Europe
Europe
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya flees to Lithuania after two nights of clashes following contested re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years
Italian Senate votes to strip Matteo Salvini of his parliamentary immunity, allows him to be tried for allegedly illegally detaining migrants at sea in August 2019, Salvini says they've got the wrong man if they think they can scare him with a politically-motivated trial
Tayyip Erdogan joins huge crowds on Friday for first prayers at Hagia Sophia in nine decades, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis calls Turkey a troublemaker and the Hagia Sophia conversion an affront to civilization of the 21st century
Dame Vivienne Westwood is suspended 10 feet in the air inside giant birdcage outside the Old Bailey in London in protest against the extradition of Julian Assange, mimicking the plight of the canary in the coal mine
Greece proposes a flat income tax rate of 7% for foreign retirees who transfer their tax residence to Greece, applicable for a decade and any income a person might have, follows a similar initiative introduced previously in Portugal who are set to introduce a 10% tax on foreign-source pension income for non-habitual residents this year
Arson suspected in fire at Nantes Cathedral in France, blaze destroyed stained glass windows and the grand organ but local fire chief says fire has been contained, Macron tweets support for risk-taking firefighters trying to save gothic jewel, the 15th century cathedral was damaged during allied bombing in 1944 and when the wooden roof was damaged in 1972 it was replaced with concrete
Yves Rausch arrested in Oppenau-Raumsbach 2.5 km from the Oppenau city center after five days on the run, 4 guns confiscated (German)
Ryanair plane flying from London Stansted Airport to Oslo lands safely on Gardermoen airport in Norway after receiving bomb threat while in the air, the airline says crew discovered a note that claimed there was a potential security threat on board
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov asks his finance, economy and interior ministers to step down amid nationwide anti-corruption protests, says he will decide at end of the week whether his government will stay until scheduled elections next spring or step down
Poland’s incumbent Andrzej Duda wins presidential election, nearly final results giving him over 51% of the vote while Rafał Trzaskowski's won almost 49%
Poles vote on Sunday in knife-edge presidential election between incumbent Andrzej Duda and liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski that some think may shape country’s future relations with the EU, which have been frayed by the bloc’s attitude to Poland's rule of law
Eurozone officials ready to let Croatia and Bulgaria into the ERM-2 mechanism, a preliminary stage for adopting the euro as their currency in the next three years in first enlargement of the eurozone since 2015
British government to invest GBP 40 million in developing and supporting small nuclear reactor projects, including three advanced modular reactor projects and smaller research, design, and manufacturing projects to create up to 200 jobs
Finnish Air Force changes logotype to remove swastika which has symbolized the organization since 1918 when it received a gifted airplane decorated with blue tetraskelion, the symbol which has hence acquired political connotations is now replaced by golden eagle
Illegal helicopter factory raided by Moldova police, group of Transnistria residents manufactured unlicensed copies of Soviet era Kamov KA-26 for export to ex-USSR countries, organizers face years in prison on charges of preparation to smuggling
Germany restructures elite army force Kommando Spezialkräfte and disbands one of its four combat companies after numerous allegations of far-right extremism among its ranks, Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer says the unit has developed a toxic leadership culture
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson reelected President of Iceland for a second term with 92.2% of the vote, voters quarantined due to possible Covid-19 infection voted at drive-up polling stations holding up a note with the name of the candidate for the stationed poll worker to record
Cambridge University backs faculty member Priyamvada Gopal who tweeted "White Lives Don't Matter" and "Abolish whiteness", says it defends the right of its academics to express their own lawful opinions which others might find controversial and that the attacks on Gopal are totally unacceptable
Serbia to reject EU membership if Belgrade does not receive concessions in return for recognizing Kosovo and dropping attempts to stop it joining UN, President Aleksandar Vučić says resolution of future relationship with the former province is not possible without Moscow’s consent
Greek Coast Guard intercepts migrant boats, transfers the migrants to life rafts with limited maneuvering capabilities, tows them toward Turkey and releases them, according to Der Spiegel
Polish troops guarding the frontier take up positions by chapel in north-eastern Moravia in the Czech Republic stopping Czech visitors and stay for several days until authorities contact Warsaw in what Polish Defence Ministry describes as a misunderstanding
British scouts protect statue of Scout founder Robert Baden-Powell in Dorset after Bournemouth council orders statue to be removed while Dan Davies and man named Stephen sleep in tents by the statue in Poole Quay to guard it overnight
EU wants to introduce more vigorous checks on foreign state-owned or state-backed companies buying European firms to prevent use of unfair subsidies, says EU Antitrust Chief Margrethe Vestager, who has approved more than 2 trillion EUR to be pumped by EU governments into Covid-19-hit companies
ECB approves EUR 600 billion expansion to its stimulus package to a total of EUR 1.35 trillion allowing it to buy up most of new debt euro zone governments are issuing, Germany separately unveiled a EUR 130 billion stimulus package late on Wednesday
Adolf Hitler's birthplace in Austrian town of Braunau am Inn gets GBP 5 million redisign to blend in with the street and turned into a police station in effort to neutralise the house to stop attracting sympathisers and counter-protesters
French scientists identify two chest X-rays from between November 16 and 18 showing symptoms consistent with Covid-19, team of researchers in Colmar examined almost 2,500 X-rays and also discovered 12 cases from December and 16 from January
Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban pays USD 690 in fine for breaking his own Covid-19 restrictions by not wearing a face mask and smoking indoors in the company of several other cabinet members, Orban acknowledged rules must be obeyed by all citizens
IKEA manager in Poland charged with religious discrimination for firing employee who cited the Bible and spoke up against homosexuality on company’s internal website, the human resources manager could face a fine or up to two years in prison
Ukrainian lawmaker Valerii Davydenko found shot dead with a gunshot to the head in the toilet of his office, the former Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food ran as an independent in last year’s parliamentary election
England changes its law for organ donation after death to an opt-out system, underaged, mentally deficient, visitors and newly arrived excluded
Hungary says it does not accept EU Court of Justice's ruling that two Afghan and two Iranian nationals stuck in a transit zone on Hungarian-Serbian border for over a year should be released, will use all legal means to get EU ruling reviewed
Vladimir Putin: Russia is distinct civilization which needs independent high-tech base including AI, genetics, unmanned vehicles and hypersonic weapons, 2 billion USD has been set aside for genetic research and all Russian citizens will have genetic passports by 2025
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says EU might open legal case against Germany after country's constitutional court rules European Central Bank has overstepped its mandate with bond purchases, the Commission claims EU law holds precedence over national regulations
Britain refuses to extend the negotiation deadline on trading terms with the EU which increases the possibility of a no deal Brexit, according to German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, saying there is no common ground on how to shape a comprehensive trade deal
Russian shopping center puts up photo of Adolf Hitler as part of World War II Victory in Europe Day celebration, failed to recognise him without his moustache, prankster sent picture when people were asked to send images of lost soldiers from the war to pay tribute
Poland’s lower house of parliament gives the green light for a presidential election by postal vote, but the timing of the vote remains unclear, opinion polls put President Andrzej Duda, who is an ally of the ruling Law and Justice party, on course for a landslide victory
Deaf Beligians demand transparent face masks as government obliges people to wear masks in public to limit spread of Covid-19, the hearing-impaired argue masks prevent them from lip-reading
Germany’s constitutional court rules national courts have right to decide when European law overrules local law and when it doesn’t, challenging the supremacy of Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice, thought to be aimed at European Central Bank’s bond-buying economic stimulus plans
Hospital in Paris suburb discovers it treated a man who had Covid-19 on December 27 while retesting samples of 24 pneumonia patients from December and January, nearly a month before the government confirmed its first cases
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin self-isolates after testing positive for Covid-19, First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov to temporarily perform his duties, Vladimir Putin says he hopes the 54-year-old Mishutin will continue taking part in drafting economic policies to shore up the pandemic-hit economy
EU Economics Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni says EUR 1.5 trillion in aid is needed quickly to overcome the Covid-19 crisis without the single market breaking apart, is optimistic the goal can be reached via the Multiannual Financial Framework as we live in exceptional times, will address questions regarding the union's Stability and Growth Pact once everything is back to normal
Rioters throw stones, burn cars and shoot fireworks around Paris during the Monday after a 30-year-old Arab motorcyclist was critically injured following a collision with an unmarked police car, several allegations of heavy-handed police treatment of ethnic minorities during the French Covid-19 lockdown
France extends its lockdown until May 11, only one hour trips within 1 km of the home for essential items or medical reasons are permitted and form stating the purpose of the excursion must be carried, President Emmanuel Macron says the country was unprepared for the crisis and that there has been failings and insufficiencies in healthcare systems and elderly care facilities
Portuguese priest celebrates Easter from convertible microcar, Father Nuno Westwood turns sunroof into a pulpit on Sunday to deliver Easter service through his parish on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal has reported 16,585 Covid-19 cases and 504 deaths
String of arson attacks against 5G broadcasting masts across the Netherlands in the past fortnight by radical protesters opposing roll-out of 5G technology, believing it provokes incurable illnesses, similar acts of sabotage previously seen in the UK
Julian Assange tells journalist Vaughan Smith by phone Covid-19 is raging through Belmarsh prison which is said to barely function any more as 150 prison staff members have been forced into self-isolation, Smith says British government carries on with Assange's extradition hearings at a time when he is unable to consult with his lawyers
Russia opens criminal investigation after Czech authorities dismantles statue of Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev who led Red Army forces driving German troops from Czechoslovakia, Konev also played leading role in crushing the 1956 Hungarian uprising and building the Berlin Wall, many in Prague consider him a symbol of decades of Communist rule
Italian mafia hands out food and offers interest-free loans during the Covid-19 crisis, Catanzaro's Head Prosecutor Nicola Gratteri says immediate state measures are needed to prevent mafia control over people's lives, large police presence in Naples' impoverished neighbourhoods where the Camorra has distributed food packages
Malta tells the European Commission it cannot guarantee safety to migrants or resources for mass rescues during the Covid-19 emergency, closes its ports to all illegal migrants
Less than 1% of Austria's population infected with Covid-19, in study testing a representative sample of over 1,500 people, Sebastian Kurz says it disproves idea of herd immunity, 0.33% of population assessed to be acutely infected in early April
Boris Johnson moved to intensive care in St Thomas' Hospital in London with worsening Covid-19 symptoms, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise
Italian politicians replace EU flag with the Italian, Russian or Chinese flag as they join country's outrage at the block for lack of support during Covid-19 crisis, Matteo Salvini says EU has shown itself to be closer to bureaucrats, banks and financial powers
France seize millions of masks and gloves bought from China en route to Spain and Italy, has banned the export of health products according to Mölnlycke managing director Richard Twomey
EU's Home Affairs and Migration Commissioner Ylva Johansson says the EU has to do everything to avoid a Covid-19 outbreak in overcrowded Greek migrant camps, says that the first step should be to immediately isolate vulnerable migrants in hotel rooms or apartments and that eight member states are ready to welcome hundreds of unaccompanied minors, will soon propose a new migration deal that she hopes will be acceptable for all countries
Poland’s lawmakers approve electoral rule change allowing postal voting for senior citizens and those in quarantine or self-isolation in the May 10 presidential election, criticised by opposition parties who want vote to be postponed
Julian Assange denied bail by London court after his lawyers argued Covid-19 poses serious threat to his health in light of his pre-existing conditions, judge cites Assange's past conduct shows he's a flight risk
The Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency announces its Covid-19 vaccine passes first phase of development, expects it to be ready in 11 months, all stages of testing and development said to end by June
Graham Dockery: Covid-19 dismantles the hollow commandments of European liberalism, as borders are closed, human rights and freedoms violated and Merkel's call during the 2015 migration crisis on her EU neighbours to share the burden is replaced by Germany banning exports of protective masks to the same neighbours
British pharmaceutical company Synairgen receives expedited approvals to test drug that could boost the lung function of patients with Covid-19, the company says it contains interferon-beta which is a naturally occurring protein instrumental to body’s antiviral responses
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance says Germany must step up efforts against extremism and that there is strong evidence for extensive racial profiling by German police, commends its warm welcoming of an extraordinarily large number of asylum seekers in 2015 but says it has become increasingly xenophobic with high Islamophobia levels, urges the country to take a stronger stance on the wellbeing of intersex children
Brother of 2017 Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi found guilty of murdering 22 people after an Ariana Grande show, Hashem to receive his sentence at a later date
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire says the government is prepared to use all means including nationalization if necessary to support big companies, welcomes Tuesday's decision to ban short-selling on 92 stocks and says the measure could be extended up to a month, the government is also mobilizing EUR 45 billion in crisis measures and has pledged to guarantee up to EUR 300 billion in new loans to companies
Russia’s Constitutional Court rules constitutional change allowing President Putin to remain in power until 2036 legal, amid accusations in petition signed by 18,000 calling it an unlawful anti-constitutional coup
Germany closes borders with France, Austria and Switzerland from Monday to contain the Covid-19 epidemic and to prevent panic bulk purchases by foreigners, goods and work commuters will still be allowed to cross borders, 5,426 coronavirus cases and 11 deaths in the country according to Sunday's official figures
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe orders closure of all non-essential public locations and businesses from midnight in response to a sharp rise in confirmed Covid-19 cases, from 3,661 to 4,499
Austria sends 2,500 soldiers to protect its border, says it will not even accept ill or unaccompanied child migrants and that they plan helping Greece reinforce its borders, explains that they learned from the mistakes made in 2015 and that they still have 30,000 unemployed asylum seekers
Spain extends ban protecting vulnerable homeowners from eviction and plans to relax the income threshold as well as include all single-parent families, also plans to stop some evictions for non-payment of rent in high-tension markets such as Madrid and Barcelona, measures taken as part of the left-wing coalition pact priority of guaranteeing the right to decent housing
Viktor Orbán says the Hungarian policy against Muslim migration has been a success and now the generally accepted approach in Europe, adds that Hungary will help North Macedonia and Serbia to protect their borders against the 130,000 people who have breached the Greek border and that everyone will be stopped when they reach Hungary
23-year-old Keira Bell who started gender reassignment at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust in London at 16 years of age sues the clinic for giving her experimental puberty-blocking drugs after three one-hour appointments, later had her breasts removed in an operation paid for by the NHS but is now trying to reverse the process, new charity The Detransition Advocacy Network founder Charlie Evans says has been contacted by hundreds of young adults who claim the sex change has not solved their problems
Greece says it has blocked 9,972 illegal entries into the country from Turkey during 24 hours, Turkey says 76,358 immigrants have left the country for Greece, Bulgaria says no migrants have managed to cross their border illegally since Turkey ceased stopping migrants from crossing into Europe, EU's border protection agency Frontex says it has raised the alert level for all Turkish borders
Louvre staff walk out on Coronavirus, management arranges staff hearing with epidemiologist to assuage fears, will be closed until further notice on account of "absence of sufficient personnel", museums currently excluded from the blanket ban on public gatherings announced Saturday, currently 100 confirmed cases of Covid-19 infections in France
Greece says it will "do whatever it takes to protect its borders" after Turkey decided to let migrants through, 4,000 crossing attempts averted in the past 24 hours, according to government spokesman Stelios Petsas
Finance Minister of Finland Katri Kulmuni says the EU should develop its own operating system and its own web browser to reduce its dependence on tech giants, believes the Union should develop AI and 5G mobile networks
At least 52 riot police and 10 protesters injured as protests intensify against migrant camp constructions on Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios, police spokesman says more than 1,000 people were at site earmarked for migrant centre and stones were thrown at officers, 2,000 people took to the Chios streets where eight officers were injured after a group of people burst into their hotel
Heathrow third runway ruled illegal by UK court of appeal as it is not consistent with the government's Paris agreement climate change commitments, PM Boris Johnson has opposed the runway and said in 2015 that he would "lie down in front of those bulldozers and stop the construction", no appeal permission sought
Clashes between police and residents on Greek island on Tuesday as about 500 people attempt to block unloading of heavy machinery to be used to build a migrant detention centre, the closed camp is planned to replace the current open-access Moria camp that was built for less than 3,000 people but is now accommodating more than 18,000 asylum seekers, similar facilities planned for islands Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros
At least 30 injured after car is deliberately ploughed into revellers at a carnival parade in the northern German town of Volkmarsen, police says the perpetrator is a 29-year-old German citizen from the local area and that they don't believe that the incident is "politically motivated", witnesses say the driver raced full throttle and appeared to target children
Slovakia makes tough laws against islam even tougher, raises bar for recognizing religions to ten times the number of existing muslim residents, which among other things stops islamic schools from establishing, country is only one in EU without a single mosque and governing party wants to ensure that none are built in the future
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary sparks row by saying terrorists in general are solo travelling Muslim men and that those should thus be vetted while families with young children should be let through security, Labour MP Khalid Mahmood says O'Leary is encouraging racism and that one can't tell who's Muslim by appearance
36-year-old female IS terrorist Safiyya Amira Shaikh admits plotting to bomb a London hotel and suicide bomb St Paul's Cathedral, was arrested after meeting up with presumed bomb maker who turned out to be an undercover officer, made reconnaissance trips to scope out the bombing locations and shared terrorist documents via the Telegram messaging app
Britain First leader Paul Golding charged with Terrorism act offence for refusing to give police PIN codes after trip to Moscow, Golding says he's not a terrorist and that the charges are an abuse of legislation
Wartime archives from Pope Pius XII pontificate will be made available for public scrutiny on March 2, Pius' political complacency during WWII often censured as tacit approval of Nazi persecution of Jews, officials believe records will not only vindicate Pius XII but show his assiduous efforts to protect the Jewish people, archive spans millions of pages divided into 121 sections