Anti-Racism Protesters in France Receive Punches and Flying Chairs

^{PHOTO: SUPPORTERS OF FRENCH FAR-RIGHT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ERIC ZEMMOUR THROWING PUNCHES AND CHAIRS AT PROTESTERS WEARING ANTI-RACISM T-SHIRTS / SOUNDBITES FROM PROTESTER WITH BLOOD ON HER FACE}

INTERNATIONAL: Supporters of French far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour have thrown punches and chairs at several protesters wearing anti-racism T-shirts during his first political rally on Sunday.

An unidentified woman protester with blood on her face says that the protesters had worn shirts with the words "No to Racism". Their presence on Sunday was to show that not everyone agrees with Zemmour.They want to oppose in a peaceful way.

They wore “No to Racism” T-shirt that she took off to avoid being hit again. She further says, she did not expect it that way. She ignored the risk like the other anti-racists who were there because they thought they were in a democracy where one could say what she wanted to say without physical consequences. She has added they were peaceful militants.

Zemmour has promised a "reconquest" against decades of decline during his nearly an hour-and-a-half-long speech, the first he has given since declaring his candidacy.He said he was calling his party "Reconquest," a name that evokes the historic period known as the Reconquista, when Christian forces drove Muslim rulers from the Iberian Peninsula.

With echoes of Donald Trump's first campaign for U.S. president, Zemmour has promised to slash immigration and taxes to cheers from flag-waving supporters that organizers put around 10,000.

Zemmour, who has been convicted for inciting racial hatred, is the main challenger to long-time far-right figure Marine Le Pen for a place in a second run-off round of next April's election, most likely against President Emmanuel Macron.

Rescue Operations Ongoing to Retrieve Bodies of Indonesians Volcano Victims

^{PHOTO: RESCUE WORKERS AT WORK RETRIEVING BODIES BURIED UNDER VOLCANIC ASH FROM INDONESIA'S SEMERU VOLCANO / SOUNDBITE FROM RESCUE TEAM CHIEF / TIMELAPSE OF MOUNT SEMERU'S ERUPTION}

The biggest mountain on the island of Java thundered to life Saturday, ejecting a mushroom of volcanic ash high into the sky and raining hot mud as thousands of panicked people fled their homes.

Rescue operations ongoing to retrieve bodies of Indonesia volcano victims. The challenge of the evacuation operation was mainly because the bodies were trapped under logs and rocks, and the soil is still hot. With a few spades and bare hands, rescuers have dug up three bodies buried underneath blankets of volcanic ash on Monday. A search and rescue official has reported that three bodies were among a family of nine that went missing after the dramatic eruption of Mount Semeru on Saturday.

Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency has said in a statement Monday that the death toll had risen to 15, authorities are expecting for more bodies, while 27 people remain missing. More than 100 people had suffered injuries from the eruption, mostly burns.

Fresh volcanic activity on Monday has hampered search efforts for survivors, spewed more ash, forcing rescue teams to pull out from some areas because it could endanger evacuation teams.

In addition, the head of the Semeru Volcano Observatory, Liswanto, has warned people to keep a safe distance from the mountain, amid reports that anxious residents had returned to their homes to check on belongings and livestock.

Nearly 70 ICU Medics at Spanish Hospital Tested Covid-Positive

^{PHOTO: VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF MALAGA'S UNIVERSITY REGIONAL HOSPITAL WHERE HEALTH STAFF WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS WORK, VARIOUS OF HEALTH WORKERS AT ICU} 

Health authorities have announced on Monday that nearly 70 nurses and doctors working in the intensive care unit at a Spanish hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a Christmas party.

The Andalusian regional government has confirmed, sixty-eight medics at the University Regional Hospital in Malaga have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Health authorities have said they were investigating the source of the infection but has added that all 68 attended a Christmas party on 1 December at which 173 people were present. Those who contracted COVID-19 all had antigen tests or the third booster vaccinations before attending the party.

A possible source of the infection could have been a large meal for hospital staff. But those infected have shown mild symptoms.

Health authorities in Andalusia have recommended staff at other public and private hospitals not to attend Christmas or big parties yet.

Four cases of the Omicron variant have meanwhile been confirmed in Spain's Balearic Islands. A father has arrived in the Balearic Islands recently and has infected two members of his family and a fourth person recently arrived in Spain from South Africa. Spain’s Ministry of Health has confirmed a total of nine cases of the Omicron variant.