Ecuador supports Noboa’s crusade against crime, rejects economic reforms

A soldier votes a referendum in Quito, Ecuador, on 21 April 2024. EFE-EPA/Jose Jacome

Quito, Apr 21 (EFE).- Ecuadorians on Sunday expressed broad support during a nationwide referendum for President Daniel Noboa’s proposals to strengthen the fight against organized crime, but largely turned their backs on his economic reform plans. Among the referendum’s 11 questions, the ‘Yes’ vote won with 62-73 percent support in nine questions with measures to … Read more

Basque elections end in tie between Independents, Nationalists

PNV leader candidate Imanol Pradales (l) and PNV president Andoni Ortuzar (r) celebrate the results of the Basque elections in Bilbao on Sunday. April 21, 2024. EFE/Luis Tejido

Madrid, April 21 (EFE).- The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and the pro-independence party EH Bildu tied with 27 seats each in Sunday’s regional elections in the Basque country, where the Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE-EE) came third with 12 deputies. With 98% of the votes counted, the PNV will need the support of … Read more

Refugee soccer player Hakeem al-Araibi freed from Bangkok prison

NB: This article from Feb 11, 2019, was republished on Apr. 21, 2024 Bangkok, Feb 11 (EFE).- Refugee soccer player Hakeem al-Araibi was on Monday released from a Bangkok prison after nearly 80 days of detention and was heading home to Australia, Canberra confirmed Monday night. “Hakeem al-Araibi has left jail. He is on his … Read more

Sydney police probe why knife attacker appeared to target women

A woman and child leave flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in tribute to the victims of the Bondi Junction stabbing spree, in Sydney, Australia, 15 April 2024. EFE/EPA/FLAVIO BRANCALEONE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Sydney, Australia, Apr 15 (EFE).- New South Wales police were investigating Monday why the Sydney knife attack attacker appeared to have targeted women. On Saturday, 40-year-old Queensland man Joel Cauchi killed six people, including five women, during a stabbing rampage in Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center. “It’s obvious to me, it’s obvious to detectives that … Read more

Japan’s population falls for 13th straight year

Passersby cross a large street at Shinjuku's business and shopping district in Tokyo, Japan, 12 April 2024. EFE-EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Tokyo, Apr 12 (EFE).- Japan’s population fell by 595,000 people in 2023, dipping below the mark of 125 million inhabitants for the first time since the declining trend, the government reported Friday. It’s the country’s 13th consecutive year of contraction, as the number of Japanese nationals fell by 837,000, to 121 million people, according to … Read more

Israel welcomes US Congress bill banning funding for UNRWA

An internally displaced Palestinian girl carrying containers on their way to fetch water, in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, 21 March 2024. EFE/EPA/HAITHAM IMAD

International Desk, Mar 23 (EFE) – Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Saturday praised the US Congress bill passed hours earlier that bans all funding to the United Nations agency for Palestine until at least 2025, over unsubstantiated Israeli accusations that some of the agency’s employees may have ties to Hamas. “The historic ban on … Read more