Month: March 2024

London — A U.K.-based journalist for independent Iranian media who was attacked outside his London home, prompting a counterterrorism police probe, is “doing very well,” his news channel said Saturday.   Pouria Zeraati, a presenter for Persian-language outlet Iran International was in stable condition, the channel’s spokesman Adam Baillie said.   “He’s doing very well actually. …

Read more “Iranian TV Journalist Stabbed in London in Stable Condition”

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Romania and Bulgaria partially joined Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone Sunday, marking a new step in the two countries’ integration with the European Union. After years of negotiations to join the Schengen area, there is now free access for travelers arriving by air or sea from both countries. However, land border checks will remain …

Read more “Romania, Bulgaria Partially Join Europe’s Schengen Travel Zone”

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Windsor, England — Britain’s King Charles greeted well-wishers in an impromptu walkabout after an Easter church service in Windsor on Sunday, his first appearance at a public royal event since his cancer diagnosis was announced in February.  A smiling Charles, 75, accompanied by Queen Camilla, shook hands with scores of people gathered outside St George’s Chapel, …

Read more “King Charles greets well-wishers after Easter Sunday service “

Vatican City — Pope Francis on Sunday celebrated Easter Mass with tens of thousands of Catholics at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City before his traditional blessing, as concerns persist over his health. The 87-year-old arrived in a wheelchair to preside over the Mass from 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) in cloudy and windy weather, with the …

Read more “Pope Francis Presides Over Easter Sunday Mass”

MOSCOW — Russia has imposed a “counter-terrorism operation” regime in the southern region of Dagestan, detaining three people by Sunday morning, Russian news agencies reported, citing the National Anti-Terrorism Committee. Russia is on high alert following a mass shooting at a concert hall in Moscow on March 22 — the deadliest attack in the country in …

Read more “Russia Conducts ‘Counter-Terrorism Operation’ in Southern Dagestan”

MOSCOW — Foreign diplomats in Russia laid flowers Saturday at the site of last week’s attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed 144 people. Those in attendance included ambassadors from the United States, EU countries, Africa and Latin America. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said the “around 130 diplomatic missions” taking part included …

Read more “Ambassadors Lay Flowers at Site of Moscow Concert Hall Massacre”

ROME — Pope Francis presided over the Vatican’s somber Easter Vigil service on Saturday night, delivering a 10-minute homily and baptizing eight people, a day after suddenly skipping the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum as a health precaution. Francis entered the darkened, silent St. Peter’s Basilica in his wheelchair, took his place in a chair …

Read more “Pope Presides Over Easter Vigil, Delivers 10-Minute Homily”

ISTANBUL — Turks vote Sunday in nationwide municipal elections focused on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bid to reclaim control of Istanbul from major rival Ekrem Imamoglu, who aims to reassert the opposition as a political force after bitter election defeats last year. Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu dealt Erdogan and his AK Party the biggest electoral blow of two …

Read more “Erdogan Battles Key Rival in Turkey’s Local Elections”

ottowa, canada — OTTAWA – Canada has sent about 70 soldiers to Jamaica to train troops from Caribbean nations who are set to take part in a United Nations-authorized mission to Haiti, the Canadian defense ministry said Saturday.  Kenya announced last year it would lead the force, which is designed to help national police fight powerful …

Read more “Canada to Train Troops From Caribbean Nations for Haiti Mission”

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed a longtime aide and several advisers Saturday in a continuing reshuffle while Russia unleashed fresh attacks overnight.  Zelenskyy dismissed top aide Serhiy Shefir from his post of first assistant, where he had served since 2019. The Ukrainian president also let go three advisers, and two presidential representatives overseeing volunteer …

Read more “Zelenskyy Fires More Aides as Russia Launches Drones, Missiles Across Ukraine”

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EDE, Netherlands — Dutch police detained a man Saturday after he left a nightclub where four people had been held hostage for hours, bringing a peaceful end to a tense standoff. “We are exceptionally happy that it ended this way — that the victims came out safely and that we were able to arrest this suspect …

Read more “Dutch Hostage Standoff Ends; Suspected Arrested”

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ATHENS — Greek authorities have arrested a senior member of an international gang that smuggled Latin American fuel products for illegal sale around the world, raking in an estimated profit of more than $21 billion, police said on Saturday.  The gang member, an Italian national for whom Interpol had issued an arrest warrant, was found in …

Read more “Greece Arrests Member of Smuggling Gang That Raked in $21 Billion”

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BUON MA THUOT, Vietnam — Le Van Tam is no stranger to how the vagaries of global trade can determine the fortunes of small coffee farmers like him.  He first planted coffee in a patch of land outside Buon Ma Thuot city in Vietnam’s Central Highland region in 1995. For years, his focus was on quantity, …

Read more “How EU Deforestation Laws Are Reordering World of Coffee “