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  IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS Image caption, More than 8,000 flights have been grounded over the long Christmas weekend that began on Friday There have been more Covid-related flight cancellations globally as the week starts, capping off a miserable festive period for thousands of people. More than 1,400 flights have been scrapped on Monday, with Chinese and US destinations being the worst hit, the FlightAware data tracking website says. US airlines say the disruption is due to crews testing positive or isolating. Hong Kong is banning all South Korea's Korean Air flights for two weeks, after positive cases among some arrivals. In all, more than 8,000 flights have been grounded over the long Christmas weekend that began on Friday. Although the number of cancellations is a small percentage of the total, it is higher than normal and comes at a time of year when many are travelling to spend time with family and friends. In a separate development, US authorities are monitoring dozens of ...

  OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso -- Islamic extremists killed 41 people last week in an attack in northern Burkina Faso, including the prominent leader of a volunteer group helping the country's military, the government said. Alkassoum Maiga, the government spokesman, announced two days of mourning following the deadly ambush on a convoy in Loroum province on Thursday. Among the victims was Soumaila Ganame, also known as Ladji Yoro. Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore said Ganame had died for his country and “must be a model of our determined commitment to fight the enemy.” The death of Burkina Faso's most important volunteer leader has created a sense of panic, said Heni Nsaibia, a senior researcher at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. “While Ganame achieved legendary status as a popular counter-insurgent who played a central role in mobilizing (volunteers) in Loroum and Yatenga, he was also the embodiment of the absent state,” he said. Viole...