Author: Anadolu Agency
A former Roman Catholic priest was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison for sexually abusing seven children more than 40 years ago. Eric Dejaeger abused six girls and one boy, ages 4 through 9, in the small hamlet of Igloolik, Nunavut, with a population of 2,000, in Canada’s Far North. The assaults took place between 1978 and 1982. It marked the fifth time Dejaeger has been convicted and sentenced for the abuse of dozens of children in the Canadian territory of Nunavut and Alberta. “He destroyed their childhood, hurt their relations with their families and ruined their relationship with…
France on Thursday ruled out sending military troops to Greenland, the world’s largest island and an autonomous Danish dependent territory with self-government and its own parliament. Speaking at the ministry’s weekly press briefing, spokesperson Christophe Lemoine responded to Anadolu’s question, saying that the principle of the inviolability of borders and sovereignty remains valid in Europe. He further said that French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had reiterated this principle to their Danish counterparts during their visit to Paris earlier this week. “Sending (military) troops is out of the question,” he said. “The only matter at hand is…
Confirming the release of five Thai hostages in Gaza, Bangkok on Thursday expressed its “deep appreciation” to mediators over their efforts in securing its citizens held since October 2023 in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said it received “confirmation from the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv that 5 (five) Thai hostages have been released today.” “They are now being transferred to hospital for medical treatment where officials from both the Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will travel to facilitate and immediately contact their families in Thailand,” it said in a statement. The Turkish National Intelligence…
US-based coffee chain Starbucks’ global sales fell 4% in the October-December period last year, according to first quarter fiscal year 2025 results released Tuesday. Fiscal year 2025 begins with October 2024 in Starbuck’s financial calendar. The company’s comparable store sales declined 4% in North America, while its sales in China decreased by 6%. Starbucks’ revenue was $9.4 billion for the three months ended Dec. 29, 2024, unchanged compared to the same period of the previous year. The company’s earnings per share decreased by 23% to $0.69 compared to the same period of 2023. The Seattle-based coffee chain opened 377 net…
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou stood firm in his use of the term “submersion” to describe immigration in Mayotte and other regions, despite strong criticism from the left and members of his own camp. Bayrou reiterated his stance in the French parliament, or National Assembly, on Tuesday, claiming that the scale of illegal immigration in Mayotte, where Comoros migrants account for an estimated 25% of the population, justifies the term. “Anyone who sees the situation in Mayotte understands that ‘submersion’ is the most appropriate word,” he said, referring to the French archipelago in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique’s…
Russian parliament or State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin warned Wednesday that any attempt or even discussion of an attack on President Vladimir Putin is a “direct path to nuclear war” and a serious global security threat. Citing claims by US journalist Tucker Carlson that the Biden administration had planned to assassinate Putin, Volodin accused Washington of failing to clarify its position and instead keeping a mum. “A day has passed. Everyone is quiet. Neither Biden nor Blinken has denied what was said,” he wrote on Telegram. He described the alleged plot as a “crime” and a “grave danger to global…
Egypt’s foreign minister has called for safeguarding the rights of the Palestinian people during a phone call with his American counterpart. Badr Abdelatty had a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday during which he underlined the importance of safeguarding the rights of the Palestinian people, who are keen on remaining on their land and refusing to be resettled, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. He also stressed the necessity “of respecting the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination,” the statement said. The two top diplomats also discussed strategic relations…
Pope Francis on Wednesday voiced concern over the deteriorating security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and called for an immediate end to hostilities. Speaking during his weekly general audience at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, the pontiff called on all parties to cease hostilities and ensure the protection of civilians in Goma and other conflict-affected areas. Francis also expressed concern over developments in Congo’s capital Kinshasa, calling for an end to violence against people and property. He urged local authorities and the international community to make every effort for a peaceful resolution. “As I pray for…
Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s remarks to relocate Gazans to neighboring countries, terming them “textbook definition of ethnic cleansing.” Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, Yousaf urged the UK government to take a firm stance and unequivocally reject any such proposals. Last week, Trump called to “just clean out” the Gaza Strip and resettle Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt, describing the shattered enclave as a “demolition site.” The plan has also been publicly opposed by Jordan and Egypt. Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, most of…
Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s remarks to relocate Gazans to neighboring countries, terming them “textbook definition of ethnic cleansing.” Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, Yousaf urged the UK government to take a firm stance and unequivocally reject any such proposals. Last week, Trump called to “just clean out” the Gaza Strip and resettle Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt, describing the shattered enclave as a “demolition site.” The plan has also been publicly opposed by Jordan and Egypt. Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, most of…