Zelensky shares Iftar with Muslim soldiers in ‘new tradition of respect’ | CNN

Zelensky shares Iftar with Muslim soldiers in ‘new tradition of respect’ | CNN

CNN  —  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared Iftar with Ukrainian Muslim soldiers observing Ramadan on Friday, in what he said would become an annual “new tradition of respect.” Iftar is the meal breaking the daily fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Addressing participants at the dinner which included leaders of the Mejlis, the … Read more

Israeli police storm al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan prayers, sparking rocket fire from Gaza | CNN

Israeli police storm al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan prayers, sparking rocket fire from Gaza | CNN

CNN  —  Israeli police stormed the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, one of Islam’s holiest sites, during Ramadan prayers early Wednesday, arresting hundreds of Palestinians and sparking retaliatory rocket fire from militants in Gaza. Footage shared on social media showed Israeli officers striking screaming people with batons inside the darkened building. Eyewitnesses told CNN that police … Read more

Anthony Albanese becomes first Australian Prime Minister to take part in Mardi Gras | CNN

Anthony Albanese becomes first Australian Prime Minister to take part in Mardi Gras | CNN

CNN  —  Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has become the first leader of the country to take part in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in the event’s 45-year history. In other parts of the world, Mardi Gras is held the day before the Christian fasting season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which … Read more

Ukrainians mark somber Orthodox Christmas in Bakhmut as shelling goes on | CNN

Ukrainians mark somber Orthodox Christmas in Bakhmut as shelling goes on | CNN

Bakhmut, Ukraine CNN  —  The shelter was jammed with people on the eve of Orthodox Christmas. Some were trying to warm up around the wood stove after traveling in the freezing drizzle. Others lined up for a cup of hot coffee and biscuits. Under the Christmas tree lay a tangle of wires charging mobile phones. … Read more

Nine suffocate to death in Uganda New Year’s firework crush | CNN

Nine suffocate to death in Uganda New Year’s firework crush | CNN

Reuters  —  At least nine people, including a 10-year-old boy, suffocated to death as crowds rushing to see a New Year’s firework display got stuck in a narrow corridor in a shopping mall near Uganda’s capital, police said. People started pushing through a passage in the Freedom City Mall just after clocks struck midnight, the … Read more

They were welcomed into British homes. Celebrating their first Christmas together, Ukrainians wonder if that hospitality will last | CNN

They were welcomed into British homes. Celebrating their first Christmas together, Ukrainians wonder if that hospitality will last | CNN

Henley-on-Thames, England CNN  —  Last year, Nataliia Doroshko, a 35-year-old lawyer, celebrated St. Nicholas Day with friends and family in her home city of Cherkasy, on the snowy banks of the Dnipro River, downstream from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. During the party, one of the men snuck away and returned dressed as St. Nicholas, a … Read more

Coca-Cola is getting into Christmas movies | CNN Business

Coca-Cola is getting into Christmas movies | CNN Business

New York CNN Business  —  Coca-Cola is hoping that this holiday season, families will crack open some Cokes, settle into a comfy spot and watch its first Christmas Anthology film series. The beverage company partnered with production firm Imagine Entertainment to create three short films, which are available to watch on Amazon Prime across the … Read more

Two former Seoul police officers arrested over deadly Halloween crush | CNN

Two former Seoul police officers arrested over deadly Halloween crush | CNN

Seoul, South Korea CNN  —  Two former police officers were arrested in South Korea on Monday, accused of destroying evidence relating to the deadly Halloween crowd crush in Seoul, according to authorities in the country. The arrests of former intelligence officers Park Sung-min of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Kim Jin-ho of Yongsan Police are … Read more

Kyiv says it ‘won’t let Putin steal Christmas’ as Russian attacks threaten bleak winter in Ukraine | CNN

Kyiv says it ‘won’t let Putin steal Christmas’ as Russian attacks threaten bleak winter in Ukraine | CNN

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN  —  The mayor of Kyiv has said the city “cannot let Putin steal our Christmas” as Ukrainians prepare to tentatively celebrate the festive season with darkened trees while Russian airstrikes knock out power and wreak havoc on critical infrastructure. Christmas trees will be erected across the Ukrainian capital to mark Christmas and … Read more

Thanksgiving used to be a movie feast. This year? Slim pickings | CNN Business

Thanksgiving used to be a movie feast. This year? Slim pickings | CNN Business

New York CNN Business  —  Thanksgiving weekend has historically offered a cornucopia of films, letting moviegoers get out of the house and kick back after eating copious amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes and pie. But this year the movie menu is pretty sparse. The North American box office has few new films this weekend that … Read more