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China-Swiss Talks Touch on Visa-Free Travel, Free Trade
Geneva, Switzerland — China and Switzerland agreed Monday to speed up talks to upgrade their free trade agreement and to simplify visa procedures for travel between the two countries, Chinese state…
UN Appeals for $4.2 Billion for Ukraine and Ukrainian Refugees
GENEVA — The United Nations is appealing for $4.2 billion to support war-affected communities in Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian refugees and host communities in the wider region, as Russia steps…
Date Set for Spain-Brazil Anti-Racism Football Friendly
Madrid — Spain will host Brazil in an international football friendly at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium on March 26 to raise awareness of racism, the Spanish football federation said Monday. The…
Oxfam: World’s Five Richest Men Doubled Their Fortunes since 2020
Davos, Switzerland — The world’s wealthiest five men have more than doubled their fortune since 2020, the charity Oxfam said on Monday, calling on nations to resist the ultra-rich’s influence over…
German Economy Shrank in 2023 on Energy, Export Woes
Frankfurt — The German economy shrank slightly in 2023, official data showed Monday, as costly energy, high interest rates and cooling foreign demand took their toll on Europe’s export giant. Output…
IMF’s Georgieva Warns of Spending ‘Pressure’ Before Global 2024 Elections
WASHINGTON — The year ahead will be “very tough” for fiscal policy — especially for countries holding elections — the IMF chief told AFP before departing for the World Economic Forum…
Vladivostok’s Ex-Mayor to Fight in Ukraine After Bribery Conviction
Moscow — A former mayor of the Russian city of Vladivostok has enlisted to fight in Ukraine and departed for the front after he was sentenced to 12 years in prison…
Zelenskyy Heading to Switzerland to Shore Up International Support
Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel to Switzerland on Monday, his office said, as Ukraine tries to ensure stable support from allies as the war against Russia nears…
Campaigners Urge Australia to Send Unwanted Military Helicopters to Ukraine
Sydney — Campaigners will gather Sunday at Sydney Town Hall for a rally to urge Australia to send unwanted helicopters to Ukraine. The Australian Defence Force plans to decommission 45 Taipan…
Australian-Born Princess Becomes Danish Queen
Sydney — While Denmark was preparing to celebrate the coronation of a new king, there are festivities too, half a world away, in Australia. Crown Princess Mary was born on the…
Romanian Farmers, Truck Drivers Protest Against Subsidies, Taxes
BUCHAREST — Romanian farmers and truck drivers continued sporadic protests across the country on Sunday as negotiations with the coalition government over high insurance rates and slow subsidy payments resumed. Convoys…
Volcano Erupts in Southwestern Iceland
London — A volcano has erupted in southwestern Iceland for the second time in less than a month, sending semi-molten rock spewing toward a nearby settlement. The eruption just before 8…
Russian Market, EVs Give China Fuel to Pass Japan as Top Car Exporter
washington — China’s car industry groups have said the country is set to surpass Japan to become the world’s top car exporter for 2023, driven by the Russian market and a…
Huge Fire Engulfs Warehouse in Russia Outside of St Petersburg
MOSCOW — A huge fire tore through a large warehouse used by Russia’s largest online retailer south of St. Petersburg on Saturday morning. The blaze covered an area of 70,000 square…
Global Protests Draw Thousands in London, Elsewhere in Pro-Palestinian Marches
LONDON — Children joined thousands of other demonstrators making their way through central London for a pro-Palestinian march Saturday, part of a global day of action against the longest and deadliest…
Bear Rescued From Bombed-Out Ukrainian Zoo Finds New Home in Scotland
london — An unlikely refugee from the war in Ukraine — a rare Asiatic black bear — arrived at his new home in Scotland on Friday and quickly took to a…
Turkish Soldiers Killed Defending Base in Iraq’s Kurdish Region
istanbul — Five Turkish soldiers were killed Friday in an attack on a military base in northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, the Turkish Defense Ministry said. Authorities blamed Kurdish militants. Eight…
Belarusian Journalist on Trial for Covering Protests, Faces Years in Prison
TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian journalist went on trial Friday on charges linked to his professional work covering protests, the latest move in a government crackdown on dissent. Photojournalist Alyaksandr Zyankou…
Cпецпредставниця США Пенні Пріцкер розповіла, з якою метою приїхала до України
«Я хочу запевнити український народ і український уряд у тому, що позиція Америки щодо України не змінилася» …
Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of War Crimes, Criticizes ‘Selective Outrage’ of Allies
In its annual report published Thursday, Human Rights Watch accused Israel of war crimes and said many governments were expressing “selective outrage” over atrocities committed in the conflict in Gaza….
China’s Xi Says Wants Closer EU Ties in Meeting with Belgium PM
Shanghai — China is willing to strengthen relations with Europe, President Xi Jinping said on Friday, at a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Beijing. De Croo arrived…
China, Russia Trade Soared In 2023 As Commerce with US Sank
BEIJING — Trade between China and Russia hit a record high in 2023, official data from Beijing showed on Friday, as commerce with the United States fell for the first time…
North Korea to Welcome Russian Tourists, the First Since Pandemic, Report Says
SEOUL, South Korea — Russian tourists reportedly going on a ski trip to North Korea will be the first international travelers to visit the country since its borders closed in 2020…
US, UK Strike Back at Several Houthi Sites in Yemen
pentagon — The United States and Britain have launched a massive attack against Iranian-backed Houthis inside Yemen in retaliation for more than two dozen recent attacks against vessels transiting international shipping…
Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania Sign Deal to Tackle Black Sea Mines
ISTANBUL — Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania on Thursday signed an agreement to jointly tackle drifting sea mines that have threatened Black Sea shipping since the start of the Ukraine war. Turkish…