Solar system's most distant object is 'Farout' pink dwarf planet

Will Dunham, Reuters
Dec 19 01:42 AM

WASHINGTON - Scientists have discovered the most distant object known in our solar system, so remote and unusual they chose the nickname "Farout" for the slow-moving, icy, pinkish dwarf planet about 120 to 130 times further from the sun than Earth. Read more »

Pope Francis warns against nationalism, xenophobia

Agence France-Presse
Dec 19 01:33 AM

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has warned politicians of the dangers of exploiting nationalism and fear of foreigners to undermine the trust essential to their task of binding societies together, not dividing them. Read more »

Japan to buy more U.S.-made stealth jets, radar to counter China, Russia

Tim Kelly, Reuters
Dec 18 11:54 PM

TOKYO - Japan will accelerate spending on advanced stealth fighters, long-range missiles and other equipment over the next five years to support U.S. forces facing China's military in the Western Pacific, two new government defense papers said. Read more »

Qatar National Day

Ibraheem al Omari, Reuters
Dec 18 10:47 PM

Military aircraft take part in Qatar's National Day celebrations in Doha, Qatar. Read more »

SoftBank alum unveils 'affectionate' companion robot in Japan

Sam Nussey, Reuters
Dec 18 06:19 PM

Japanese startup Groove X, founded by an alumni of SoftBank Group Corp's robotics unit, unveiled its first creation on Tuesday - a companion robot designed to make users happy. Read more »

No one can 'dictate' to China what it should, shouldn't do: Xi

Agence France-Presse
Dec 18 04:08 PM

President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday to push ahead with China's "reform and opening up" but warned that no one can "dictate" what it does, as the Communist Party celebrated the policy's 40th anniversary.   Read more »

Pinoy priest suspended over suicide sermon at teen's funeral

ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
Dec 18 03:53 PM | Updated Dec 18 05:01 PM

The Filipino priest called the deceased a sinner and sermonized on the morality of suicide. Read more »

New Zealand plans to tighten rules for short-term worker visas

Reuters
Dec 18 01:27 PM

New Zealand on Tuesday announced plans to tighten rules for temporary worker visas to encourage firms to hire more local people and send more migrant workers to regions outside its main cities. Read more »

Former FBI chief Comey lashes out at Trump, Republicans

Agence France-Presse
Dec 18 01:23 PM

Former FBI director James Comey lashed out at Donald Trump on Monday for telling "lies" and undermining the rule of law, and urged Republicans to stand up to the president. Read more »

Japan bolsters military to counter China, Russia in East Asia

Reuters
Dec 18 11:46 AM

TOKYO - Japan will accelerate spending on advanced stealth fighters, long-range missiles and other equipment over the next 5 years to support US forces facing China's military in the Western Pacific, two new government defense papers said.  Read more »

Gender equality at work more than 200 years off: WEF

Agence France-Presse
Dec 18 08:24 AM

Women may be shouting louder than ever for equal treatment and pay, but a report out Tuesday indicates it will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe.  Read more »

UN condemns North Korean human rights violations

Agence France-Presse
Dec 18 08:22 AM

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution Monday condemning the "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations in North Korea.   Read more »

'Justice' named Merriam-Webster's 2018 Word of the Year

Gabriella Borter, Reuters
Dec 18 06:41 AM

"Justice" is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018. Read more »

DFA: No Pinoy reported hurt in Japan blast

ABS-CBN News
Dec 18 04:51 AM | Updated Dec 18 07:00 AM

MANILA - No Filipino has so far been reported injured in the explosion at a restaurant in Sapporo, Japan, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. Read more »

Run Santa, run!

Daniel Becerril, Reuters
Dec 17 07:14 PM

Participants dressed as Santa Claus take part in the annual race known as "Run Santa Run" at Fundidora Park in Monterrey, Mexico. Read more »