ATHENS, Greece – Greece’s new left-wing government is promising to spend 200 million euros ($234 million) this year on assistance programs for people pushed into “extreme poverty” by the financial crisis. In its first bill to parliament Tuesday, the government said it would spend the money on programs to distribute …
Read More »
LISBON, Portugal – Portugal’s prime minister gave the taxman extra muscle as part of a crackdown on fraud and evasion after the country needed a 78-billion-euro ($86 billion) bailout in 2011. Now, Pedro Passos Coelho is admitting he was one of those who did not always comply with his tax …
Read More »
DHAKA, Bangladesh – Bangladesh’s government has ordered a North Korean diplomat to leave the country after discovering $1.4 million of unauthorized gold in his bag when he arrived at Dhaka’s airport, a Foreign Ministry official said Monday. The ministry summoned North Korean Ambassador Ri Song Hyon on Monday and gave …
Read More »
BEIRUT – More than 20 international aid organizations have sharply criticized the United Nations Security Council, saying it has failed to implement three resolutions passed last year seeking to boost humanitarian assistance to Syrian civilians. The 21 aid groups say the resolutions have been “ignored or undermined by the parties …
Read More »
LONDON – Britain’s independent police watchdog says it is looking into allegations that Scotland Yard covered up historic allegations of child abuse from the 1970s to the 2000s. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said Monday it is investigating 14 referrals, including claims that the force suppressed evidence and hindered or …
Read More »
VATICAN CITY – A Holocaust-denying Catholic bishop who made headlines in 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI rehabilitated him and members of his breakaway traditionalist society is heading for new trouble with the Vatican. Bishop Richard Williamson is planning to consecrate a new bishop Thursday in Brazil without Pope Francis’ consent …
Read More »
KABUL, Afghanistan – An official says gunmen in eastern Afghanistan have opened fire on highway, killing at least 13 people in passing vehicles. Attahullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor of Wardak province, said Tuesday that the gunmen shot at three vehicles, including a bus from Kabul to heading …
Read More »
PRAGUE – The Czech government says two Czech tourists who were abducted by gunmen two years ago as they were traveling on a bus through southwestern Pakistan have been released. Government spokesman Martin Ayer says the two women arrived in the Czech Republic Saturday morning. Ayer says a Turkish humanitarian …
Read More »
ROME – Italy has beefed up security at “sensitive targets” after the attack on the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, citing the presence of the Vatican and Italy’s participation in anti-terrorism coalitions. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Wednesday there were no concrete threats about any possible attacks here, according to …
Read More »
BEIRUT – Lebanese forces transferred detainees Monday from a notorious jail block where militant Islamists were being held after an investigation suggested that a recent suicide bombing was directed from the facility, the interior minister said. The clearing of Block B of the Roumieh prison came after years of warnings …
Read More »