Italy has officially informed China that it is quitting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), two government sources told Reuters on Wednesday, ending months of doubt over Rome’s future in the ambitious project.Italy in 2019 became the first and so far only major Western nation to join the program, dismissing…

Comedian Xi Diao says he knows he should avoid talking politics on stage, but sharing a family name with Chinese President Xi Jinping makes it hard to resist.Even his name is politically sensitive, the Melbourne-based amateur comedian tells audiences, setting up a joke about a group chat on the Chinese…

The Israeli military has assembled several large pumps it could use to flood the Hamas tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip with seawater, driving out terrorists hiding there, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials.Construction of five large seawater pumps was completed in November about one mile north of the…

European Union officials are concerned the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas sparked by the Oct. 7 attack will increase Islamic terrorism on the continent.EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson spoke to reporters about the rising threat following a fatal terrorist knife attack near the Eiffel Tower over the weekend.”With…

Giulia Cecchetin, a 22-year-old woman, was murdered, and her death has sparked outrage against gender violence in Italy.The murder took place on Nov. 18, and Cecchetin’s ex-boyfriend was later arrested in Germany. He admitted to the crime during prosecutors’ questioning.Thousands of mourners gathered for her funeral in Padua, where her…

Norway’s government and two major opposition parties have agreed to open the Arctic Ocean for seabed mineral exploration.Officials say the decision aligns with Norway’s strategy to seek economic opportunities beyond oil and gas.Greenpeace Norway and Norwegian Bellona have criticized the move, expressing concerns about the impact on marine life.Norway’s minority…

Six people were taken into custody in Belgium and the Netherlands in connection with an investigation into suspected exports of “sensitive” products and technology.The focus of the investigation includes illegal exports of dual-use goods and money laundering.The arrests occurred during searches of private homes and company headquarters.Six people have been…

A 39-year-old German man accused of forming an armed group against COVID-19 measures in 2021 has been arrested in Portugal.The suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, lived in Bavaria and was charged in June by prosecutors.Along with two others, he is accused of forming a criminal organization and an…

A volcanic eruption on Indonesia’s Mount Marapi caught dozens of climbers by surprise over the weekend, killing at least 22, with rescuers continuing to search the dangerous slopes for a missing climber, authorities said Tuesday.Dozens of climbers were near the danger zone when the initial eruption on Sunday spewed thick…

A heartwarming video shows the first day of school for 5-year-old Emilia Aloni after she was kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas terrorists for seven weeks.Emilia, who was freed on Nov. 24, was held hostage in Gaza along with her mother, Danielle. The little girl was spotted in the touching video…