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Ukraine

These Ukrainian soldiers refuse to let war stop their wedding

In a touching act of love, these soldiers tied the knot on a battleground amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Nature

Oil, new, borrowed, blue: Man marries the sea in protest against spill

After 11,000 barrels of crude oil were spilled into Peru’s South Pacific Ocean, an activist has 'married the sea' in a moving ecological protest.

China

IOC chief Thomas Bach calls for peace as 2022 Winter Olympics close

Traditional closing ceremony fireworks marked the end of the most locked-down Games ever, as the IOC president used his address to call for vaccine equity.

Germany

Pomp and punk as Germany's Angela Merkel gets military tribute

A song by East German-born punk singer Nina Hagen was among those requested by the outgoing Chancellor as she was treated to a traditional send-off.

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Culture news

Giant Jewish menorah lights up the start of Hanukkah in Berlin

Hundreds of people in Berlin celebrated the start of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah on Sunday by lighting a giant menorah in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

Portugal

'Portuguese Schindler' honoured in ceremony at National Pantheon

Portugal has paid tribute to Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a diplomat who helped save thousands of people from Nazi persecution during World War II.

World News

Armenia and Azerbaijan mark anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

More than 6,500 people were killed in the six-week conflict for control of the region.

France

'He was family': Macron pays national tribute to Jean-Paul Belmondo

A national farewell was given to Bébel on Thursday with the Hotel des Invalides in Paris turned into an open-air cinema for the occasion.

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Tokyo bids farewell to Paralympics with fireworks display

Tokyo bids a spectacular farewell to the Paralympics with a firework display over the city, as organisers hail the pandemic-delayed Games as the "most important edition" ever

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Spain remembers victims of two violent terrorist attacks in 2017

Four years ago today, a van plowed through pedestrians along Barcelona's Las Ramblas, leaving many dead and more injured.

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UK Prime Minister struggles with umbrella at police memorial

UK Prime Minister struggled with an umbrella in inclement weather during a dedication ceremony on Wednesday for a new police memorial in the English county of Staffordshire

Japan

Olympic flame lighting ceremony marks countdown to 2020 Tokyo Games

Paralympian Aki Taguchi and former tennis player Shuzo Matsuoka handed the Olympic flame over to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth II opens UK parliament but with less ceremony

Queen Elizabeth II has formally opened the UK parliament but without the usual pomp and ceremony

France

France honours police worker stabbed to death near Paris

French authorities said the stabbing inside the police station was an Islamic extremist attack.

USA

Fireworks light up sky as Hollywood stars turn out for Biden-Harris

The nighttime display followed performances by a parade of celebrities who descended on Washington to welcome the new Biden-Harris administration.

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Flags replace people on National Mall for Biden's inauguration

In normal times, people pack out the National Mall to watch the presidential inauguration. Amid the COVID pandemic, flags are taking centre stage.

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Tributes paid to those killed when a car drove into shoppers in Trier

A baby was among five people killed in the incident in western Germany.

France

France pays tribute to 6-year-old wartime resistance hero Marcel Pinte

Known as "Quinquin", and celebrated as France's youngest resistance hero, he carried messages under his shirt to leaders of the movement against Nazi occupation.

Spain

Public backlash in Spain after ministers attend awards ceremony

An awards ceremony hosted by a Spanish news website, El Español, and attended by several Government ministers and party leaders, has drawn widespread criticism in Spain.

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Spain pays tribute to coronavirus victims and frontline workers

"Spain has shown its best spirit. With the passing of time, we will remember that we were an example of civic responsibility, maturity, resistance and commitment to others," said King Felipe VI.