Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle on Friday in front of celebrities and Britain’s senior royals including Prince Harry and wife Meghan who wed at the same venue in May. …
The head of global Orthodox Christianity said Thursday that he would recognize Ukrainian churches as independent from the Russian Orthodox Church, sparking celebration in Kyiv and outrage in Moscow. The decision, after a three-day synod chaired by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul, granted recognition to the leader of the church as independent from the Russian organization. The decision was a victory for Ukraine as it struggles to keep Moscow at bay since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and Russia’s continued support for separatists fighting against Kyiv in the east. “This is a victory of good over evil, light over …
Russian laws passed since President Vladimir Putin’s 2012 return to the power have dramatically strengthened Kremlin control over the flow of information online and off, according to a new study by a London-based rights group. The report, issued by PEN International’s Moscow and St. Petersburg offices, outlines restrictions on free expression since the beginning of Putin’s third term. The report covers legislation that criminalizes criticism of the government, the increasing propagandizing of state-run media, and efforts to target libraries for possessing vaguely defined “extremist materials.” “Russia’s aggressive assault on free expression is happening on all fronts, with the crackdown affecting …
Speculation is growing that Turkey could allow American Pastor Andrew Brunson to return to the United States, ending a diplomatic standoff between Ankara and Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump has condemned Brunson’s prosecution on terrorism charges. Several news organizations reported Thursday that the Trump administration had reached a deal with Turkey, easing some sanctions in exchange for Ankara’s reducing or dropping charges against Brunson. Washington was expressing cautious optimism about Brunson’s release, which could come as early as Friday. “I’m very hopeful that before too long Pastor Brunson, he and his wife, will be able to return to the United …
France’s Foreign Ministry says it has summoned Venezuela’s ambassador to France over the “suspicious” death earlier this week of an opposition councilor jailed by Venezuelan intelligence police on allegations he plotted to kill President Nicolas Maduro. In a statement Thursday, the Quai d’Orsay said Hector Michel Mujica Ricardo was summoned earlier in the day. “France hopes light will be shed on this death through an impartial and independent investigation.” No more details were provided. Venezuelan officials say Fernando Alban killed himself by leaping from the 10th floor of the state police agency’s headquarters earlier this week. But opposition leaders reject …
The disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist raises a dark question for anyone who dares criticize governments or speak out against those in power: Will the world have their back? Dictators and autocrats have always sought to silence dissenters, even ones that flee abroad to escape their grasp. They seem to only get bolder in turning to their playbook of detention, threats and killings. That may in part be because, despite decades of talk of human rights in international circles, violations get only muted reproaches. In the United States, the Trump administration avoids strenuous criticism of human rights abuses by …
Turkey’s finance tsar has declared war on soaring inflation and called on the country’s businesses to cut prices. Finance minister Berat Albayrak Tuesday called on business to cut prices by 10 percent to counter runaway inflation. The Turkish lira has fallen some 40 percent this year, driving up the price of everything from food to fuel and sending inflation to 25 percent last month, its highest in 15 years. Analysts warn that this radical strategy could hurt an economy that is already struggling. “It’s unusual to announce an anti-inflationary package without a reference to monetary policy,” said senior economist Inan …
U.N. human rights experts are calling for a prompt independent and international investigation into the disappearance of Saudi Arabian journalist and government critic Jamal Khashoggi. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, October 2. Members of the U.N. Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances say they are deeply concerned over the vanishing of Kashoggi as well as over allegations of his state-sponsored murder. They say they are disturbed the disappearance of the Saudi journalist may be directly linked to his criticism of his government’s policies in recent years. They are demanding an immediate international probe …
The White House said Wednesday that top Trump administration officials have spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the mysterious disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whom Turkish officials say they believe was murdered last week inside Riyadh’s consulate in Istanbul. National security adviser John Bolton and senior adviser Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, talked with Salman Tuesday, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a follow-up call with the Saudi leader to reiterate the U.S. demand for information about the case, the White House said. “In both calls they asked for more details and for the …
A California man will serve six months in prison for unwittingly helping the Russian campaign to disrupt the 2016 presidential elections. A federal judge in Washington has sentenced Richard Pinedo to six months imprisonment followed by six months of home detention for selling bank account numbers to Russian operatives. According to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, the Russians used those bank accounts to set up PayPal accounts and purchase advertisements on Facebook. The 28-year-old Pinedo pleaded guilty to identity fraud. He testified before a grand jury and prosecutors acknowledged that Pinedo had cooperated fully with Mueller’s investigation. …
The U.S. offered to help Wednesday in the investigation of the mysterious disappearance of a Saudi journalist last seen entering Riyadh’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, a week ago. Turkey has launched an intensive probe into the disappearance of the journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Vice President Mike Pence did not indicate whether Turkey or Saudi Arabia has sought U.S. assistance, but when asked if Washington might dispatch FBI technicians if Saudi Arabia requested it, he said, “I think the United States of America stands ready to assist in any way.” Turkish authorities say …
The founder of the British investigative group Bellingcat says Russian President Vladimir Putin lied when he said he had never met either of the two suspects in the novichok poisoning attack in England. Two Russian agents are believed to have traveled to Salisbury in March under assumed names in an attempt to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. VOA’s Zlatica Hoke reports. …
The fiancee of a Saudi journalist who disappeared after entering the country’s consulate in Istanbul last week said he had been “somewhat concerned that he could be in danger,” but that he did not fear anything would happen to him at the diplomatic outpost. Hatice Cengiz wrote in the Washington Post that her fiance, Jamal Khashoggi, first went to the consulate on September 28 and returned last week for an appointment to pick up paperwork the couple needed to get married. He has not been seen since. Cengiz expressed confidence in the ability of Turkish authorities to figure our what …
Bulgarian officials said Wednesday authorities have arrested a suspect in the rape and murder of journalist Viktoria Marinova. Chief prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov identified the suspect as Severin Krasimirov, a Bulgarian citizen who was taken into custody in Germany. Tsatsarov told reporters that so far investigators do not believe Marinova’s rape and killing was linked to her work, but rather was a spontaneous attack. Krasimirov has been charged with rape and premeditated murder. Marinova had investigated alleged corruption involving politicians and European Union funds. Her body was found Saturday in a park in the northern city of Ruse. …
Journalists are familiar with the risks of reporting from war-torn lands, but the recent death or disappearance of three people in Turkey, Bulgaria and Mexico illustrates the growing dangers to reporters targeted for practicing their craft. Authorities in Turkey are searching for Jamal Khashoggi, a contributor to The Washington Post who has been missing since walking into the Saudi Arabian consulate last week in Istanbul. There are concerns that Khashoggi, who has written critically of the Saudi regime, may have been killed there. Elsewhere, Bulgarian national radio reported an arrest Tuesday in the death of television reporter Viktoria Marinova, host …
Ireland’s finance minister boosted budget day spending for the second year in a row as the government warned of economic “carnage” if neighboring Britain crashes out of the European Union without a divorce deal. Having already pre-committed 2.6 billion euros ($2.99 billion) on increased public sector and planned infrastructure spending for next year, Paschal Donohoe, in Tuesday’s annual budget speech, almost doubled the remaining pot to 1.5 billion euros to dish out on further tax cuts and spending increases. The state’s fiscal watchdog warned ahead of the budget that the booming economy did not need such additional stimulus. But with …
The two main Catalan secessionist parties on Tuesday voted against each other in the regional parliament for the first time in three years, a sign that tensions over the strategy to adopt toward Spain’s central government are becoming more serious. Quim Torra, the Catalan regional head and Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) member, last week threatened to withdraw parliamentary support for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in the national parliament, but coalition ally Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC, Republican Left of Catalonia) did not back the move. ERC leader Oriol Junqueras, who is currently in jail for his alleged role in …
European Union nations, voicing worries over a U.N. report on global warming, were haggling on Tuesday over how ambitious to be in cutting vehicle emissions, with Germany warning that overly-challenging targets risked harming industry and jobs. Torn between reducing pollution and preserving industry competitiveness, EU environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg are seeking a compromise over what 2030 carbon dioxide limits to impose on Europe’s powerful carmakers. In a joint statement, they said the bloc was “deeply concerned” over a U.N. report calling for rapid and unprecedented action to contain global warming, but held back from increasing their pledge to reduce …
FIFA announced a new global strategy for women’s football on Tuesday in an effort to create revenue streams and increase grassroots participation. FIFA said in a statement that it would work closely with member associations through workshops and special initiatives to “encourage female empowerment” through football. “The women’s game is a top priority,” FIFA’s secretary general Fatma Samoura said. “We will work hand-in-hand with our 211 member associations around the world to increase grassroots participation, enhance the commercial value of the women’s game and strengthen the structures surrounding women’s football to ensure that everything we do is sustainable and has …
Bulgarian authorities on Tuesday will release and won’t charge a man taken into custody in connection with the slaying of Bulgarian television reporter Viktoria Marinova, whose body was found after she highlighted possible government corruption. The man, who wasn’t identified, would be freed “very shortly,” said Teodor Atanassov, chief police officer of the northern town of Ruse. He declined to provide further details on the ongoing investigation. Police are investigating the rape and slaying of Marinova, 30, who was strangled. Her body was found Saturday near the Danube River. Marinova hosted a show last month featuring two investigative journalists who …