TV personality Rachael Ray is a U.S.-based chef, author and celebrity. But Ukrainians know her better thanks to her charity work to help the war-torn country. Omelyan Oshchudlyak reports. Camera: Yuriy Dankevych. …
Paris, France — The U.N.’s cultural organization said Monday it recommended adding Stonehenge, the renowned prehistoric site in England, to its world heritage list of sites in danger, in what would be seen as an embarrassment for London. The site has been in the U.N. organization’s sights because of British government plans to construct a controversial …
Read more “UNESCO wants to add Stonehenge to list of endangered heritage sites”
State Department — The United States is carefully studying a new mutual defense pact between Russia and North Korea, which Washington believes could aid Pyongyang in its nuclear and long-range missile development programs. There are also signs of tensions between North Korea and its longstanding ally, China, following the signing of the agreement. China anxious In …
Read more “Signs emerge North Korea-Russia defense pact making China anxious”
Nouméa, France — A fresh surge of unrest hit the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, with several buildings set on fire overnight, including a police station and a town hall, authorities said Monday. The new spike in violence comes as France prepares to vote in historic legislative elections this weekend and support for the far-right …
Read more “Fresh unrest erupts in French territory of New Caledonia”
BEIJING — Beijing wants the EU to scrap its preliminary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles by July 4, China’s state-controlled Global Times reported, after both sides agreed to hold new trade talks. Provisional European Union duties of up to 38.1% on imported Chinese-made EVs are set to kick in by July 4 while the bloc investigates …
Read more “China wants EU to remove tariffs on EVs by July 4 as talks resume “
Paris — The promises are appealing — and expensive. Vying to oust the centrist government of President Emmanuel Macron in an upcoming two-round parliamentary election June 30 and July 7, French political parties of both the far right and far left are vowing to cut gasoline taxes, let workers retire earlier and raise wages. Their campaign pledges …
AMSTERDAM — Apple’s App Store rules breach EU tech rules because they prevent app developers from steering consumers to alternative offers, EU antitrust regulators said on Monday, a charge that could result in a hefty fine for the iPhone maker. The European Commission, which also acts as the European Union’s antitrust and technology regulator, said it …
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Moscow — Armed militants attacked two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a traffic police post in Russia’s southern republic of Dagestan, killing a priest, a church security guard and at least six police officers, Russian state news agency Tass said Sunday. Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said in a statement that a Russian Orthodox priest and police …
Read more “Priest, security guard, police officers killed in multiple attacks in Russia’s Dagestan”
Athens, Greece — A Greek prosecutor on Sunday brought criminal charges against the captain and crew of a chartered yacht suspected of triggering a forest fire on a resort island in the Aegean Sea during a firework display. Greece has been plagued in recent days by scores of wildfires amid hot, dry and windy weather. On …
Read more “Yacht crew faces criminal charges over Greek island fire allegedly started by fireworks”
Espargos, Cape Verde — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mutual defense agreement with North Korea has the potential to create friction with China, which has long been the reclusive state’s main ally, the top U.S. military officer said Sunday. “We’ve got someone else who’s kind of nudging in now, so that may drive a little bit more …
Read more “Russia’s North Korea defense deal may create friction with China, US top general says”
Paris — Thousands of women took to the streets in cities around France on Sunday to protest Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, as polls indicated the party could win the upcoming parliamentary elections. About 200 women’s rights groups and unions organized the marches in dozens of cities, including Paris, saying women’s rights come under attack …
Read more “Thousands of women march in France against far right”
Chicago — One of Chicago’s most popular tourist attractions known as “The Bean” reopened to the public Sunday after nearly a year of renovations and construction. Construction started in August last year, and fencing around the iconic sculpture limited closeup access to visitors. The work on the plaza surrounding the sculpture included new stairs, accessible ramps …
New York — Weekend number two was just as joyous for “Inside Out 2.” The Pixar sequel collected $100 million in ticket sales in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, setting a record for an animated movie in its follow-up frame in theaters. The previous best second weekend for an animated title was the …
Read more “‘Inside Out 2’ scores $100M in its 2nd weekend, setting records”
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VIENNA — Rescuers in Switzerland have found the body of one of three people who had gone missing Saturday after massive thunderstorms and rainfall in the southeast of the country caused a rockslide, Swiss authorities say. The other two are still missing. One woman was pulled out alive from the rubble earlier Saturday morning. “Today is …
Read more “1 person found dead, 2 missing in Switzerland floods “
London — The chief data officer of Britain’s Conservative Party has taken a leave of absence, British media reported Sunday, following growing allegations that the governing party’s members used inside information to bet on the date of Britain’s July 4 national election before it was announced. The Sunday Times and others reported that Nick Mason is …
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MADRID — Things are looking up for the Iberian lynx. Just over two decades ago, the pointy-eared wild cat was on the brink of extinction, but as of Thursday the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it’s no longer an endangered species. Successful conservation efforts mean that the animal, native to Spain and Portugal, is …
Read more “Conservation efforts bring Iberian lynx back from brink of extinction”
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Norway has tightened controls over adoptions from abroad but will allow them to continue as it conducts an investigation into the legality and ethics of past adoptions, the government said Wednesday. The move to keep allowing international adoptions for now contradicted Norway’s top regulatory body, the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, a government agency …
Read more “Norway tightens controls over, but won’t ban international adoptions”
Shanghai, China — The German vice-chancellor assured China on Saturday that the “doors” remained “open” to discuss EU surcharges on Chinese electric vehicles, without reassuring Beijing which promised to “firmly defend” its manufacturers. Also, the Minister of Economy and Climate, Robert Habeck is making a visit that seems like a last chance to avoid a trade …
Read more “Germany assures China that doors still open to discuss EU surcharges”
NORTH SOUND, Antigua — Hardik Pandya blasted Bangladesh with a 27-ball half-century and Kuldeep Yadav’s three wickets finished off India’s win at the Twenty20 World Cup on Saturday. Pandya struck four boundaries and three sixes in an unbeaten 50 to lead India to 196-5. Yadav then took 3-19 in four overs to limit Bangladesh to 146-8. …
Read more “India makes 196 and beats Bangladesh by 50 at Twenty20 World Cup”
ATHENS — Hundreds of firefighters struggled Saturday to contain wildfires fanned by gale force winds on two Greek islands and in other parts of Greece, as authorities warned many regions face a high risk of new blazes. More than 30 firefighters backed by two aircraft and five helicopters were battling a wildfire burning on the island …
Read more “Greece battles wildfires fanned by gale force winds”
Xichang, China — A French-Chinese satellite blasted off Saturday on a hunt for the mightiest explosions in the universe, in a notable example of cooperation between a Western power and the Asian giant. Developed by engineers from both countries, the Space Variable Objects Monitor, or SVOM, will seek out gamma-ray bursts, the light from which has …
Read more “China, France launch satellite to better understand universe”