Estonian parliament votes to withdraw from landmines treaty
Vilnius, Lithuania Reuters The Estonian parliament on Wednesday voted in favour of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines amid concerns over the military threat posed by neighbouring Russia. Eighty-one members of the 101 parliament supported the motion, its press office said. All five European Union and NATO countries which […]
In pictures – global tributes pour in to honour Pope Francis after his death
AP Tributes to Pope Francis poured in from around the world, from presidents to people of all walks of life, after the Vatican announced the pontiff’s death at age 88 on Monday. Fans and players stand during a moment of silence as a portrait of Pope Francis is displayed at Citi Field before a baseball game between the […]
Easter in pictures: Christians around the world celebrate Easter
AP Christians around the world celebrated on Sunday the resurrection of Jesus Christ, from Vatican City where Pope Francis made a surprise appearance in his popemobile, to Ukraine, where a temporary Easter truce with Russia appeared in doubt in parts of the nation. Considered the most important holiday in the Christian liturgical calendar, Easter this year falls on […]
In pictures – Christians celebrate Palm Sunday
AP Christians have celebrated Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Penitents of the Estrella brotherhood walk in procession across the so-called Triana bridge during Holy Week in Seville, Spain, on Sunday, 13th April, 2025. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week. PICTURE: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti. Catholics take part […]
Quick facts – Which countries are quitting a key landmine treaty and why?
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters NATO members Poland, Finland and all three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – have queued up over the past few weeks to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, in the face of what they say are growing military threats from Russia. The moves threaten to reverse decades of […]
EU leaders pledge defence surge, support Zelenskiy after US aid freeze
Updated: 10:40am (AEDT) Brussels, Belgium Reuters European leaders on Thursday backed plans to spend more on defence and continue to stand by Ukraine in a world upended by Donald Trump’s reversal of US policies. The European Union’s defence summit in Brussels took place amid fears that Russia, emboldened by its war in Ukraine, may attack […]
European leaders in Kyiv to mark three years of war, but top US officials stay away
Updated: 12:20pm (AEDT) Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine hosted European leaders on Monday to mark three years of all-out war with Russia, while top US officials stayed away in a clear illustration of President Donald Trump’s lurch towards Moscow since returning to power. Still reeling from Trump calling President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a “dictator”, Kyiv said it […]
Baltic states switch to European power grid, ending Russia ties
Vilnius, Lithuania Reuters The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania completed a switch from Russia’s electricity grid to the EU’s system on Sunday, severing Soviet-era ties amid heightened security after the suspected sabotage of several subsea cables and pipelines. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the move, years in the planning, as […]
In pictures: Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas
AP Ethiopian pilgrims pray during a Mass service for Ethiopian Christmas at the Bole Medhane Alem cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, 6th January, 2025. PICTURE: AP Photo. Christian Orthodox believers burn dried oak branches, the Yule log symbol for the Orthodox Christmas Eve, in front of St Luke Church in Belgrade, Serbia, on […]
European nations denounce Russian hybrid attacks, cable cut probes launched
Stockholm, Sweden/Warsaw, Poland Reuters European governments accused Russia on Tuesday of escalating hybrid attacks on Ukraine’s Western allies, as Baltic nations investigated whether the cutting of two fibre-optic telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea was sabotage. European officials have not directly accused Russia of destroying the cables. But Germany, Poland and others said it was […]