Chile's unique Atacama desert sullied by world's junk
It may be one of the driest places on Earth -- a brutal, alien landscape where life seems impossible. . The driest part is the Yungay district in the city of Antofagasta.
World News
Nurses join other striking UK staff in two December walkouts
Nurses across most of Britain will next month hold the first strikes in their union's 106-year history, joining a host of other UK workers taking industrial action over pay.. Other UK health unions are also balloting workers for industrial action, while ambulance staff in Scotland are due to walk out on Monday.
Brazil grinds to halt as World Cup party starts
In yellow-and-green bikinis, Neymar jerseys and sparkling tops straight out of carnival, Brazilians dropped everything Thursday to watch the national team make their highly anticipated World Cup debut, exploding in celebration at their opening win.. He tweeted a picture of himself and his wife in national team jerseys, a TV in the background, with the message: "Congratulations Brazil.
Libya expels over 200 migrants across land borders
Libya on Thursday sent more than 200 illegal migrants back across its land borders, in a rare display of cooperation from the country's divided political institutions. . Most enter via the country's vast southern borders in the Sahara desert.
Congolese give cautious welcome to deal on rebel violence
Congolese and security experts reacted cautiously Thursday to the announcement of an impending truce in an escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.. The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a de-escalation plan in July -- but clashes resumed the very next day.
Iran arrests ex-international footballer who backed protests
Iran on Thursday arrested a former international football player of Kurdish origin who has strongly supported the protests that have rocked the country since September, news agencies said.. International footballer Hossein Mahini was arrested in October for supporting the protests but was later released.
Extreme poverty rising in Latin America: UN
Extreme poverty is likely to affect 82 million people in Latin America in 2022, an increase spurred by a slow pandemic recovery and high inflation, the UN economic commission for the region said Thursday.. "It has not been possible to reverse the impacts of the pandemic in terms of poverty and extreme poverty," said Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
Iran arrests ex-international footballer who backed protests
Iran on Thursday arrested a former international football player of Kurdish origin who has strongly supported the protests that have rocked the country since September, news agencies said.. International footballer Hossein Mahini was arrested in October for supporting the protests but was later released.
Germany's Scholz dims lights on Christmas tree amid energy squeeze
The Christmas tree outside Chancellor Olaf Scholz's office in Berlin will not be lit as long this year, a government spokesman said Thursday, as Germany seeks to save energy through the winter.. Last year, the tree was put up while conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel was still in office.
French MPs vote to enshrine abortion rights in constitution
Lawmakers in the French parliament voted Thursday to add the right to abortion to the constitution in response to recent changes in Poland and the United States.. "The assembly is speaking to the world, our country is speaking to the world," said jubilant MP Mathilde Panot from LFI, dedicating the vote to women in Hungary, Poland and the United States.
