Israeli Military Official Says Low Chances of War in 2017

A senior Israeli military officer says the army believes Middle East’s chaos has weakened the country’s enemies, creating a low probability of war involving Israel in 2017. The official says the army concluded that neither the Hezbollah militants in Lebanon nor Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip are interested in sparking a new conflict.

Thousands of faithful celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem

Thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world together with locals began Christmas Eve celebrations in Jesus’ traditional birthplace of Bethlehem on Saturday, raising spirits after a tense year that saw a spike in violence between Palestinians and Israelis. The faithful braved the chilly weather outside Manger Square as traditional Christmas songs like “Jingle Bells” played in Arabic over loudspeakers and scout groups paraded with bagpipes and sang carols.

The visa length has also been reduced to a maximum of ten days, non-extendable. Photo – supplied.

Muscat: Female nationals from some countries will not be allowed in Oman under tourism visa if they do not have a return flight ticket or have not booked at least a 4-star hotel, Royal Oman Police said. ROP has enforced more restrictions for some nationalities to grant tourist visa following arrests of Asian tourists for allegedly being involved in human trafficking, prostitution and drug abuse crimes.

The Latest: Governor raises death toll to 29 in Mexico blast

The Latest on an explosion at Mexico’s best-known fireworks market on the northern outskirts of the capital. : The governor of the State of Mexico says three more people have died from a massive chain-reaction at a fireworks market near the capital, raising the death toll to 29. Gov. Eruviel Avila says that in addition to the 26 people who perished at the market, three more died after being hospitalized.

Kuwait moves annual Washington party to Trump’s hotel

One of the Middle East’s richest nations said Tuesday it would host its annual Washington party at Donald Trump’s new hotel, underscoring the president-elect’s unusual status as the owner of a major venue for events in the U.S. capital. Salem Al Sabah, Kuwait’s ambassador to the U.S., said the party would take place Feb. 25, adding that he hopes guests like the “new hotel in town.”

What it’s really like to live in one of the cities with the best quality of life in the world

Ever since Britain voted to leave the European Union in June this year, a number of Brits who voted Remain have said they are looking move somewhere in Europe. ardiovascular admissions manager for a large NHS Foundation Trust in London, and earlier this year she went to Switzerland for a month to experience and learn about the healthcare system as part of the multidisciplinary Hope Exchange programme .

Smith strengthens the Rouslers as the search for glory goes on

Smith has snapped up Redditch United midfield man Liam Spink as a replacement for the departing Nathan Walker who has switched to Midland Premier Division side Highgate United. Liam is the twin of current Bromsgrove Sporting player Ryan Spink who is currently on the sidelines as he recovers from a damaged cruciate ligament.

On this day: December 21

1992: Blues musician Albert King, a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing whose best-known song was 1967’s “Born Under a Bad Sign,” dies of a heart attack at the age of 69 in Memphis, Tennessee. King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

VW agrees new U.S. settlement, Actelion still in focus. For more see…

SEOUL, Dec 21 Daily net trading in shares on South Korea’s main stock exchange by three major categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South Korean won : FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL December 21 *78.1 -69.4 -7.7 ^December 20 60.6 -29.1 -33.5 December 19 5.0 -79.5 78.8 December 16 * Said on Tuesday had acquired a commercial property portfolio, the transition of benefits and burdens is planned for the second quarter of 2017

So those celebs are Canadian, eh?

Ryan Reynolds may have come a long way from his sitcom days, starring in movies such as “Deadpool,” “Van Wilder,” “The Proposal” and “The Change-Up,” but the Vancouver native will always be “Berg” from “Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place” to us. Pamela Anderson not only was born on Vancouver Island, but was discovered during a British Columbia Lions CFL game.

Israeli ambassador backs Trump pledge to move U.S. embassy to Jerusalem

By Matt Spetalnick Reuters WASHINGTON – Israel’s ambassador to the United States issued an impassioned endorsement on Tuesday of President-elect Donald Trump’s… By Matt Spetalnick Reuters WASHINGTON – Israel’s ambassador to the United States issued an impassioned endorsement on Tuesday of President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to relocate the … (more)

Malaysia’s 1MDB paid interest due in Q4 on IPIC-guaranteed bonds- minister

Men walk past a 1Malaysia Development Berhad billboard at the fund’s flagship Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur March 1, 2015. Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd has made interest payments on one of its bond issues this quarter, after failing to pay earlier this year because of a dispute with a guarantor, Malaysia’s second finance minister said on Wednesday.

American-Canadian Couple Appears in Taliban Hostage Video

A still image from a video posted by the Taliban on social media on Dec. 19, 2016, shows American Caitlan Coleman speaking next to her Canadian husband, Joshua Boyle, and their two sons. The Canadian government is calling for the release of a couple who has been held in captivity in northern Afghanistan for four years, after captors released a video of the pair.

Arab, EU FMs Urge Intra-Syria Talks, Condemn Aleppo Attacks

Arab and European foreign ministers urged on Tuesday intra-Syria talks as basis for political settlement and strongly condemned Syrian regime’s recent attacks on Aleppo, the Arab League and the European Union stated following their fourth ministerial meeting in Cairo, China’s Xinhua news agency reported. “The ministers stressed that intra-Syria talks are the only way for a credible and genuine political transition based on power sharing as well as lasting peace,” the two bodies said in a declaration issued after the meeting held at the AL headquarters in the Egyptian capital city.

Bolivia Says Airline, Pilot Responsible for Plane Crash

Our eNewspaper network was founded in 2002 to provide stand-alone digital news sites tailored for the most searched-for locations for news. With a traditional newspaper format, more than 100 sites were established each with a newspaper-type name to cover the highest-ranked regions, countries, cities and states.

Powerful Quake Hits Off Eastern Indonesia, No Alert For Tsunami

An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted Maluku in eastern parts of Indonesia earlier Wednesday, but there were no tsunami alert issued and a report of casualty, China’s Xinhua news agency reported quoting officials. The quake rocked at 0017 GMT with epicenter at 184 km northeast Maluku Barat Daya and the depth at 173 km under sea bed, an official of meteorology and geophysics agency said.

KiwiRail switching to all-diesel trains on North Island main trunk line

KiwiRail KiwiRail will improve its reliability and efficiency for customers by employing an all-diesel fleet on the North Island Main Trunk line, KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy says. The small fleet of almost 30 year old electric trains that operate between Hamilton and Palmerston North will be phased out over the next two years and replaced with diesel locomotives.

Regular use of aspirin could cut pancreatic cancer risk in half

Regular use of aspirin by people living in Shanghai, China, was associated with decreased risk for developing pancreatic cancer, according to data published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Data from the new study and meta-analysis of data from 18 other studies suggest that over the past two decades, as the general population’s use of aspirin has increased, the effect of aspirin in decreasing pancreatic cancer risk has become more pronounced.

Experts discuss Polanda s…

The 9th edition of the Warsaw Economic Hub annual meeting at Novotel Warszawa Centrum brought together about 300 experts, business leaders and other influential figures who discussed Poland’s status as the strongest EU economy in this part of Europe, which makes the country the natural interactive economic hub of the region. Poland draws investment and provides businesses with access to new markets, cutting-edge logistics and advanced business services.

Israeli envoy urges Trump to move US embassy to Jerusalem

The Israeli ambassador to the United States has urged the incoming Trump administration to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, telling guests at a Hanukkah reception at the Israeli embassy in Washington on Tuesday that the controversial move would be a “great step forward” for peace. Trump and his nominee for US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, have pledged to move the embassy.

German Chancellor Merkel visits Berlin attack site

Berlin, Dec 21 : German Chancellor Angela Merkel has visited the site of the terror attack that struck a Christmas market here, killing 12 persons. [NK World] The head of government, during her visit to the attack site on Tuesday, was accompanied by Interior Minister Thomas de Maizi and re, Foreign Minister Franz-Walter Steinmeier and the governing mayor Michael Muller, Efe news reported.

12 policemen killed in Peru bus accident

Lima, Dec 21 : At least 12 police officers were killed and 13 others injured in Peru after their bus plunged into a ravine, officials said. [NK World] Five of the injured officers were taken by helicopter to hospitals in the city of Cuzco, regional health chief Jorge Ponce said in comments to RPP Noticias radio, Efe news reported on Tuesday.