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28th March
Berliners vote down referendum on tighter climate goals
BERLIN (Reuters) -A referendum in Berlin on Sunday that would have bound the city to strive to be climate neutral by 2030 has failed, the city’s mayor Franziska Giffey said in a statement. The measure...
Lebanon wakes up in two time zones as clock change row deepens divisions
BEIRUT (Reuters) -Lebanon woke up in two time zones on Sunday amid an escalating dispute between political and religious authorities over a decision to delay the clock change by a month. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati decided on Thursday not to start daylight savings time over the last weekend of March – as usually happens...
Afghan girls struggle with poor internet as they turn to online classes
KABUL (Reuters) – Sofia logs in to class on a laptop in Kabul for an online English course run by one of a growing number of educational institutes trying to reach Afghanistan’s girls and women digitally in their homes. But when the teacher calls on Sofia to read a passage her computer screen freezes. “Can...
Young Portuguese defer dreams as housing crisis bites
LISBON (Reuters) – When Maria Lopes moved to Lisbon from the northern Portuguese city of Tondela, her goals were straightforward: study, find a job, get a place of her own. But a decade on, she still lives in a tiny, rented room – one of tens of thousands of young Portuguese hit by a housing...
Spain tells ‘fire tourists’ to stay away from forest blaze
BARRACAS, Spain (Reuters) – Officials told ‘fire tourists’ to keep away from blazes raging in eastern Spain on Sunday, saying onlookers were putting themselves at risk and disrupting efforts to quell the flames. More than 500 firefighters backed by 20 planes and helicopters were battling the fire four days after it broke out near the...
27th March
Israel’s Netanyahu sacks defense minister who opposed judicial overhaul
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after he said the government should delay moving forward with a highly-contested plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to remove from his position Defense Minister Yoav Gallant,” the prime minister’s office said. Gallant, a...
Mexico government to challenge Supreme Court suspension of electoral reform
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The Mexican government said Sunday it would challenge the Supreme Court’s temporary suspension of parts of a controversial electoral reform pushed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The Supreme Court on Friday halted parts of the reform, which was a scaled-down version of a failed constitutional reform originally sought. The court...
UK PM Sunak to unveil measures to crack down on anti-social behaviour
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will unveil new measures on Monday to crack down on antisocial behaviour by focusing on policing in several areas of England and Wales, as he works to win over voters in the run-up to an election expected next year. Sunak, who has seen a small tick up...
Evacuated villagers tell how Spain’s forest fire forced them to leave animals
By Guillermo Martinez BARRACAS, Spain (Reuters) – Spain’s first major wildfire of the year scorched more than 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of forest and forced 1,700 villagers to leave their homes in the Valencia and Aragon regions. Residents recounted fleeing their houses and leaving animals behind. “Bad, how am I supposed to feel? Your town...
Argentina ex-President Macri says he will not be candidate in upcoming elections
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Former Argentine President Mauricio Macri said on Sunday that he will not be a presidential candidate in the country’s October general elections, as the opposition coalition moves to confirm its candidates. The center-right Macri’s decision to opt out opens the door wider for other candidates of the opposition coalition “Together for...
Banksy’s migrant rescue ship seized by Italy’s coast guard in Lampedusa
MILAN (Reuters) – A rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy was seized in Lampedusa on Sunday after Italy’s coast guard said the boat had disobeyed its instructions to head to Sicily after carrying out a migrant rescue operation. The coast guard said it had ordered the MV Louise Michel ship to dock in...
Ready, set, roll! Thai man wins fastest joint rolling in Phuket
By Jorge Silva PHUKET, Thailand (Reuters) – With nimble fingers and years of practice, Ativat Janmuangthai beat other cannabis enthusiasts to roll a perfect, one-gramme joint in 43 seconds on Saturday, becoming the fastest joint-roller in Thailand’s Phuket. “He’s been rolling joints for five years, he can even roll joints blindfolded. He’s very fast,” said...
US Vice President Harris promises greater investment for Africa
ACCRA (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday that the United States will increase investment in Africa and help spur economic growth as she began a week long tour of the continent aimed at offering a counter to the influence of rival China. China has invested heavily in Africa in recent decades,...
Apple CEO praises China’s innovation, long history of cooperation on Beijing visit
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Apple CEO Tim Cook on Saturday used his first public remarks on his visit to China to praise the country for its rapid innovation and its long ties with the U.S. iPhone maker, according to local media reports. Apple CEO Tim Cook on Saturday used his first public remarks in China in...
Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible, NATO says
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO on Sunday criticised Russia for its “dangerous and irresponsible” nuclear rhetoric, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. “NATO is vigilant, and we are closely monitoring the situation. We have not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that would lead us to...
Young Portuguese defer dreams as housing crisis bites
By Catarina Demony, Patricia Vicente Rua and Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) – When Maria Lopes moved to Lisbon from the northern Portuguese city of Tondela, her goals were straightforward: study, find a job, get a place of her own. But a decade on, she still lives in a tiny, rented room – one of tens...
Anger over close of Noumea beaches due to deadly shark attacks
Beachgoers in New Caledonia have protested against the closure of Noumea’s swimming beaches until the end of the year. The mayor took the decision ten days ago because of a spate of shark attacks, including the fatal mauling of a swimmer. About 100 people formed a chain along a beach, denouncing the ban as discriminatory. They...
Putin says Moscow to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, US reacts cautiously
By David Ljunggren (Reuters) – Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, sending a warning to NATO over its military support for Ukraine and escalating a standoff with the West. Although not unexpected and while Putin said the move would not violate nuclear non-proliferation promises, it is one...
French High Commission validates lists contesting French Polynesia elections
The French High Commission has validated the seven lists contesting next month’s territorial elections in French Polynesia. It has approved their emblems and published the candidates’ names in the Official Journal. In a late change, the pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira dropped veteran politician Eliane Tevahitua when it submitted its list. On April 16 and 30, voters...
Biden declares emergency for Mississippi due to storm damage
(Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Mississippi on Sunday after a powerful storm tore across the state, killing at least 25 people there and one in Alabama. Biden ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the affected areas, a White House Statement said. The funding...
Guilty verdicts for two men who conspired to kill ex-Samoa PM
Two men who conspired to murder former Samoa prime minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi have been found guilty of the charges laid against them. Samoa’s Supreme Court delivered the decision on Friday, in the trial of Malele Paulo and Lema’i Faioso Sione. The Samoa Observer reports the defendants Paulo also known as King Faipopo, and Sione had maintained...
India summons Canada High Commissioner, concerned over Sikh protesters
MUMBAI (Reuters) – India summoned Canada’s High Commissioner on Sunday to “convey strong concern” over Sikh protesters in Canada and how they were allowed to breach the security of India’s diplomatic mission and consulates. According to Canadian media reports, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Indian consulate in Vancouver on Saturday over demands...
Ancient Egypt excavation uncovers 2,000 mummified ram heads at Abydos
CAIRO (Reuters) – At least 2,000 mummified ram heads dating from the Ptolemaic period and a palatial Old Kingdom structure have been uncovered at the temple of Ramses II in the ancient city of Abydos in southern Egypt, antiquities officials said on Saturday. Mummified ewes, dogs, wild goats, cows, gazelles, and mongooses were found in...
Israeli defence minister calls for halt to judicial overhaul
By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday called on the government to halt legislation on changes to the judiciary, saying the bitter dispute over the measures poses a danger to national security. “The deepening split is seeping into the military and security agencies – this is a clear, immediate...
Spain’s PM Sanchez to push for ‘territorial integrity’ for Ukraine in China visit
By Paul and Mathiasen SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday he would push for fair peace in the war in Ukraine that included “territorial integrity” during a state visit to China next week. Sanchez, speaking to journalists at the Ibero-American Summit meeting in the Dominican Republic, said he would...
Two Israeli soldiers wounded in Palestinian shooting in flashpoint town
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Two Israeli soldiers were wounded on Saturday, the military said, in a drive-by shooting claimed by a Palestinian armed group in the flashpoint town of Huwara in the occupied West Bank. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLFP) said in a statement that it had carried out the...
26th March
Motor racing-Piquet ordered to pay $950,000 for racist, homophobic comments
(Reuters) – Brazil’s triple Formula One champion Nelson Piquet must pay 5 million Brazilian Reals ($953,050) in moral damages for racist and homophobic comments against Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, a Brazilian court ruled on Friday. In an interview in November 2021, Piquet used a racial slur referring to the seven-time world champion, when commenting on...
Bus drivers at UK’s National Express accept 16.2% pay deal
LONDON (Reuters) – More than 3,000 bus drivers at a central England division of National Express have ended strike action after voting to accept a 16.2% pay rise, the Unite union said on Saturday. Britain has had waves of disruptive strikes in recent months as hundreds of thousands of transport, health, education and public-sector workers...
Putin and Erdogan held phone call, discussed grain deal
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, the Kremlin said on Saturday. Erdogan thanked Putin for his “positive attitude” in extending the Black Sea grain deal and expressed his “understanding of the Russian side’s principled position to achieve the full implementation of the second part...
Russia pardons 5,000 former criminals after fighting in Ukraine, Prigozhin says
MOSCOW (Reuters) – More than 5,000 former criminals have been pardoned after finishing their contracts to fight in Russia’s Wagner mercenary group against Ukraine, the founder of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said on Saturday. Wagner Group, originally staffed by battle-hardened veterans of the Russian armed forces, took on a much more prominent role in the Ukraine...
