Month: April 2022

Christian Orthodox Spiritual Leader Says Indescribable Tragedy in Ukraine

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide, called overnight for the opening of humanitarian corridors in Ukraine where he said, “an indescribable human tragedy is unfolding.” Bartholomew, who has previously called for an end to war in Ukraine, said that he hoped this year’s Easter would be “the impetus to open humanitarian corridors, safe passages to truly safe areas for the thousands of people surrounded in Mariupol.” “The same applies to all other regions of Ukraine, where an indescribable human tragedy is unfolding… We call once again for an immediate end to the fratricidal war, which, …

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Voting Opens in France Runoff Between Macron, Le Pen

France began voting in a presidential runoff election Sunday in a race between incumbent Emmanuel Macron and far-right politician Marine Le Pen. Macron is in pole position to win reelection for a second five-year term in the country’s presidential runoff, yet his lead over Le Pen depends on one major uncertainty: voters who could decide to stay home. A Macron victory in this vote — which could have far-reaching repercussions for Europe’s future direction and Western efforts to stop the war in Ukraine — would make him the first French president in 20 years to win a second term. All …

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Rescuers Reach 4 of 10 Miners Missing at Coal Mine in Poland

Rescue workers in southern Poland have reached four of the 10 miners who went missing early Saturday after a powerful underground tremor and methane gas discharge hit, mining authorities said. It was the second coal mine accident this week in Poland. The condition of the four was not immediately released and officials said there was no verbal contact with any of the missing miners. The rescue team could not immediately bring the four to the surface and more teams will be sent to the area, said Edward Paździorko, deputy head of the Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa company (JSW) that operates the …

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OSCE Says Trying to Secure Release of Monitors Held in Eastern Ukraine

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Saturday it was working to secure the release of a number of Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) members who had been detained in eastern Ukraine. “The OSCE is extremely concerned that a number of SMM national mission members have been deprived of their liberty in Donetsk and Luhansk. The OSCE is using all available channels to facilitate the release of its staff,” its media office said in response to a query, giving no more details. In an address to the 157-member body on Friday, Britain’s deputy ambassador to the Vienna-based OSCE …

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Turkey Closes Airspace to Russian Planes Flying to Syria

Turkey has closed its airspace to Russian civilian and military planes flying to Syria, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was quoted as saying Saturday by local media.  The announcement marks one of the strongest responses to date by Turkey, which has cultivated close ties with Moscow despite being a member of the NATO defense alliance, to Russia’s two-month military assault on Ukraine.  “We closed the airspace to Russia’s military planes — and even civilian ones — flying to Syria. They had until April, and we asked in March,” Turkish media quoted Cavusoglu as saying.  Cavusoglu said he conveyed the decision to …

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WHO: Health Care System in Eastern Ukraine Nearing Collapse

The World Health Organization warns the health system in eastern Ukraine has all but collapsed, putting the lives of thousands of people trapped in Mariupol and other besieged areas at risk.    U.N. health officials say it is critical they be granted immediate access to Mariupol and other areas hardest hit by fighting in eastern Ukraine. They say they have received reports that nearly all health facilities and hospitals in areas like the Luhansk region either are damaged or destroyed.   The WHO is appealing for access to affected areas to assess health needs and to provide critical medical supplies to the …

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France Election: Le Pen’s Late Surge Rattles Europe Amid Russian Security Threat

France goes to the polls Sunday for the final round of voting in the presidential election, with Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally party just a few points behind incumbent Emmanuel Macron. A Le Pen victory would have big implications for European security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Putin links In a fiery televised debate Wednesday, incumbent President Emmanuel Macron sought to highlight links between Marine Le Pen’s far-right party and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Her National Rally party took several loans from Russia in 2014, including a $9.75 million loan from the Kremlin-linked First Czech Russian Bank.   …

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Ракетний обстріл Одеси: кількість загиблих зросла до 8

Президент України Володимир Зеленський заявив, що внаслідок ракетного обстрілу російськими військовими Одеси загинули 8 людей. «Велике сімейне та людське свято. 7 ракет сьогодні прилетіло до Одеси. Дві ми збили. У багатоповерховий будинок влучила ракета. 8 людей наразі померли. 18-20 поранених. Дитина 3 місяці – померла. Що це взагалі відбувається? Покидьки смердючі! Як їх ще назвати? Інших немає слів. Просто покидьки», – сказав він під час пресконференції світовим та українським ЗМІ у київському метро. 23 квітня російські військові завдали ракетного удару по Одесі. Спочатку повідомлялося про 5 загиблих і 18 поранених. За даними повітряного командування «Південь», українські військові також знищили дві …

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Ukraine Trying to Evacuate Women, Children, Elderly From Mariupol

Ukraine will attempt to evacuate people Saturday from the besieged port city of Mariupol. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram that authorities will try to get women, children and the elderly out of the city where Russian troops have thwarted previous evacuation efforts. It is unlikely that humanitarian corridors for the public will be open Saturday, authorities say. Officials estimate there are as many as 100,000 people remaining in Mariupol. Meanwhile, France and Germany have previously armed Russia with nearly $300 million worth of military equipment that is “likely being used in Ukraine,” according to an exclusive …

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