Month: September 2022

Chinese state media say the country’s top legislator decried sanctions against Russia during a recent visit to the country, underscoring China’s backing of Moscow in its war on Ukraine despite claims of neutrality. The official Xinhua News Agency said Li Zhanshu urged greater cooperation on “fighting against external interference, sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, among others,” in a meeting with Russian lawmakers Thursday. Li also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of an expected meeting this month between Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a regional gathering in Uzbekistan. That would mark Xi’s first trip outside China since …

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Britain’s Queen Elizabeth begins her return to London when her coffin is transported more than 280 kilometers by hearse from Balmoral, where she died Thursday, to Edinburgh. The approximately six-hour journey to the Scottish capital passes through the towns of Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth. Thousands of mourners are lining roads to honor the monarch. Her body will lie at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The funeral service for the late monarch will be held in London at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19.  …

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Ukraine said Sunday the sixth and final reactor at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in the south of the country was no longer generating electricity. “Today, September 11, 2022, at night, at 03:41 am (0141 GMT), unit No. 6 of the ZNPP was disconnected from the power grid. Preparations are underway for its cooling and transfer to a cold state,” state nuclear agency Energoatom said in statement. Ukraine and its allies have been increasingly concerned about the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhia plant — the largest in Europe — and recent fighting there has raised fears of serious incident. …

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Britain’s new King Charles III is a committed environmentalist with a long history of campaigning for better conservation, organic farming and tackling climate change, which is likely to sit well with more eco-conscious younger Britons. Interspersed between photos of official meetings and other royal duties, his Instagram account as Prince of Wales typically featured pictures showing him furthering environmental causes in Britain and beyond. They included planting trees, showing off organic fruit and vegetables from his Clarence House residence and colorful flowers growing in the garden at his beloved Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, western England. One photo even captured Charles …

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A passenger train and freight train collided Friday night in central Croatia, killing at least three people and injuring another 11 or more, authorities said. The collision happened around 9:30 p.m. near the town of Novska, which is close to Croatia’s border with Bosnia, police said in a statement. “The impact was huge,” said Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who rushed to the scene with other government officials. Plenkovic confirmed that so far the bodies of three people were found at the site of the accident, but he said more victims could still be found. The injured have been hospitalized, some …

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Sweden is holding an election Sunday to elect lawmakers to the 349-seat Riksdag as well as to local offices across the nation of 10 million. Early voting began Aug. 24. Here are some key things to know about the vote. What is at stake? Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson is fighting to keep her center-left Social Democrats at the helm of a left-wing coalition but is facing a strong challenge from the right. Sweden is known for being a cradle-to-grave welfare society and Andersson would like to preserve the social protections that have long defined Sweden, and reverse some of the …

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King Charles III was formally proclaimed as Britain’s monarch and head of the Commonwealth Saturday, in a ceremony that traces its history back several hundred years.     Charles became king upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Thursday. She had been on the throne for 70 years. The royal family announced that her funeral would be September 19 at Westminster Abbey in London.       Pomp and ceremony  Elizabeth’s first son, Charles, was proclaimed king in a ceremony at St James’s Palace in London, which was broadcast on television for the first time. Senior politicians, judges and …

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King Charles III was proclaimed as Britain’s monarch and head of the Commonwealth Saturday in a ceremony in London, which traces its history back several hundred years. The royal family announced the queen’s funeral would be September 19, at Westminster Abbey in London. Henry Ridgwell reports …

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Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, have been at loggerheads for decades over territorial and airspace claims in and over the Aegean Sea. As the historic rivals escalate their war of words, analysts warn about the risk of current tension spilling into NATO business at a time when there is a need to focus on unity against Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.  The latest spat began when Turkey accused its neighbor of locking onto Turkish fighter jets with its Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems deployed on the island of Crete. Ankara also said Greek pilots placed Turkish aircraft under …

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Australia’s political leaders have laid wreaths at the Federal Parliament Saturday following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She was Australia’s head of state under the country’s constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth had an affinity with Australia. She visited 16 times during her long reign, traveling to every state and territory. On a tour in 2000, she said she felt part of Australia, which she described as a “rugged, honest, creative land”.  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday recalled the “sympathy and personal kindness she extended to Australians afflicted by tragedy and disaster,” including floods and bushfires.  Albanese said there was …

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