The Istanbul-based Orthodox patriarch on Saturday signed the formal decree confirming the creation of an independent Ukrainian church, marking a break with the Russian church that has angered Moscow.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the leading authority in Orthodox Christianity, signed the decree known as Tomos at a ceremony in Istanbul.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko were on hand to witness the ceremony.
"Dear Ukrainians, this is a historic event! This is a great day!" Poroshenko said as he thanked the Orthodox patriarch.
"Once more, words of great gratitude in the name of the Ukrainian people, in the name of our nation to Your Holiness... It took us a very long time to get here."
The Ecumenical Patriarchate had first agreed to recognise the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in October. Then in December a historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev created the independent body.
The Russian ...

Orthodox patriarch signs decree on independent Ukraine church

PTI Automatic

The UK government has updated its travel advisory to India, warning British citizens to remain vigilant and avoid large public gatherings, following violent protests in Kerala over the issue of women entering the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which regularly updates its advice for travel to different parts of the world, said on Friday that any British citizens planning to travel to Kerala should monitor media reports.
"There have been violent protests in some towns and cities in Kerala over the issue of women accessing the Sabarimala temple. Some public services have been disrupted in the wake of clashes between police and protesters," the FCO advisory said.
"If you are in Kerala or due to travel there, you should monitor media reports closely, remain vigilant and avoid large public gatherings," it noted.
The rest of the travel advisory remains broadly unchanged, advising visitors to India to "avoid protests or large gatherings", follow the ..

UK updates travel advisory to India after violent protests erupt in Kerala over Sabarimala issue

Russia said Saturday it wanted an explanation from Washington over the arrest of one of its nationals, as Moscow continued to hold a US citizen for alleged espionage.
FBI agents arrested Dmitry Makarenko on December 29 on Saipan, a US island in the western Pacific and he had since been taken to Florida, a Russian foreign ministry statement said.
It did not detail the accusations against him but said the US authorities had failed to inform them of his arrest and they had only found out from his family.
Meanwhile, a top Russian diplomat on Saturday said the case of Paul Whelan, the US national detained in Moscow, was very serious.
Whelan, a security official at a US auto parts company and former US Marine, was arrested on December 28 "while carrying out an act of espionage", the FSB security service announced.
"The situation around Mr Whelan is very serious," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told RIA Novosti news agency.
"He came to Russia, as we understand, to take measures to ...

Moscow demands answers after FBI arrests Russian

A prominent Sudanese journalist who had been detained for expressing his support for anti-government protests has been freed, he told AFP on Saturday.
Faisal Mohamed Salih had been arrested on Thursday from his office by agents of the country's powerful National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
Salih, recipient of the 2013 Peter Mackler Award for ethical and courageous journalism, said security agents had taken him in for questioning over his views about the protests that erupted across Sudan on December 19.
"I told them that I supported the protesters as they were demonstrating peacefully, but I was not part of any group organising these protests," Salih said.
He said he had expressed his views on several regional and international television networks in recent weeks.
"The officers wanted to know my views, and after a lot of chatting they released me at midnight," Salih said a few hours after his release.
Salih was recognised by the Peter Mackler Award -- which is named ...

Sudanese journalist detained for backing protests freed

An Iranian arbitration body gave its approval on Saturday to an anti-money laundering bill seen as crucial to maintaining international trade and banking ties, the official IRNA news agency reported.
"The bill on amending the law to counter money laundering was approved with certain changes and will be sent to the parliament speaker to be communicated to the government," Expediency Council member Gholamreza Mesbahi-Moghadam told IRNA.
The Expediency Council settles disputes between parliament, which approved the bill last year, and the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, which vets all legislation and had rejected it.
Conservatives have argued that new legislation on money laundering and terrorist financing will provide Western powers with leverage over Iran's economy and how it funds regional allies such as Lebanon's Hezbollah.
But the government of President Hassan Rouhani says the laws are needed to meet demands set by by the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF), ..

Iran approves anti-money laundering bill

Three people died Saturday in a fire in an apartment block in northeastern Spain and at least 16 others were injured, including a baby boy who is critical, firefighters said.
The cause of the blaze in Badalona was as yet unknown as was the identity and ages of the three victims, a spokeswoman for firefighters in the region of Catalonia told AFP.
Among the injured are a baby boy, who is critical, and two adults in serious condition, the firefighting department said on its Twitter feed.
The blaze had been extinguished by late morning, leaving the 10-storey building streaked with large black marks.

Three die in Spain building fire, baby critical

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari believes the calf injury that Gareth Bale sustained against Villarreal on Wednesday is not serious.
Bale will undergo tests on Saturday to diagnose the extent of the problem after being forced off at half-time at the Estadio de la Ceramica, where Real Madrid drew 2-2.
"We think the injury is not too serious," Solari said at a press conference on Saturday. "He will go through tests today and we all hope he is back with us quickly." Expectations were high for Bale this season following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer but his rhythm has been disrupted by fitness issues.
He has made 22 appearances for Real this term but played 90 minutes only five times.
Bale's absence could mean a reprieve for Isco, who has been out of favour since Solari took charge but replaced the Welshman against Villarreal.  Real Madrid host Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday and, speaking ahead of the game, Solari seemed positive about the prospect of Isco coming ...

Bale injury not expected to be serious - Solari

The Indian football team has been in an impressive run in form in recent months but head coach Stephen Constantine Saturday warned his players not to underestimate Thailand in their campaign-opening match of the Asian Cup here Sunday.
India, taking part in their fourth Asian Cup and first since 2011, have come into the continental showpiece after creditable draws against China and Oman in the lead-up to the tournament. They lost narrowly (1-2) to Jordan in their third big match ahead of the Asian Cup.
These results were preceded by a 13-match unbeaten run in international friendly matches and the Intercontinental Cup at home last summer.
But, Constantine asked his players to just focus on giving their best in the tournament.
"Thailand are a very good side and they are not to be underestimated at all. We're in no position to underestimate anybody. We have to take one game at a time," he said ahead of Sunday's crucial match.
"We'll give everything we have as we have continued to do in ..

We're in no position to underestimate any opponent: Constantine

An Indian student died after falling from cliffs in Ireland while clicking a 'selfie', media reports said.
The man, whose identity was not immediately known, is said to be an Indian national studying in Dublin, The Irish Sun reported.
He was visiting the popular tourist attraction on Friday afternoon when the incident happened south of the main viewing areas near the visitor centre.
There were hundreds of people when the man fell from the Cliffs.
Search and rescue officials were mobilised as soon as an alarm was raised.
His body was recovered with the help of a helicopter.
He was pronounced dead at around 5.35 PM (local time), the report said.
Officials interviewed a number of eye-witnesses and confirmed that at this stage, they are treating the incident as a tragic accident.
"There is nothing to suggest at this stage that this was anything other than a tragic accident. Initial indications are, having taken statements from a number of people, that the victim was taking a selfie and ...

Indian student fall from cliff while taking selfie in Ireland; dies

The father of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex after her wedding to Prince Harry, on Saturday made another emotional plea for the actress-turned-royal to make contact with him.
Thomas Markle, a former Hollywood lighting director, has not heard from his daughter or son-in-law since their wedding in May last year and in a new interview from his home in Rosarito, Mexico, he told 'The Sun' that he will keep reaching out and probably get "louder".
"It's like a dream that has turned into a nightmare. The royals and Meghan can help end this nightmare by simply giving me a call. To this day, I cannot think of anything I've done to deserve how I'm being treated now," the 74-year-old said.
"I've been a good father I've done nothing wrong. Axe murderers kill 19 people and their daughters still come and visit them in prison. It's just incomprehensible for Meghan to treat me this way," he said.
In reference to Harry, he said he is looking forward to their first meeting and urged his son-in-law 

Meghan Markle's father makes another emotional plea for contact

Five people were killed after a scaffolding made of bamboo collapsed in eastern China's Fujian province on Saturday, local authorities said.
The municipal government of Putian city said five people were also injured after the scaffolding crashed causing workers to fall at a house under construction in the village of Keshan.
Four people died on the spot while others injured in the incident were sent to hospital, where another person died, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

5 killed in scaffolding collapse in China

Police in California on Saturday said three people were killed and four were injured in a shooting at a bowling alley near Los Angeles.
Sergeant Ronald Harris of the Torrance Police Department confirmed to AFP that officers responded at 11:54 pm on Friday to reports of gunfire at Gable House Bowl.
He added all seven victims were male. Three were pronounced dead at the scene, with two others taken to hospital.
Witnesses told The Los Angeles Times there had been a fight at the gaming complex.
In a tweet posted shortly after midnight, the Torrance Police Department had warned people to "please stay away from the area."
Torrance, a coastal city, is located around 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast of downtown Los Angeles in the South Bay region.
According to health authorities, nearly 40,000 people died in the United States as a result of firearms in 2017 -- a figure that includes suicides.

Three dead, four injured in California shooting: police

Firefighters in Spain say that three people have been killed and more have been injured after a fire broke out in an apartment building in a town near Barcelona.
Firefighters for the northeastern region of Catalonia say that the blaze on Saturday also left one baby in critical condition and two adults in serious condition.
Another 13 people needed treatment.
The fire occurred in a 10-story apartment building in Badalona, a large town just north of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast.
Firefighters say they have the flames under control.
They have not said what caused the blaze.

Fire kills 3 in apartment building in northeastern Spain

Underdogs India will look at their impressive results in recent months for inspiration when they open their AFC Asian Cup football campaign against Thailand here Sunday.
With the continental showpiece event being expanded to 24 teams for the first time from the earlier 16, the Indian side have a real chance to make it to the knock-out rounds, which will be a first after their runners-up finish in 1964.
Both in 1984 and 2011, India were knocked out of the tournament at the group stage.
The two top sides from each of the six groups made up of four countries as well as four third-place teams will advance to the Round of 16.
India, playing in their fourth Asian Cup, are entering the tournament on the back of a goal-less stalemates against World Cup-winning Italian coach Marcello Lippi's China and Oman in the lead-up to the tournament. They lost narrowly (1-2) to Jordan in their third big match ahead of the Asian Cup.
These results were preceded by a 13-match unbeaten run in international .

India face Thailand in AFC Asian Cup campaign opener

Pakistani police say a car bomb has exploded in a Peshawar neighbourhood wounding three people and damaging several shops.
Officer Dost Mohammad says the explosion Saturday took place outside a mosque in the Kali Bari area of the city.
He says a woman was among the wounded, who were rushed to a nearby hospital.
Mohammad said the area was nearly deserted at the time of the early morning blast.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is surrounded by lawless tribal regions that have served as a sanctuary for Islamic militants for decades.
Militants have targeted the city for years.

Car bomb explosion wounds 3 in northwest Pakistan

An Afghan official says at least seven border police officers were killed when their checkpoint came under attack by insurgents in southern Kandahar province.
Aziz Ahmad Azizi, spokesman for the provincial governor in Kandahar, says four other officers were wounded in the attack in the Spin Bolduk district.
He added that 16 insurgents were killed and 11 others wounded in an ensuing battle that took place over several hours late Friday.
The Taliban did not immediately comment on the attack but they have been carrying out near-daily attacks targeting Afghan forces, despite stepped-up efforts by the United States to find a negotiated end to the country's 17-year war.

Afghan official says insurgents stormed checkpoint, 7 killed

Pakistan has initiated a process of seeking the extradition of its former envoy to the US Hussain Haqqani through the foreign office on embezzlement charges after it failed to get it through Interpol, a media report said on Saturday.
The Supreme Court had issued warrants to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce Haqqani, a prominent critic of Pakistan's military and political leadership, before it in January last year, but the Interpol has refused to issue an arrest warrant against him.
Haqqani, 62, was Pakistan's Ambassador to the US from May 27, 2008 to November 22, 2011, which is considered as one of the most tumultuous period of the US-Pakistan relationship.
As part of the extradition process, Pakistan's Interior ministry has also transferred a 355-page extradition dossier to the foreign office.
"The Ministry of Interior has transferred a 355-page extradition dossier to the Foreign Office, which will be sent to the State Department for Mr Haqqani's extradition," the ...

Pak Govt seeking extradition of Haqqani from US on embezzlement charges

Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada struck early blows as Pakistan started their second innings on the third day of the second Test against South Africa at Newlands on Saturday.
Facing a first innings deficit of 254 runs, Pakistan were 37 for two at lunch, still needing 217 runs to make South Africa bat again.
Steyn had Imam-ul-Haq caught at third slip for six in the fourth over, with the batsman playing an ambitious drive.
Rabada, coming as first change in the 11th over, dismissed Azhar Ali for six with his first delivery.
Azhar, who fell victim to short balls from Duanne Olivier in his first three innings of the series, went back on his stumps to a full delivery which cut back and kept low, trapping him leg before wicket.
Shan Masood, promoted to opening the batting in place of the struggling Fakhar Zaman, again looked the most competent of the Pakistan top-order batsmen as he reached 18 not out at lunch.
Earlier, Mohammad Amir took three wickets for 19 runs as South Africa were bowled out 

Steyn, Rabada strike in second innings

Bangladesh police on Saturday found the bullet-ridden bodies of two alleged Rohingya drug dealers in a southeastern coastal town notorious for its connection with the Myanmar meth trade.
Teknaf town police chief Prodip Kumar Das said the bodies were found lying next to a highway beside the sea and some 10,000 meth pills were recovered from their possession.
"Both of these refugees were... notorious drug dealers in the region. We're suspecting they were killed in a gang fight over sharing profits," he said.
The police said they were investigating the deaths but did not provide further information on the two men.
Over 720,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state since August 2017 and joined some 300,000 refugees already living in squalid camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.
Bangladeshi authorities say local kingpins use the refugees -- trapped in poverty and unlikely to return home any time soon -- to transport "yaba" pills ...

Two alleged Rohingya drug dealers found dead in Bangladesh

Russia's space agency on Saturday demanded an explanation after NASA put off a planned visit to the United States by Russia's controversial space chief.
Dmitry Rogozin, a firebrand nationalist politician known for his anti-Western rhetoric, was set to visit the US in February but NASA said Friday that it was postponing his visit indefinitely.
Rogozin, appointed by President Vladimir Putin in May last year and previously a deputy prime minister, is blacklisted and under US sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Russia's Roscosmos space agency said in a statement that "it expects official explanations of NASA's position" and stressed that Rogozin's visit was planned "in accordance with an invitation received earlier." It added a veiled warning that preparations for talks on cooperation with the US on the ISS programme and deep space exploration are "so far not suspended."
The row comes as space exploration remains one of the few areas where Washington and Moscow continue active ...

Russia demands explanation over US snub to space chief

Japanese star Kei Nishikori was in superb form as he demolished Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Brisbane International on Saturday.
The 29-year-old gave his French opponent no chance as he put on a commanding all court display to advance to the final for the second time in three years.
After his impressive straight sets quarter-final win over Grigor Dimitrov, Nishikori said he had set his sights on returning to the world's top five after falling to 39 last April due to a wrist injury at the end of 2017 that required time away from the tour.
And he showed all the qualities of a top five player in his 66-minute demolition at the Pat Rafter Arena.
He only served two aces compared with the 11 sent down by Chardy, but Nishikori returned superbly and pressured the Frenchman's serve throughout, breaking him twice in each set.
Nishikori also moved around the court well, his speed not noticeably affected by the injuries that hampered him last year.
"Everything was working well 

Page 3666 - PTI Stories National