Foreign News
Pope meets refugees, urges Hungary to show charity to all
Pope Francis thanked Hungarians for welcoming Ukrainian refugees and urged them to help anyone in need, as he called for a culture of charity in a country where the prime minister has justified firm anti-immigration policies with fears that migration threatens Christian culture in Europe.
On the second day of a visit to Hungary, Pope Francis met refugees and poor people at St. Elizabeth’s church – named for a Hungarian princess who renounced her wealth to dedicate herself to the poor as a follower of the pope’s namesake, St Francis of Assisi.
The refugees included some who had fled to Hungary from neighbouring Ukraine, seeking safety from Russia’s war.
(Aljazeera)
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party has won Sunday’s election in a landslide, according to preliminary results.
The People’s National Congress (PNC) won 70 out of 93 seats to take full control of parliament, local media reports said early on Monday. The outcome is likely to accelerate the country’s shift away from traditional ally India in favour of China.
(Aljazeera)
German authorities say they have arrested three people on suspicion of spying for China.
The main suspect, named as Thomas R, is accused of spying for the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS).
Prosecutors allege his network operated a front company which co-operated with German research organisations.
The accused are said to have collected sensitive information, including designs for an engine suitable for use on combat ships, to pass on to China.
In a separate development, two men in the UK were charged with spying for China after being accused of providing information which could be “useful to an enemy”, according to police.
In the German case, prosecutors allege Thomas R obtained “innovative technologies for military use” on behalf of an MSS employee. They also allege he used a company – run by the two other suspects, named as Herwig F and Ina F – which contacted people working in science and research.
A first project regarding the operation of high-performance marine engines for use on combat ships is alleged to have already been completed.
At the time of their arrest, the accused were allegedly in further negotiations on other projects that could be of use for China’s navy, prosecutors said.
They added that the arrests took place in the western German states of Hesse and North-Rhine-Westphalia.
The three suspects are also accused of exporting a laser to China, which is banned under EU “dual use” regulations. The rules prohibit sending goods which can be used for military and civilian purposes to certain countries.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the arrests of the three suspects in Germany were a “great success for our counterintelligence”. “The area affected in the current case – innovative technologies from Germany that can be used for military purposes – is particularly sensitive,” she added.
The arrests come a week after Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Beijing, where he raised issues including China’s support for Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.
They also come days after two alleged spies, suspected of planning to sabotage German military aid for Ukraine, were arrested in the southern German state of Bavaria. The two men, described as dual German-Russian nationals, were detained on suspicion of spying for Russia.
(BBC)
A man has set himself on fire outside the court in Manhattan where former President Donald Trump’s hush-money trial is being held.
After dousing himself in a liquid, he threw pamphlets in the air in front of news media gathered nearby.
The man’s motive is unknown and police responded to the scene.
Mr Trump was inside the building to attend jury selection, where he has had a security detail, but the former president left during the incident.
Emergency officials said that court security had not been breached in the incident. The case, which had just completed alternate jury selection, resumed later in the afternoon. Opening statements are expected to begin on Monday.
In a news conference, investigators said they had received a 911 emergency call at around 13:30 local time (18:30 BMT) telling them that a man had lit himself on fire
They identified him as Maxwell Azzarello, who had arrived in New York from his home in Florida sometime in the past week. He has no criminal record in New York, and his family in Florida were unaware that he had travelled to the city.
New York Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said Azzarello was seen “shuffling around” in the park before reaching into a bag for the flammable liquid and pamphlets. The pamphlets were “propaganda-based”, said Chief Maddrey, adding that they were regarding a “conspiracy theory”. The fuel appears to be an alcohol-based cleaning product.
There was a massive police presence outside the courthouse because of the trial, and officers quickly ran into the park shouting for a fire extinguisher. Azzarello was carried away on a stretcher, his body very badly burned. The police said he was taken to a hospital burn centre in critical condition.
Witness Julie Berman told reporters: “It was hot, and it didn’t make a lot sense. The whole thing happened so fast… it took me like 20 seconds to figure out what was going on.”
Another witness told BBC News that the scene was something “I never wanted to see”.
NYPD investigators were later seen collecting pamphlets that Mr Azzarello had scattered before self-immolating. They have deemed the area safe.
Investigators are still interviewing witnesses and said he didn’t appear to say anything before setting fire to himself.
Three NYPD officers and one court officer had minor injuries after helping to extinguish the blaze. Officials said they will now reassess security outside the court.
(BBC)
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