标签： Europe

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli authorities barred senior Catholic clergy from entering Christianity’s revered Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Palm Sunday observances, marking an unprecedented interruption to centuries-old Easter traditions. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Custos of the Holy Land were denied access to the sacred site believed to be Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and burial place.

Police authorities cited operational security concerns stemming from ongoing regional hostilities with Iran, which has targeted Jerusalem with missile attacks since February 28. Official communications emphasized safety limitations including inadequate emergency vehicle access through the Old City’s narrow passages and insufficient shelter capacity.

The Catholic institution condemned the prohibition as “manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate,” noting that restricted Masses had been conducted continuously since conflict initiation. Church representatives had requested permission for a private ceremony limited to religious leaders rather than public congregation.

Farid Jubran, spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate, expressed dismay: “This sacred observance holds profound significance for Christians worldwide. We perceive no legitimate justification for this disruptive intervention.”

Alternative commemorations occurred at St. Savior’s Monastery, which neighbors designated shelter facilities. Cardinal Pizzaballa conducted prayers for peace at the Dominus Flevit Shrine while deliberately avoiding direct reference to the access controversy.

The incident prompted formal diplomatic protests from Italy, where Premier Giorgia Meloni characterized the prevention as “an offense against every community valuing religious freedom.” Italy’s Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s ambassador for clarification while reaffirming its commitment to protecting worship rights.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding Holy Week, pledging to develop security protocols permitting limited access to Christian holy sites. Security measures currently restrict gatherings to 50 persons near certified shelters across Jerusalem’s religious sites, including the Western Wall.

Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for Middle Eastern Christians enduring conflict during his St. Peter’s Square address, though the Vatican declined immediate commentary on the Jerusalem incident.

BERLIN — A humpback whale stranded in Germany’s Baltic Sea continues to fight for survival as rescue efforts face mounting challenges. Marine experts report the cetacean’s condition has significantly worsened, with diminishing prospects for a successful return to the Atlantic Ocean despite multiple intervention attempts this week.

Authorities have established a 500-meter restricted perimeter around the weakened marine mammal near the coastal town of Wismar, allowing the creature space to rest and potentially free itself. Environment Minister Till Backhaus of Mecklenburg-Pomerania stated, “The animal would theoretically possess the capability to navigate back to open waters if it regains strength. However, we must acknowledge its visibly weakened state and apparent illness, potentially including injuries from fishing net entanglement.”

The 12-15 meter whale initially captured national attention when rescue teams employed excavators and boats to generate directional waves, attempting to dislodge it from sandbanks at Timmendorfer Strand beach and Wismar Bay. The operation generated widespread media coverage and public engagement, with Germans following live streams and exchanging updates about the rescue mission.

Scientific observations now indicate concerning behavioral changes. Stefanie Groß of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover’s Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research noted, “The animal demonstrates markedly reduced activity with significantly decreased respiratory rates. It remained unresponsive even during close observation approaches.”

Marine biologists speculate the whale likely entered the Baltic Sea while pursuing herring shoals or during migration, as its characteristics suggest a male specimen. The Baltic’s lower salinity concentration has already caused dermatological issues, and the environment cannot provide adequate nutrition despite whales’ ability to survive weeks without feeding.

Survival depends on navigating approximately 500 kilometers through narrow straits to reach the North Sea and ultimately the Atlantic. Burkard Baschek, director of the German Maritime Museum in Stralsund, characterized the journey as “a real bottleneck with relatively slim success probabilities.”

First spotted in the Baltic on March 3, the whale’s stranding was reported last week, initiating the ongoing rescue operation that now faces increasingly unfavorable odds.

PARIS — French security forces have successfully disrupted a potential terrorist bombing targeting a Bank of America facility in central Paris, according to official statements released Saturday. The operation resulted in one arrest while a second suspect remains at large.

The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) has initiated a formal investigation into multiple terrorism-related charges. These include attempted destruction using incendiary methods, manufacturing of explosive devices, illegal possession and transportation of such materials with malicious intent, and participation in a terrorist conspiracy network.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised the swift response of Paris police units that prevented what he described as ‘a violent act of terrorist nature’ during overnight operations. ‘Our vigilance remains at maximum levels,’ Minister Nuñez emphasized. ‘I commend all security and intelligence services operating under my authority during this complex international situation.’

According to RTL radio sources, the incident unfolded in the early hours of Saturday when police patrols observed two individuals carrying suspicious packages near the Bank of America building in Paris’s 8th arrondissement. One suspect was reportedly attempting to ignite a device using a lighter when intercepted by authorities, enabling their accomplice to flee the scene.

The development occurs amid heightened security measures across France following recent Middle Eastern conflicts. French authorities have intensified protection for Iranian opposition figures and strengthened security around potential targets, including American interests and Jewish community sites, as confirmed by Minister Nuñez earlier this week.

BERLIN — A humpback whale that captivated German national attention with its dramatic rescue from shallow Baltic waters has encountered renewed distress, becoming stranded for the second time within days despite earlier successful intervention efforts.

The marine mammal, measuring approximately 12-15 meters (39-49 feet), initially gained freedom on Friday after complex rescue operations at Timmendorfer Strand beach. Rescuers employed innovative techniques including an excavator to carve an escape channel through the sandbank after conventional methods using coast guard and fire department vessels to generate directional waves proved ineffective.

Temporary success turned to concern when the whale reappeared Saturday approximately 100 kilometers east of its original location near Wismar in Mecklenburg-Pomerania state. Greenpeace confirmed the re-stranding through German news agency dpa, while environmental authorities acknowledged the whale’s return to distress without immediate confirmation of subsequent rescue plans.

Scientific experts speculate navigation error as the probable cause for the whale’s Baltic presence, suggesting either pursuit of herring shoals or typical male migration patterns. The Baltic Sea presents multiple survival challenges for the creature—insufficient salt concentration has already triggered skin disease development, while the ecosystem lacks appropriate nutritional sources for sustained humpback whale survival.

The whale’s only viable survival path requires navigating several hundred kilometers through German and Danish waters to reach the Atlantic Ocean—a journey that grows increasingly improbable with each stranding incident. The situation has evolved into a national conversation piece with Germans exchanging updates and media outlets providing continuous coverage of the marine drama.

A humanitarian catastrophe unfolded in the Mediterranean Sea as twenty-two migrants perished during a desperate six-day journey toward European shores, according to the Greek coastguard. The tragedy occurred when an overcrowded dinghy carrying undocumented migrants encountered severe weather conditions and critical shortages of supplies.

The ill-fated vessel departed from Tobruk in eastern Libya on March 21st, embarking on a route frequently used by human smugglers. After losing navigational bearings and drifting aimlessly for nearly a week without food or water, the craft was finally intercepted 53 nautical miles south of Crete’s coastal city of Ierapetra.

A European border agency vessel conducted rescue operations on Friday, saving twenty-six survivors including one woman and a child. Two survivors required immediate hospitalization in Heraklion, Crete, for emergency medical treatment. Authorities confirmed that twenty-one survivors originated from Bangladesh, four from South Sudan, and one from Chad.

Greek officials have arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, on suspicion of human trafficking operations. Both face serious charges including “illegal entry into the country” and “negligent homicide” as investigations continue.

This incident highlights the ongoing migration crisis affecting southern European nations. Greece and Italy remain primary entry points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean, with most journeys originating from Turkey and North Africa. While summer typically brings calmer seas and increased crossing attempts, this early spring tragedy demonstrates the year-round dangers of irregular migration.

UNHCR statistics reveal the scale of this humanitarian challenge: 41,696 sea arrivals reached Greece in 2025, with over 4,000 already arriving in 2026. The agency documented at least 103 deaths or disappearances in the eastern Mediterranean corridor last year, with December witnessing another tragic incident where seventeen migrants drowned near Crete’s coastline.

Maritime safety experts emphasize that smuggler-operated vessels frequently lack adequate safety equipment, sufficient supplies, and proper navigation systems, creating consistently perilous conditions regardless of seasonal weather patterns.