notice for him and warned that he may be “violent and armed.”

North Korea Says US Should Expect ‘Imminent War’ Over Sanctions

North Korean military participate in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang on October 12, 2015. REUTERS/KCNA/File Photo Pyongyang is threatening “imminent war” in response to the latest batch of sanctions brought against it by the United Nations.

Year in review: a look at highs and lows of Trudeaua s first full year as PM

As Justin Trudeau’s first full year as prime minister comes to a close, downtown roads in the nation’s capital are clogged with snow and construction. It’s an apt metaphor for the increasingly tough slogging Trudeau’s Liberal government has experienced since the heady days last fall, when the fledgling prime minister was winning raves for appointing the first gender-equal cabinet, handing out winter parkas to newly arrived Syrian refugees, being greeted like a rock star by screaming fans and boldly declaring “Canada is back” on the international stage.

Bayern Munich’s power play showed upstarts Leipzig and Germany they …

Who is the Premier League’s most stylish boss? From sharp suits to tracksuits and caps, we rate this season’s touchline fashion Oscar and Tevez are latest stars to join crazy Chinese cash revolutiona but where does all the money come from and does it threaten the Premier League? Griezmann is one of top three players in the world and the perfect signing to help United get best out of Pogba Four legends… and one little-known kid! Terry brings together old team-mates for five-a-side game at Chelsea training Bayern Munich take pop at Red Bull and RB Leipzig after 3-0 win confirms them as ‘Winter Champions’ of the Bundesliga Manchester City to launch A 50m move for Van Dijk as Guardiola looks to shore up his shaky defence in January Who would you pick in team from OUTSIDE of the top six? From Payet to Mahrez, our reporters reveal their Premier League XI You’re in safe hands here! Lloris … (more)

Hundreds resist eviction from Delhi slum as new housing falls short

Hundreds of residents in a New Delhi slum are resisting eviction by city officials and police in the third such protest this month in India’s capital city, as anger mounts over a shortfall in housing for the urban poor, campaigners said. Evictions began this week in Kathputli Colony, home to 3,500 families of street performers and puppeteers, after authorities marked it for development as part of a plan to upgrade the city.

Iraq: Car bombings in Mosul kill 15 civilians, 8 policemen

Three car bombs ripped through an outdoor market in Mosul on Thursday, killing at least 15 civilians and eight policemen, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said in a statement. The attack occurred in the eastern district of Gogjali, which Iraqi forces retook from Islamic State militants weeks ago as part of a massive operation to drive them from Mosul, the brief statement said.

Death toll in alcohol poisoning in Russia climbs to 72

Local health officials in Russia’s Siberia say the number of people who have died from drinking a bath lotion that contained methanol has climbed to 72. The health ministry in the Irkutsk region said on its website Thursday that another 33 were still in hospital while six others have been discharged. Bottles with the lotion carried warnings that they weren’t for internal use, but labels said the product contained ethyl alcohol rather than methanol.

Domino’s ready to serve a slice of festivities on Christmas Day

PEOPLE looking for something different from the traditional turkey Christmas dinner with all the trimmings on Sunday can call on Domino’s for help who will be open on Christmas Day. It’s not the first time that the pizza delivery favourite has stayed open over the festive period and this year any profits made on the day will be donated to Make Some Noise – a national charity run by Global, a media and entertainment company who own radio stations such as Heart FM.

Europe scrambles to find Tunisian suspect in Berlin attack

Authorities across Europe scrambled Thursday to track down a Tunisian man suspected of driving a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, as one of his brothers urged him to surrender. Nearly three days after the deadly attack that killed 12 people and injured 48 others, the market in the centre of the German capital reopened, with concrete blocks in place at the roadside to provide extra security.