A pro-European presidential contender in Romania's May 4 election has said defence spending should rise to 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 from 2.5 per cent and argued that maintaining support for Ukraine in its war with Russia is essential for Romania's security. Nicusor Dan, the 55-year-old two-term
The teenage son of Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia's Chechnya region and close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has been appointed secretary of the region's security council, according to the council's Telegram channel. Adam Kadyrov turned 17 in November 2024. It is the fourth time he has be
Pope Francis' funeral will be held on Saturday in St Peter's Square, Roman Catholic cardinals decided on Tuesday, setting the stage for a solemn ceremony that will draw leaders from around the world. Francis, 88, died on Monday after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, ending an often turbulent
European powers told the United States last week which aspects of a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia would be non-negotiable for them, ahead of a new round of discussions on Wednesday, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said. Ukraine, the US, France, Britain and Germany held
Russia is ready to consider a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a halt to attacks by both sides on each other's civilian infrastructure, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was a complex topic that President Vladimir Putin was ready to discuss
Pope Francis, who visited more than 60 countries during his papacy, will make his final journey along the road from Vatican City to the Esquiline, one of the seven hills of Rome, where he wanted to be buried in a last break from tradition. Francis, whose death at the age of 88 was announced by the
Pope Francis changed the face of the modern papacy more than any predecessor by shunning much of its pomp and privilege, but his attempts to make the Catholic Church more inclusive and less judgmental made him an enemy to conservatives nostalgic for a traditional past. The Vatican said on Monday i
With the death of Pope Francis, announced by the Vatican on Monday, the Roman Catholic Church will begin elaborate rituals steeped in tradition that mark the end of one papacy and lead to the start of the next. Most are governed by a constitution known as Universi Dominici Gregis (Of the Lord&rsqu
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla briefly greeted onlookers after an Easter service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, an important fixture in the calendar of the monarch, who is supreme governor of the Church of England. Charles and Camilla, who was wearing a pale blue hat and dress, were j
Britain said on Sunday two of its fighter jets had intercepted Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea close to NATO alliance airspace in separate incidents on Tuesday and Thursday. The Typhoon fighters were scrambled to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M "Coot-A" intelligence aircraft on Tuesday, B
Russia and Ukraine blamed each other on Sunday for breaking a one-day Easter ceasefire announced by President Vladimir Putin, with both sides accusing the other of carrying out hundreds of attacks. Putin, who ordered thousands of Russian troops into Ukraine in February 2022, ordered Russian forces
Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday that Ukraine had broken the Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin more than a thousand times, inflicting damages to infrastructure and causing civilian deaths. The ministry said that Ukrainian forces had shot at Russian positions 444
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Sunday of creating a false appearance of honoring an Easter ceasefire, saying Moscow continued to launch attacks overnight after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral temporary truce in Ukraine. "As of Easter morning,
