Dutch PM: Red line drawn because of Turkey’s ‘blackmail’

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says he was forced to keep two Turkish ministers from traveling within the Netherlands and to bar them from campaigning among Turkish voters because Ankara had threatened sanctions against his government. The prime minister says he was shocked to see one of the ministers try to get to a Rotterdam rally by car after the government had made clear she was not welcome.

The Latest: Pro-Turkey protest outside Rotterdam consulate

The Dutch government on Saturday withdrew landing permission for the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s aircraft, draw… . The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a visit of the booth of Turkey at the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

Songs Of Praise to be produced by independent companies for BBC

Avanti has previously worked with music stars like Katherine Jenkins and Bryn Terfel, while Nine lives Media specialises in making documentaries such as Dispatches and Panorama. Avanti Media Joint CEO, and Songs of Praise Series Executive Producer, Emyr Afan, said: “I am delighted that Avanti, in partnership with Nine Lives Media, has been trusted with the Nation’s favourite and most important BBC religious series, Songs of Praise “.

Netherlands cancels landing permission for Turkish minister

The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu laughs during a visit of the booth of Turkey at the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. . The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a visit of the booth of Turkey at the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

Netherlands cancels landing permission for Turkish minister

The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu laughs during a visit of the booth of Turkey at the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. . The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a visit of the booth of Turkey at the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

The Latest: Dutch government frowns on Cavusoglu visit plans

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, standing at lectern, delivers a speech on Europe ahead of an EU summit in Brussels at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 9, 2017. In this photo taken with reflections in windows of the visitors tribune German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech on Europe ahead of an EU summit in Brussels at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 9, 2017.

Music group youngsters to perform at St Patrick’s event in Whitnash

Irish music and dancing group Comhaltas’ Leamington branch members will perform at an event to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Whitnash on Friday March 17. The event, including traditional music and dancing displays, will take place at the Plough and Harrow pub in Whitnash Road for the second year running with the entertainment starting at 5pm and going on until 9pm. Over the last few years, the Irish music group have made it through the finals of the All Britain Fleadh, and onto the All Ireland finals in Sligo and Ennis.

With economy up, crime down, why are the Dutch discontent?

Firebrand anti Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders answers question from the media during an election campaign stop outside De Telegraaf newspaper buildings in Amsterdam Netherlands, Sunday, March 5, 2017. Wilders said he would ban Turkey’s entire Cabinet from visiting the Netherlands in coming weeks to prevent ministers campaigning here for a referendum on changing Turkey’s constitution.

Czar sculpture in Crimea reportedly shedding tears45 minutes ago

Russian news reports say curious and pious people are visiting a bust of the last czar in the Crimean capital after reports spread that the sculpture appeared to be weeping. The bust of Nicholas II was erected near the Crimean prosecutor’s office in Simferopol in 2016, two years after Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine.

Who shares Cyprus’ growing air travel market ?

Some 9.3 million travellers are expected to use the airports at Larnaca and Paphos this year, a 3.6% increase on 2016, which had in turn been a record-breaking year. Last year saw an 18% increase, translating to 1.37 million passengers using the airports, an 18% rise in comparison to 2015.

Iranians celebrate 2nd Oscars win for Farhadi

Hundreds of Iranians gathered Friday at Tehran Cinema Museum to celebrate Asghar Farhadi’s recent Academy Awards win for best foreign language film. In his short speech, Farhadi said the film was not a pre-planned project but, he added, ” was not supposed to be made at all.

Ancient human tree cultivation shaped Amazon landscape

Ancient indigenous peoples had a far more profound impact on the composition of the vast Amazon rainforest than previously known, according to a study showing how tree species domesticated by humans long ago still dominate big swathes of the wilderness. Researchers said on Thursday many tree species populating the Amazon region appear to be abundant because they were cultivated by people who populated the area before Europeans arrived more than five centuries ago.

Suspend visa-free EU travel for US citizens, MEPs say

United States citizens should be denied visa-free access to the European Union before summer because Washington does not allow some EU nationals to enter there without visa, EU lawmakers said in a vote today . The European Parliament vote is set to put pressure on the European Commission, the EU’s executive, to enforce a one-year suspension as a tit-for-tat measure for Washington’s denial of visa-free access to citizens of Poland, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria, all members of the 28-country bloc.

$65 flights to Europe offered from Conn, NY

If you act quickly, you can get one of Norwegian Air’s heavily discounted $65 flights to Europe to promote its new regular trans-Atlantic service. The discounted flights that went on sale Thursday are from such airports as Bradley International in Windsor Locks and Newburgh-Stewart in New York.

Strike closes Acropolis, ancient sites in Greece

Tourists stand on a hill under ancient Acropolis hill during a 24-hour strike by archaeological guards demanding unpaid wages and the recruitment of additional employees in Athens, Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. Greece has been struggling for months to conclude negotiations with its creditors on spending cuts and reforms demanded by European creditors and the International Monetary Fund as part of its third bailout program.

The US Department of Justice said Kamen had lived in Athens, Georgia

Professor Henry Kamen, a renowned expert on Spanish history, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the offence dating back to 2014. According to court documents, the widely published author, who currently lives in Barcelona, possessed pornographic images of children under 12. The US Department of Justice said in a statement: “A federal grand jury indicted Henry Kamen for possession of child pornography.

300m to make train company more reliable

The Transport Secretary confirmed that A 300 million will improve resilience across the network and will contribute towards improving the reliability of areas known to cause delays. Mr Dowden said: “This is important progress in my ongoing campaign to bring about a better service for passengers between Radlett and Elstree & Borehamwood and London.

UK courts Saudi spenders with new tourism office in Riyadh

The British ambassador to Saudi Arabia , Simon Collis, has expected a rise in joint investment projects between Riyadh and London, hoping the number of Saudi visitors to the United Kingdom would surge after the British Tourism Authority inaugurated its first office in Saudi Arabia. The diplomat told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Gulf countries have always been an important source for the British tourism economy.

Young P.E.I. band will perform for Swedish royals

A young folk band from Rustico will travel to Sweden and perform for their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the famous VASA museum in Stockholm on February 21. Rustico’s Ten Strings and a Goatskin will travel to Sweden on Feb. 21 to perform for King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the famous VASA museum in Stockholm. Governor General David Johnston requested the bilingual trio of Jesse Periard, Caleb Gallant and Rowen Gallant perform during “The friends of Canada” event that will also include Canadian artists such as Cirque du Soleil.

13 hospitalized after bus crash of US band Dillinger Escape

A police spokeswoman in Poland says 13 people have been injured after a truck rammed into the bus carrying American band The Dillinger Escape Plan to a concert in Krakow. Aneta Wlazlowska from the police in Radomsko said Sunday that band members were not seriously hurt but were taken for tests at the local hospital.

Beautiful Ballilogue: Cottage chic in one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets

There’s a fresh log on the woodburner, a bottle of Villa Maria chilling in the fridge, and I’m wrapped in a soft cashmere throw enjoying a good natter with my friend. Safely tucked behind a balcony in the open-plan living room, our toddlers have played in the garden outside, built a train track around the coffee table, and are now curled up in a designer swivel chair watching Finding Dory on the DVD player.

PM Szydlo flown to Warsaw after car crash in southern Poland

In this Tuesday Feb. 7, 2017 photo, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo arrives at a press conference. Szydlo was in a car wreck on Friday that involved a young driver in a Fiat 500 hitting her car from the side and was being checked out in a hospital, officials and news reports said, adding she was not badly hurt.