World News

Parthenon fragments from Vatican return to Greece

Three fragments of Athens' Parthenon temple, kept by the Vatican for centuries, were returned to Greece on Friday in what Pope Francis has called a gesture of friendship.. "The gifting of the fragments of the Parthenon, which have been held in the Vatican Museums for more than two centuries, shows itself as an ecclesial, cultural and social gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece," Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary for promoting Christian unity, told a ceremony at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 1 mins read

World News

Unrest in France prompts postponement of King Charles III visit

Violent protests against pensions reform in France led to the postponement Friday of King Charles III's trip to the country, highlighting the growing security and political problems faced by President Emmanuel Macron.. "I condemn the violence and offer my full support to the security forces who worked in an exemplary manner," Macron told reporters Friday during a trip to Brussels.

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 3 mins read

World News

'France burns': World watches as anger at Macron's reforms grows

The world has reacted to violent demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms with warnings, questions about the future of France's political system -- and gloating from foes.. It warned particularly against getting between demonstrators and the police.

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Bolsonaro announces return to Brazil on March 30

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro, who left the country for the United States two days before his term ended, will return home on March 30, his party and press service announced on Friday.. Bolsonaro will arrive on Thursday March 30 at 7:30 am, his Liberal Party (PL) said on social media.

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 1 mins read

World News

'Not easy' to seize Russia assets: EU task force head

EU plans to seize Russian assets following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, prioritising state assets of around $350 billion, are unprecedented and tricky, the EU task force head told AFP on Friday.. The EU task force is meanwhile still trying to identify the Russian assets, and hopes to have made progress on that by May.

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 3 mins read

World News

LatAm food crisis on the table at Ibero-American summit

Addressing a food crisis affecting a fifth of Latin America's population featured high on the agenda of an Ibero-American leaders summit that started in the Dominican Republic on Friday.. "Many issues on the agenda of this Ibero-American summit will be the main ones of the July summit," he told AFP. These include to "strengthen ties and coordination between Europe and the region to address three issues: food security, environmental challenges and how to cooperate to increase access to technology."

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Rights groups accuse French police of brutality in pension protests

Criticism from human rights groups mounted on Friday over the alleged brutality of French police in handling protests opposed to President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform.. The French Human Rights League has accused the authorities of "undermining the right of citizens to protest by making disproportionate and dangerous use of public force".

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 3 mins read

World News

'Just a typical day': rescuing wounded soldiers on Ukraine front

Standing on the roadside at sunset, a team of medics have snapped on their latex gloves, waiting for the arrival of wounded Ukrainian soldiers.. The medical team gives life-saving treatment like stitches, tracheotomies and draining blood from lungs as they rush the soldiers to a clinic where they get stabilising care and can then go on to a larger hospital in the hub of Kramatorsk.

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 2 mins read

World News

'Nixon in China': an opera with fresh relevance

Opera rarely feels like a topical medium but modern classic "Nixon in China" is growing in popularity and offering a pointed reminder of how much geopolitics has shifted in the past 50 years.  . It is increasingly a hit abroad, playing in at least five European opera houses this year. 

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Chad nationalises former ExxonMobil firm after disputed sale

Chad has announced it has nationalised a former subsidiary of US oil and gas giant ExxonMobil, whose sale to a British company last year it had contested.. Chad had immediately contested the sale, saying it had gone ahead despite the government's "express objections" and in violation of its right of first refusal.

Fri, Mar 24, 2023 1 mins read