Drivers disrupt access to airportPARIS — Protesting Uber drivers are disrupting access to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport to ask the company for higher ride fares.The drivers began blocking the main road into Charles de Gaulle this morning. They were expected to later head to Uber’s French headquarters in northern Paris.The AMT association of chauffeurs also called on drivers to “disconnect” from Uber’s website today.Recent days have seen similar protests by the drivers, who complain about low ride fares and Uber’s decision to raise the commission it charges drivers from 20 percent to 25 percent.

Christmas storm could worsen MANILA, Philippines — A tropical storm nearing the Philippines today may strengthen into a typhoon, bringing moderate to heavy rains and blustery weather on Christmas Day, the biggest holiday in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.Tropical Storm Nock-Ten was 490 miles east of Guiuan town in the eastern part of the country as of this morning, packing winds of up to 65 mph and gusts of up to 80 mph, forecasters said.Landrico Dalida Jr., a deputy administrator of the government weather bureau, said Nock-Ten may intensify into a typhoon, with winds of at least 75 mph, before it makes landfall late Sunday in the eastern part of the country.Officials warned of possible landslides and flooding along the storm’s path, and storm surges in coastal areas that makes sea travel risky. Stormy weather can be expected starting Saturday evening, they said.Nock-Ten is forecast to move northwest over northern provinces. It is expected to be over the country’s capital on Monday and to exit the Philippines by Wednesday.

Turkey blocks sites due to IS videoANKARA, Turkey — Turkey restricted access to social media websites for several hours after the Islamic State group released a video purportedly showing two Turkish soldiers being burned alive, as Turkish warplanes today pounded the extremist-held town in Syria near where the soldiers are believed to have gone missing.IS released the video Thursday, which purports to show the killing of two soldiers captured in northern Syria last month. Syrian activists said the soldiers went missing in the area of al-Dana in late November.Turkey Blocks, an Internet monitoring website, said it had detected the “throttling of Twitter and YouTube,” affecting many users in Turkey. Turkey frequently restricts access to social media websites to prevent the spread of graphic images and other material authorities say would harm public order or security. The websites appeared to be back to normal on Friday.