Foreign
Canada bans TikTok on all government devices
February 28, 2023, 3:17 pm
TRENTON, Ontario – Canada banned TikTok from all government devices Monday for security reasons and it could be the start of a further crackdown, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. "This may be a first step, it may be the only step we need to take, but every step of the way we’re going to be… Read More
More than 21M people in Yemen need aid, protection: UN chief
February 28, 2023, 2:43 pm
GENEVA – More than 21 million people – two in three Yemeni children, women, and men – need assistance and protection, the UN chief said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was speaking at a conference in Geneva – hosted by Switzerland and Sweden – where an appeal for USD4.3 billion… Read More
No definitive answers for whether Covid-19 originated in lab
February 27, 2023, 7:36 pm
ANKARA – US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday said that there is no "definitive answer" to the question of whether the virus that caused the Covid-19 pandemic spread from a laboratory. Sullivan on CNN was asked to comment on Wall Street Journal’s story saying the US Energy… Read More
BTA magazine dedicates February issue to Bessarbian Bulgarians
February 27, 2023, 5:23 pm
BULGARIA – The February issue of the LIK (Literature, Culture and Arts) magazine is dedicated to the war in Ukraine with a focus on the Bulgarians there, Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev said at the official presentation of the issue on Feb. 24. Valchev defined as… Read More
At least 43 dead, dozens missing after Italy migrant shipwreck
February 27, 2023, 2:48 pm
ROME – At least 43 migrants have died after their boat sank off the coast of Italy’s southern Calabria region, authorities said on Sunday. Some 80 migrants have survived the shipwreck, according to the Italian coast guard, but authorities fear the death toll could climb as the boat was… Read More
Twin cyclones may hit New Zealand next week
February 27, 2023, 2:42 pm
ANKARA – Already reeling from the impact of cyclone Gabrielle, New Zealand may be hit by a pair of tropical cyclones next week, meteorologists said on Sunday. The pair may form in the South Pacific next week, with a potential risk of more rain and swells for eastern parts of New Zealand, local… Read More
Heavy rain, snowstorm disrupt life in California
February 27, 2023, 1:34 pm
NEW YORK – Heavy rain continued to disrupt life in the US state of California while a snowstorm wreaked havoc in its high-altitude regions. US media reported Sunday that more than 126,000 households were left without electricity due to the adverse weather conditions, with the heavy rain causing… Read More
Canada directs another $20-M for quake-hit Türkiye, Syria
February 25, 2023, 1:53 pm
TRENTON, Canada – Canada answered the United Nations’ (UN) call for more aid Friday and announced another 30 million Canadian dollars (USD22 million) for those affected by the disastrous earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. The funds come from 20 million Canadian dollars in direct relief, and… Read More
Massive winter storm creates chaos, havoc in California
February 25, 2023, 1:52 pm
HOUSTON, United States – A massive winter storm blanketed the state of California on Friday threatening treacherous blizzard conditions as far south as San Diego that could continue wreaking havoc through the weekend. "A Blizzard Warning, the first issued by this office, is now in effect for the… Read More
Vasko Vassilev Concertmaster at King Charles III's Coronation
February 24, 2023, 9:30 pm
LONDON – Bulgarian violinist Vasko Vassilev will be concertmaster at the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, Vassilev's team reported. The Coronation Orchestra will comprise members of many UK orchestras. Sir Antonio Pappano has been confirmed as conductor. "I… Read More
NATO vows to support Ukraine 'as long as necessary'
February 24, 2023, 9:09 pm
ISTANBUL – NATO on Friday reaffirmed its solidarity with Ukraine in the "heroic defense" of its nation as the alliance "solemnly" marks one year of Moscow’s "brutal" war on Kyiv. "We pay tribute to the lives lost, and we deplore the tragic human suffering and destruction, including of… Read More
Europe's energy crisis likely to stay, analysts warn
February 24, 2023, 7:48 pm
ROME -- The energy shocks that sent ripples through Europe after the sudden outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict a year ago are unlikely to dissipate completely, no matter how the conflict evolves, analysts have said. Feb. 24 marks the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict which… Read More
US to provide further $2B in security assistance to Ukraine
February 24, 2023, 7:14 pm
WASHINGTON – The US will provide Ukraine with another $2 billion in security assistance, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Thursday. "Today, the United States announced a further $2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, all designed for a specific purpose, which is… Read More
North Korea test-fires 4 strategic cruise missiles
February 24, 2023, 6:14 pm
ANKARA – North Korea on Friday confirmed that its forces successfully test-fired four strategic cruise missiles in the country's eastern region a day earlier, state-run media said. Four "Hwasal-2" strategic cruise missiles were launched toward the East Sea of Korea from the area of Kim Chaek… Read More
EU reaffirms backing Ukraine on 1-yr mark of war with Russia
February 24, 2023, 5:16 pm
BRUSSELS – European Union (EU) leaders reaffirmed Thursday their support for Kyiv as they marked the first anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine. “The European Union will continue to support Ukraine in political, economic, humanitarian, financial and military terms, including through… Read More
3.5M Italians risk losing tap water due to drought
February 24, 2023, 5:11 pm
ROME – Millions of Italians risk having their tap water cut off in the coming months because of the severe drought Italy is experiencing, especially in northern regions, the head of the ANBI water-resource consortium said on Thursday. "According to the data we have available, it is reasonable… Read More
EU economy shows positive signs but challenges remain
February 24, 2023, 3:10 pm
LONDON – The last year was turbulent for the European economy with Ukraine war-driven shocks including surging energy prices, crises involving food supply, faster-than-expected monetary tightening, subsidies and inflation emerging as major economic issues facing the continent. Reflecting this… Read More
Violence in Israel, occupied Palestinian territory escalates: UN
February 24, 2023, 2:01 pm
GENEVA – The UN human rights chief on Thursday expressed deep concern about the escalating cycle of violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, calling for law enforcement to comply with international law. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk issued a statement after… Read More
Energy crisis diverts Europe to coal, nuclear power plants
February 24, 2023, 1:51 pm
BRUSSELS – In the face of the energy crisis prompted by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, European countries have diverted to coal and nuclear energy, which they had a dim view in the past and planned to end their use. Russia's cutting off the natural gas flow in response to EU sanctions due to… Read More
Nobel Peace laureate: World faces ‘grave risk’ of nuclear war
February 23, 2023, 9:00 pm
GENEVA – The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) said Thursday that "a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine," the world faces the grave risk that nuclear weapons could be used. “In the week we mark a year since Russia launched its full-scale,… Read More
