NEW ZEALAND
Space pioneer Aldrin in stable condition
An ailing Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, was evacuated from the South Pole to New Zealand where he was in a hospital on Friday in stable condition. Aldrin, 86, was visiting Antarctica as a tourist when he fell ill. He was flown to Christchurch from McMurdo Station, a U.S. research center on the Antarctic coast. Tour company White Desert said Aldrin has fluid in his lungs, but was responding well to antibiotics. He’ll remain hospitalized overnight for observation. His manager Christina Korp, who accompanied him, said he was in good spirits. Aldrin and Neil Armstrong became the first men on the moon on July 20, 1969. Armstrong died in 2012.
PERU
Strong earthquake knocks adobe houses
A strong, shallow earthquake struck a sparsely populated area in Peru’s southern Andes near Lake Titicaca on Thursday, toppling some adobe houses but apparently causing no casualties, authorities said. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 6.3 and said its epicenter was about 26 miles northeast of Huarichancara in Peru’s Puno region.
RUSSIA
Putin hopes to repair relations with U.S.
In a conciliatory state-of-the-nation address, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday voiced hope for mending a rift with the U.S. and pooling efforts in fighting terrorism. The speech reflected Moscow’s hope that President-elect Donald Trump could help repair ties with Washington that have sunk to a post-Cold War low over the crisis in Ukraine, the Syria war and other disputes. Putin emphasized that friendly relations between the two superpowers are essential for global stability. “Russia-U.S. cooperation in solving global and regional problems answers the interests of the entire world,” he said.
THAILAND
64-year-old son of late king takes crown
Thailand has a new king, with the country’s crown prince formally taking the throne to succeed his much-revered late father, who reigned for 70 years. The new monarch, who received the title “His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun,” assumed his new position Thursday, according to an announcement broadcast on all TV channels. He will also be known as Rama X, the 10th king in the Chakri dynasty that was founded in 1782. Vajiralongkorn’s father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, died on Oct. 13 at age 88 after many years of ill health. Vajiralongkorn, 64, was originally expected to assume the throne the day his father died, but in a surprise announcement, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said the prince asked for the succession to be put off so he would have time to mourn.
Compiled from wire reports.