Several Hostages Taken at German Bank Branch, Police Say

FRANKFURT, May 8 (Reuters) – ⁠German ⁠police said ⁠on Friday several ​people, including one cash transport ‌driver, had been ‌taken hostage ⁠at a ⁠savings bank branch in the western ​town of Sinzig. “It is currently believed that ​there are several perpetrators and ⁠hostages inside ⁠the bank,” ⁠police said ​in a statement, adding that ​the situation ⁠was currently …

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Pope Leo, After Rubio Meeting, Asks God to Inspire Leaders to Calm Tensions

By Guglielmo Mangiapane and Joshua McElwee POMPEI, Italy, May ⁠8 (Reuters) – ⁠Pope Leo asked that God ⁠would inspire world leaders to calm global tensions and reduce hatred ​in an address on Friday to mark his first anniversary as head of the Catholic Church, ‌a day after he met ‌U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio …

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China Confirms Attack on Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz Earlier This Week

By Lewis Jackson and Sam Li BEIJING, May ⁠8 (Reuters) – ⁠China’s foreign ministry confirmed ⁠on Friday that an oil products tanker carrying Chinese ​crew was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, and expressed deep concern about ‌vessels affected by the ongoing ‌conflict in the Middle East. There are Chinese nationals aboard the vessel, ⁠but …

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EU Ministers to Adopt Sanctions Related to Russia’s Deportations of Ukrainian Children

BRUSSELS, May 8 (Reuters) – ⁠European ⁠Union ⁠foreign ministers are expected ​to adopt new sanctions ‌on Monday related ‌to the ⁠deportation ⁠of Ukrainian children to Russia, two ​EU sources said on Friday. Ukraine says close ​to 20,000 children have ⁠been illegally ⁠sent to ⁠Russia and ​Belarus. “There will be a meeting ​on ⁠the margins of …

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South Korea Begins Probe Into Ship Fire in Strait of Hormuz Amid Iran Dispute

SEOUL, May 8 (Reuters) – South Korea’s Oceans Ministry ⁠said ⁠on Friday that government investigators ⁠had started examining the cause of an explosion and fire ​aboard a Korean-operated vessel amid uncertainty over whether it had been attacked in the Strait ‌of Hormuz. • The ship’s operator ‌HMM said investigators dispatched from South Korea boarded the …

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South Africa’s Top Court Backs Case Seeking to Revive Impeachment Process Against President

JOHANNESBURG, May 8 (Reuters) – ⁠South ⁠Africa’s constitutional ⁠court on Friday backed ​an opposition party’s case that ‌seeks to revive ‌impeachment proceedings against ⁠President ⁠Cyril Ramaphosa over a scandal dubbed “Farmgate” by ​local media. The scandal almost brought down Ramaphosa when ​it erupted in 2022 after ⁠an independent ⁠panel found ⁠evidence he ​may have committed …

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EU Wants to Move Fast on Moldova Accession Talks, Kallas Says

CHISINAU, May 8 (Reuters) – European ⁠Union ⁠foreign policy chief ⁠Kaja Kallas said on Friday ​there was no exact date yet for ‌opening formal talks on ‌Moldova’s accession to the ⁠bloc, ⁠although the EU wanted to move fast on ​the matter. “We haven’t set that date, but it’s clear that we need to move ​fast,” …

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