Christmas Eve

Accused of sexism blames 'black music'

Beijing - Muslimchronicle

After drawing public criticism for lyrics deemed sexist and promoting drug use, one of China's best-known rappers has dug an even deeper hole by blaming the influence of "black music". PG One came under fire after official media on Thursday highlighted lyrics from the 24-year-old rapper's 2015 song "Christmas Eve", in which he uses obscene language to boast about forcing himselfRead more

Key moments leading to pardon of Peru's ex-leader Fujimori

Lima - Muslimchronicle

Peru's president justified pardoning jailed ex-leader Alberto Fujimori by saying it would help heal the country's divisions. Cynics say it was really aimed at saving Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's own imperiled presidency. Here are some of the key events leading up to the controversial Christmas Eve pardon. - Chaos, peace and corruption - Alberto Fujimori, a math professor of Japanese origin, was democratically electedRead more

Pope seeks peace in Jerusalem, highlights plight

Vatican City - Muslimchronicle

Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas address on Monday called for peace in Jerusalem and highlighted the plight of children scarred by conflict, having earlier urged the world's Catholics not to ignore the conditions migrants face. Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered at the Vatican to hear the pontiff's fifth "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and The World) message. ItRead more

Jerusalem tensions cast shadow

Jerusalem - Muslimchronicle

Pope Francis was Monday to give his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Christmas address, after urging the world's 1.3 billion Catholics not to ignore the plight of migrants "driven from their land" because of leaders willing to shed "innocent blood". "So many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary," the Argentine pontiff, himself the grandson of ItalianRead more

Banyan Tree Phuket Takes Festive Season

Phuket - Muslimchronicle

Banyan Tree Phuket is the place to be this festive season as pop-up dinners, picnics, live entertainment and a host of activities are crafted with special care to create unique memorable experiences. Beginning with a Christmas Eve ‘Signature Sunday Brunch’, the season promises to be an exceptional celebration filled with fine wine and spectacular cuisines, as well as flutes ofRead more

Egypt deploys thousands of forces for Coptic Christmas

Cairo - Arab Today

Egypt has deployed some 150,000 security forces around churches and major places in the country ahead of Saturday’s Coptic Christian Christmas, security sources said. Security checkpoints have been set up outside churches as explosives experts assisted with sniffer dogs have been deployed in the vicinity to enhance security during celebrations, the sources added. Metal detectors have also been installed atRead more

War not over after Boko Haram ousted from forest bastion

Kano - ArabToday

Nigeria has recently trumpeted a major victory in its battle against Boko Haram, claiming that its army has routed the jihadists from their forest bastion, but the war against them is far from over. After years of devastating battles and a recent surge in attacks, the fear in Nigeria is that Boko Haram will simply decamp from the Sambisa forestRead more

Suspects held after Pakistan alcohol poisoning kills 34

Islamabad - Arab Today

Pakistani police on Wednesday caught three men accused of preparing home-made liquor mixed with aftershave that killed 34 people including a fourth suspect after they consumed the toxic brew on Christmas Eve. More than a hundred people were also sickened in the incident, one of the country’s deadliest cases of mass alcohol poisoning, which happened in a Christian neighborhood inRead more

Death toll from Pakistan toxic liquor incident rises to 34

Islamabad - Arab Today

Thirty-four people have now died after drinking toxic home-made liquor on Christmas Eve in central Pakistan, officials said Wednesday, one of the deadliest cases of mass alcohol poisoning in the country. The incident happened in a Christian neighborhood in the town of Toba Tek Singh, 338 kilometers (210 miles) south of Islamabad. “The death toll has risen to 34 asRead more