Latest Western Europe News
UN renews anti-piracy ships off Somalia for only 3 months
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Friday to allow international naval forces to continue using all necessary means to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia — but only for the next three months because the Somali government says there has been no piracy...
In Greece, Pope to seek deeper ties with eastern churches
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Pope Francis heads to Greece Saturday for the second leg of his trip to the region, with meetings in Athens aimed at bolstering recently-mended ties between the Vatican and Orthodox churches. Francis’ five-day visit to predominantly Orthodox...
Back from knee injury, Kilde wins super-G; Ganong takes 3rd
BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — A big day for Aleksander Aamodt Kilde — winning a World Cup super-G race less than a year after tearing a knee ligament — suddenly turned bittersweet: The Norwegian ski racer watched his good friend and teammate, Kjetil Jansrud, slide into the protective...
Jackson wins 4th World Cup speedskating title of season
KEARNS, Utah (AP) — Erin Jackson won her fourth World Cup speedskating gold medal of the season Friday, taking the 500 meters on home ice at the Utah Olympic Oval. Skating in front of family and friends, the 29-year-old American finished in 36.809 seconds, breaking the...
Libya's foreign minister slams European migration policy
CAIRO (AP) — Libya’s foreign minister on Friday criticized a system of deterring migrants from reaching European shores that she argued fails to address the root of the problem and has so far only served the interest of EU states. Her comments are the latest stab at...
Upstate NY WWII soldier killed in France IDed after 77 years
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (AP) — The remains of a World War II soldier from upstate New York killed in France in 1944 have been identified, defense officials announced Friday. U.S. Army Pfc. Morris E. Swackhammer, 20, of Binghamton was accounted for June 28, according to the...
Portugal’s interior minister quits after series of scandals
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal’s interior minister resigned Friday after a series of gaffes and missteps that could have made him a political liability for his center-left Socialist Party ahead of elections for a new government on Jan. 30. Eduardo Cabrita, whose...
Belgian zoo says its 2 very runny-nosed hippos have COVID-19
BRUSSELS (AP) — A Belgian zoo said Friday that a pair of hippopotamuses in its care are in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, possibly the first time ever such animals have caught the disease. Belgium’s national veterinary lab has confirmed that Antwerp...
Le Pen honors Jewish, Polish victims of WWII in Warsaw
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen paid her respects to Jewish and Polish victims of World World II on Friday, on the eve of a Warsaw gathering of right-wing European party leaders that she will attend. Saturday's meeting will be hosted by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the...
Iran nuclear talks pause, will reconvene in Vienna next week
BERLIN (AP) — Diplomats negotiating in Vienna to revive Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers have paused after five days of talks to consult with their governments and will reconvene next week, officials said Friday. The European Union official chairing the...
