Tear gas hits the fan during clashes on Greek-Turkish border
ATHENS, Greece — Greek border units trying to stop crowds of migrants from pushing their way in from Turkey have hit on a new defense against tear gas unleashed on them from the Turkish side of the frontier — monster fans.
EU condemns Trump travel ban from Europe as virus spreads
BRUSSELS — European Union leaders on Thursday lashed out at President Donald Trump’s decision to restrict travel from Europe to the United States because of the new coronavirus, calling the the pandemic a global crisis that “requires cooperation rather than unilateral action.”
F1 cancels season-opening Australian GP amid virus concerns
MELBOURNE, Australia — As thousands of fans queued to get into the Australian Grand Prix for the first Formula One weekend of the season, the teams and drivers were packing up to leave.
1 year later, New Zealand mosque attacks alter many lives
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Fifty-one people were killed and dozens more injured when a lone gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch last year. New Zealanders will commemorate those who died on the anniversary of the mass killing Sunday. Three people whose lives were forever altered that day say it has prompted changes in their career aspirations, living situations and in the way that others perceive them.
Canada: Trudeau’s wife tests positive for new coronavirus
TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife has tested positive for the new coronavirus, his office announced Thursday night.
WHO declares virus crisis a pandemic, U.S. stocks plunge
GENEVA — The World Health Organization declared Wednesday that the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic as U.S. stocks plunged into bear market territory and several American cities joined European counterparts in banning large gatherings.
US heart surgeon treats children lacking care in Libya’s war
TRIPOLI, Libya — Yazan, a 1-year-old Libyan boy, was born with congenital heart disease. With just one chamber, the organ pumped so little blood that when Yazan cried, his skin turned black. Without surgery, he would not survive.
UEFA postpones Europa League games because of travel ban
MADRID — Two Europa League matches scheduled to be played in Spain and Italy on Thursday have been postponed because of traveling restrictions prompted by the coronavirus outbreak, UEFA said Wednesday.
News agency: Iran VP, 2 Cabinet members have new virus
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s senior vice president and two other Cabinet members have contracted the new coronavirus, a semiofficial news agency reported Wednesday as the death toll in the Islamic Republic from the outbreak rose by 62 to 354.
Afghans set to release 1,500 Taliban; US wants less violence
KABUL, Afghanistan — After a series of delays, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree early Wednesday promising to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture to get intra-Afghan negotiations started.
EU vows united response as virus hits its political heart
BRUSSELS — European Union leaders vowed Tuesday to stand united in combating the spread of the coronavirus ravaging member country Italy, and agreed to draft a plan to address any medical shortages and set up a fund to help overburdened health care systems.
Venezuelan riot police drive off protesters with tear gas
CARACAS, Venezuela — Security forces fired tear gas Tuesday to repel an anti-government march led by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who is struggling to reignite street protests to capitalize on mounting international pressure on embattled socialist President Nicolás Maduro
Brazil tribe faces down order to end environmental protest
SAO PAULO — A tiny indigenous tribe in Sao Paulo defiantly kept alive a month-old protest Tuesday as dozens of police urged them to obey a court order to end occupation of a tract of land assigned to a big construction company for apartment buildings.
Putin backs term limit freeze allowing him to stay in office
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed his tightly guarded political plans Tuesday and supported a constitutional amendment that would allow him to seek reelection in 2024 by restarting the term count.
Somber events mark first anniversary of Ethiopian crash
TULUFERA, Ethiopia — Grim-faced, visibly grief-stricken and some crying, hundreds of family members gathered Tuesday for a memorial service at the site where one year ago an Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed into the rocky ground, killing all 157 on board.
Experts: Rapid testing helps explain few German virus deaths
BERLIN — Germany has confirmed more than 1,100 cases of the new coronavirus but — so far — just two deaths, far fewer than other European countries with a similar number of reported infections.
Italy expands lockdown, Israel tightens entry to halt virus
Italy expands lockdown, Israel tightens entry to halt virus
SOAVE, Italy — The battle to halt the coronavirus brought sweeping new restrictions Monday, with Italy expanding a travel ban to the entire country, Israel ordering all visitors quarantined just weeks before Passover and Easter, and Spain closing all schools in and around its capital.
Key UN body reaffirms 1995 plan to achieve gender equality
UNITED NATIONS — The main U.N. body promoting women’s rights reaffirmed the 1995 road map to achieve gender equality on Monday and pledged to step up implementation amid warnings of rising gender inequality and conservative push-back against its far-reaching agenda.
EU, Turkey to review migrant deal as border tensions simmer
BRUSSELS — The European Union and Turkey agreed to review a 4-year-old deal on managing migrants and refugees in an effort to settle a dispute that sent thousands of people to the Turkey-Greece border in hopes of reaching Europe, top EU officials said Monday.
Dueling Afghan leaders both declare themselves president
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s rival leaders were each sworn in as president in separate ceremonies on Monday, throwing plans for negotiations with the Taliban into chaos and creating a dilemma for the United States as it figures out how to move its peace deal with the Taliban forward.