Greek coalition survives no-confidence vote

Leader of leftwing opposition Syriza party accuses government of being under foreign control Greece's conservative-socialist coalition government survived a no-confidence motion early on Monday, following a heated three-day parliamentary debate. The motion, tabled by the radical leftwing opposition Syriza party, fell well short of the 151 votes needed to pass, with 124 lawmakers voting in favour ...

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Let's make Spanakopita, for a traditional Greek Easter

AMERICAblog (blog)Let's make Spanakopita, for a traditional Greek EasterAMERICAblog (blog)I'm at mom's for Easter. Usually we call it “Greek Easter,” but as this year “our” Easter and “your” Easter are the same day, it's just “Easter.” My sister typically holds the big family dinner, with a ridiculous(ly good and over-abundant) assortment ...

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Greece assumes EU presidency as anger towards Brussels grows

Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos hopes EU stewardship will show Greece is on the mend and boost its eurozone credentials After years of allowing Athens's central plaza to bear the marks of riot and wrath, the Greek authorities have been tarting up Syntagma square as Greece prepares to take over the rotating presidency of the EU on New Year's Day. Greece's assumption of the role – which comes ...

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AP Photos: In holiest event of Christianity, followers seek hope, peace for troubled regions

by  Associated Press AP Photos: Christians seek hope in Easter events by The Associated Press, Associated Press - 20 April 2014 15:25-04:00

From the splendor of the Vatican to some of the world's most troubled regions, Christians worldwide sought hope Sunday in their religion's holiest event — the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

In Rome, Pope Francis made an Easter plea for peace and dialogue in Ukraine and Syria and for an end to terrorist attacks against Christians in Nigeria. He also called for more attention to the needy and the hungry.

More than 150,000 tourists turned out for the Mass that Francis celebrated under a canopy on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica. So great were their numbers that they overflowed from sprawling St. Peter's Square, which was bedecked with row after row of potted daffodils, sprays of blue hyacinths and bunches of white roses.

This year, Francis noted, the Catholic church's celebration of Easter coincided with that of Orthodox churches, which have many followers in Ukraine. He prayed that God would "enlighten and inspire the initiatives that promote peace in Ukraine, so that all those involved, with the support of the international community, will make every effort to prevent violence."

Thousands of pilgrims observed Easter in the Holy Land, where Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal led Mass at the Holy Sepulcher church in Jerusalem, the site that Christians believe was the scene of the crucifixion and Jesus' rising from the dead.

In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, worshippers prayed and lit candles at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be Jesus' birthplace.

Easter was also celebrated in Gaza, where fewer than 3,000 Christians live among about 1.7 million Muslims. Christian communities in the Holy Land, as well as elsewhere in the Middle East, have been declining in recent years because of regional turmoil.

In war-torn Syria, Greek Orthodox Patriarch John Yazigi called on both sides to end the practice of "intimidation, displacement, extremism and takfiri mentality," a term for Islamic extremists. Such radicals have become increasingly influential among Syrian rebels, attacking Christians — who they see as infidels — partly as punishment for their support of President Bashar Assad.

High above the Earth, astronauts aboard the International Space Station got a special Easter treat: a cargo ship full of supplies.

"Gentlemen, the Easter Dragon is knocking at the door," NASA's Mission Control told the crew, referring to the name of the cargo ship, as the capsule was bolted into place.

The craft, launched by the California-based SpaceX company, held more than 2 tons of food, spacewalking gear and experiments, including mating fruit flies, a little veggie hothouse and legs for the resident robot. NASA also packed family care packages for the six spacemen.

Here are some photos from Easter observances around the world:

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News Topics: General news, Christianity, Religious strife, Easter, Eastern Orthodox Church, Holidays, Roman Catholicism, Space industry, Religion, Social affairs, Occasions, Lifestyle, Orthodox Christianity, Aerospace and defense industry, Industrial products and services, Industries, Business

People, Places and Companies: Pope Francis, Bashar Assad, Syria, Ukraine, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Europe

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Greek Orthodox, Catholic bishops celebrate Easter

BBC NewsGreek Orthodox, Catholic bishops celebrate EasterWorcester TelegramWorcester Roman Catholic Bishop Robert J. McManus , left, speaks as His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, center, stands at the alter in St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester during Easter Agape Service today. (T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR).'Firework battle' as Greek churches mark EasterBBC NewsGreek Orthodox to gather to celebrate PaschaLancaster Newspapers'Battle of the Churches' as Greek island celebrates EasterITV NewsThe Canberra Times -Niles Herald-Spectatorall 51 news articles »

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Seven injured by fireworks on Easter Day in Greece

Seven injured by fireworks on Easter Day in GreeceGlobal TimesThe use of fireworks to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ is a centuries-old tradition in Greece, but almost each year the country reports casualties caused by fireworks on Easter Day. Over 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide were celebrating ...and more »

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Seven Injured by Easter Fireworks

Seven people were injured by fireworks on the Aegean Sea island of Santorini in Greece on Sunday as the country was celebrating

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