Europe

Bodies, black boxes handed over from Ukraine crash site

By Anton Zverev and Peter Graff DONETSK Ukraine Mon Jul 21, 2014 11:04pm EDT (Reuters) – The remains of some of the nearly 300 victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane downed over Ukraine were making their way to the Netherlands on Tuesday as a senior Ukrainian separatist leader handed over the plane’s black boxes to Malaysian experts. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told a news conference on Monday that a train carrying around 200 body […]

International probe demanded after Malaysian airliner downed over Ukraine, 298 dead

By Anton Zverev HRABOVE Ukraine Fri Jul 18, 2014 2:10am EDT (Reuters) – World leaders demanded an international investigation into the shooting down of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine in which all 298 people on board were killed, a tragedy that could further heighten tensions between Russia and the West. One U.S. official said Washington strongly suspected a surface-to-air missile that downed the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala […]

U.S. hits oil giant Rosneft, other firms with toughest Russia sanctions

By Anna Yukhananov and Steve Holland WASHINGTON Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:26pm EDT (Reuters) – President Barack Obama imposed the biggest package of U.S. economic sanctions yet on Russia on Wednesday, hitting Russia’s largest oil producer Rosneft and other energy, financial and defense firms, with what he called significant but targeted penalties. Obama’s latest round of sanctions came after close consultations with European leaders, who announced a less-ambitious package. The ultimate impact of the U.S. […]

EU leaders unite for WW1 memorial

(Reuters) — European Union leaders commemorated the 100th anniversary of World War One at a solemn ceremony in Belgium on Thursday (June 26) in a show of unity that briefly masked deep disagreement over who should head their most influential institution. At Menin Gate, a memorial to 50,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in the battle ofYpres, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stood alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande and other leaders to honour the fallen of what became known […]

Unity Games in Northern Europe

As the Iglesia Ni Cristo approaches its Centennial celebration on July 27 this year, the Church members in Northern Europe countries recently held together a two-day event in Germany called ‘Unity Games’. Marie Francisco reports

Storm in western Germany kills six, disrupts transport

(Reuters) — At least six people were killed in storms that swept Germany’s most populous state late on Monday, forcing Duesseldorf airport to shut down, with falling trees leaving some roads impassable. After a scorching hot three-day holiday weekend, thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain pounded the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, causing Germany’s third-largest airport in Duesseldorf to close for about an hour. Three people were reported to have died in the state capital […]

Ukraine’s new leader stands up to Moscow over Crimea and Europe

(Reuters) – Ukraine’s new president Petro Poroshenko said his country would never give up Crimea and would not compromise on its path towards closer ties with Europe, spelling out a defiant message to Russia in his inaugural speech on Saturday. The 48-year-old billionaire took the oath of office before parliament, buoyed by Western support but facing a crisis in relations with Russia as a separatist uprising seethes in the east of his country. Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in […]

Head of France’s main opposition UMP party to step down amid allegations of party funding fraud

The head of France’s main opposition UMP party to step down amid allegations of party funding fraud as UMP officials allegedly told company to produce fake invoices opening race on for UMP leadership and its 2017 presidential ticket. Francois Cope, head of France’s main opposition UMP party, agreed to step down amid allegations of party funding fraud, party officials said, triggering a race to secure the conservative party’s ticket for the 2017 presidential election. Ivy […]