Defying Vatican, Flemish bishops allow blessing of same-sex unions
VATICAN CITY — Flemish Roman Catholic bishops on Tuesday issued a document effectively allowing the blessing of same-sex unions, in direct defiance of a ruling against such practices by the Vatican’s doctrinal office.
World leaders lash Russia over Ukraine invasion, referendum plans
KYIV/UNITED NATIONS - World leaders meeting at the United Nations in New York denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as Moscow-installed leaders in occupied areas of four Ukrainian regions announced plans to hold referendums on joining Russia in coming days.
In...
Japanese man sets himself on fire in apparent protest at former PM’s state funeral
TOKYO - A man set himself on fire near the Japanese prime minister's office on Wednesday in an apparent protest at the government's decision to hold a state funeral for former premier Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated earlier this year, media reported.
The man was...
US, Canadian warships sail through Taiwan Strait for 2nd time in a year
A US Navy warship and a Canadian frigate made a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, the militaries of both nations said, at a time of heightened military tension...
Europe energy crisis may deepen with looming liquidity crunch
LONDON - Europe's problems in sourcing oil and gas this winter after a dispute with Russia may be exacerbated by a new crisis in the market where prices are already...
What crisis? High-stakes crypto lending looks here to stay
LONDON/WASHINGTON - On May 11, Scott Odell, an analyst at British crypto lender Blockchain.com, instant messaged Edward Zhao of Three Arrows Capital asking that the Singapore...
Ukraine marches further into liberated lands
IZIUM, Ukraine — Ukraine said its troops have marched farther east into territory recently abandoned by Russia, paving the way for a potential assault on Moscow’s occupation forces in the Donbas region as Kyiv seeks more Western arms.
Biden hints at risky policy shift on Taiwan independence
WASHINGTON -— Overshadowed by US President Joseph R. Biden’s headline-grabbing vow that American forces would defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack was his hint at possibly shifting US policy to support the island’s right to self-determination.
As UN mulls Myanmar action, Malaysia pushes ASEAN to review peace plan
NEW YORK — Southeast Asian nations must decide if they are going to push ahead with a so-far failed five-point peace plan for Myanmar or “decide what’s next” before their leaders meet in November, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said on Monday.
IDB begins reviewing report on bank chief’s alleged ties to staffer, source says
WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY - The Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) board of directors on Monday began reviewing an independent report on whistleblower allegations that the bank's chief, Mauricio Claver-Carone, had an intimate relationship with...
EU, France see no better deal for Iran
NEW YORK - France said on Monday that there would not be a better offer for Iran to revive a nuclear deal with world powers and it was up to Tehran to decide...
Ecuador reaches deal with China to restructure debt
Ecuador has reached an agreement to restructure its debt with Chinese banks, the government said in a statement on Monday, providing debt relief worth some $1.4 billion until 2025.
Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso announced...