CNN – Europe/Mideast/Africa

By Arnaud Siad and Jack Guy, CNN Malta is set to become the first European Union country to legalize cannabis for recreational use. The bill is expected to be signed into effect later this week by Malta’s President George Vella after legislators approved a bill by a majority vote in Parliament on Tuesday. “And the

By Allegra Goodwin and Joshua Berlinger, CNN Sergey Tikhanovsky, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison at a high-security penal colony, Belarusian state media BelTA reported on Tuesday. After a trial that took place largely behind closed doors, Tikhanovsky was convicted on charges including “organizing mass

By Melissa Bell, Dalal Mawad and Richard Allen Greene, CNN “Despite months of persuasion, despite intensive media campaigns, despite discussions in various media we have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated.” Those were the words of former Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg last month as he announced the first nationwide vaccine mandate in

By Hannah Ritchie, Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou and Lauren Kent, CNN The Swedish Coast Guard is investigating whether alcohol contributed to an early Monday morning cargo ship crash in the Baltic Sea. A British citizen and a Croatian citizen have been detained as suspects in Sweden’s preliminary probe into the collision, according to a Swedish Public

By Andrew Carey and Hadas Gold, CNN For the first time in history an Israeli Prime Minister has made an official visit to the United Arab Emirates. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at his private palace in Abu Dhabi on Monday, according to Bennett’s office.

CNN Editorial Research Here is a look at the life of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the alleged 9/11 co-conspirators. Personal Birth date: March 1, 1964 or April 14, 1965 (both are used) Birth place: Kuwait Father: Father’s name unavailable publicly Mother: Mother’s name unavailable publicly Marriage: Wife’s name unavailable publicly Education: Attended Chowan College;

By Hannah Ryan, CNN A bishop in Spain has had his clerical powers removed following his marriage to a “transgressive” author of erotica with satanic undertones. The diocese of Solsona — where Xavier Novell Goma has been serving as a bishop — issued a statement on Saturday that said Novell is now forbidden from administering

By Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Four-year-old Azhi hobbles across a makeshift migrant center on the Polish-Belarusian border. Grabbing his mother’s hand for support, he carefully tucks his legs under piles of donated blankets. Metal rods tower above the people to prop up a giant zinc roof. Azhi, who has splints on his legs, is smiling and

By Radina Gigova and Barbie Nadeau, CNN At least three people have died and at least six others are missing after several buildings in the southern Italian town of Ravanusa collapsed early Sunday morning, according to the Civil Protection Department in Sicily. Two people have been rescued, authorities said. Ravanusa Mayor Carmelo D’Angelo said in

By Vasco Cotovio and Phillipe Vieira, CNN South African authorities have arrested a convicted Portuguese banker that had fled from the country in mid-September. “We first want to thank South African police authorities,” Portugal’s Judiciary Police director Luís Neves said, as he announced that banker João Rendeiro had been captured, on Saturday morning. Neves said

By Jeevan Ravindran, CNN The bishop of Noto in Sicily stunned schoolchildren last week when he dropped a bombshell during an arts festival — telling them Father Christmas wasn’t real. “No, Santa Claus does not exist. In fact, I would add that the red of the suit he wears was chosen by Coca Cola exclusively

By Mohammed Tawfeeq and Charbel Mallo, CNN A Hamas warehouse filled with ammunition at a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon exploded on Friday, causing casualties, according to Lebanon state-run NNA news. “Sounds of explosions were heard in the al-Burj al-Shamali camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Tyre, in one of the Palestinian Islamic centers

By Martin Goillandeau, CNN Tigrayan forces summarily executed dozens of civilians in two towns they controlled in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region between August 31 and September 9, 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday. HRW urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to create an international inquiry into the abuses committed by warring parties

CNN Editorial Research Here is a look at the life of Ahmed Qorei, former prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority. Personal Birth date: March 1937 Birth place: Abu Dis, West Bank Birth name: Ahmed Ali Mohammed Qorei Other Facts His last name can be spelled Qurei, Qureia, Qrei, Qurai or Korei. It is pronounced

By Matthew Chance, CNN Ukrainian defense officials say Russia has increased troop numbers near the Ukrainian border to 120,000 people, including additional army, air force and naval personnel. According to its latest ongoing security assessment — shared with CNN by Ukrainian security sources — the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said “combat and other military equipment,

CNN Editorial Research Here is a look at Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader in Gaza. Personal Birth date: 1962 Birth place: Shati refugee camp, near Gaza City Father: Father was a fisherman Marriage: Amal Haniyeh Children: 13 Education: Islamic University of Gaza, 1987 Religion: Muslim Timeline 1987-1988 – Joins Hamas, during the first intifada. 1988 –

CNN Editorial Research Here’s a look at the life of Angela Merkel, former chancellor of Germany. Personal Birth date: July 17, 1954 Birth place: Hamburg, Germany Birth name: Angela Dorothea Kasner Father: Horst Kasner, a Lutheran minister Mother: Herlind Kasner, an English teacher Marriages: Joachim Sauer (1998-present); Ulrich Merkel (1977-1982, divorced) Education: University of Leipzig,

By Laura Smith-Spark and Stephanie Halasz, CNN Germany recorded its highest number of daily deaths from Covid-19 since February on Wednesday, as it struggles to bring a fourth wave of the pandemic under control. A total of 69,601 new infections were reported and an additional 527 people died in the past 24 hours, according to

CNN Editorial Research Here’s a look at the life of Keith Richards, musician and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Personal Birth date: December 18, 1943 Birth place: Dartford, Kent, United Kingdom Birth name: Keith Richards Father: Bert Richards, factory worker Mother: Doris (Dupress) Richards Marriage: Patti Hansen (1983-present) Children: with Patti Hansen: Theodora and

CNN Editorial Research Here’s a look at the life of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi. Personal Birth date: December 14, 1960 Birth place: Mashhad, Iran Full name: Sayyid Ebrahim Raisol-Sadati Father: Seyyed Haji, a cleric Mother: Sayyedeh Esmat Khodadad Husseini Marriage: Jamileh Alamolhoda (1983-present) Children: Two daughters Education: Attended seminary in Qom; Shahid Motahari University, Ph.D