European Union - Page 49

ROME (AP) – When Italy won the Eurovision Song Contest with an over-the-top glam-rock performance, the victory signalled more than just a psychological boost for one of the countries hardest hit by COVID-19: Held before a live, indoor audience of 3,500, the annual kitsch fest confirmed that Europe was returning to a semblance of normalcy that was unthinkable even a few weeks ago.

The president outlined his approach to the economy during a speech in Cleveland on Thursday afternoon,

Trade talks between the European Union and Switzerland have collapsed as a result of Brussels’ demands to include aspects of its Free Movement migration regime in the deal.

The Hugarian government is urging Europe to refocus on the long-running migrant crisis as the Chinese coronavirus pandemic recedes, warning that attempts on its own southern border have tripled on last year. 

Two allies of Angela Merkel have called for Spain and Italy to build more migrant reception centres as arrivals continue to increase. 

European airlines began skirting Belarus on Tuesday after the ex-Soviet nation forced the diversion of an airliner to arrest a journalist.

BRUSSELS (AP) – Western outrage grew and the European Union threatened more sanctions Monday over the forced diversion of a plane to Belarus in order to arrest an opposition journalist in a dramatic gambit that some said amounted to state terrorism or sheer piracy.

(AFP) — Cyprus said Friday it is in a “state of emergency” because of an inflow of Syrian migrants that has flooded its reception centres, appealing for help from the European Union. Cyprus has this week faced a “daily wave of

Ambassadors from member states of the European Union have backed a proposal to allow international travellers to enter Europe under the proviso that they are fully vaccinated.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has condemned “one-sided” statements on Israel from the European Union and declined to agree to a statement calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Residents of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa mobbed and jeered Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during a visit following a massive influx of migrants from Morocco.

Opposition politicians have questioned whether Berlin’s Social Democrat (SPD) Mayor Michael Müller abused his power after he triggered a police operation and search of the home of a woman who had criticised him on social media in actions later deemed unlawful.

BERLIN (AP) – Police raided sites in seven German states on Wednesday as German authorities announced a ban on three groups linked to the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah.

The Church of Sweden has claimed that it is a “trans” church in a letter addressed to transgender people and signed by nearly 1,000 clergy members and others affiliated with the church.

(AFP) — Spain’s prime minister vowed to “restore order” in the North African enclave of Ceuta on Tuesday after a record 6,000 migrants reached its beaches from Morocco, raising diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Rabat.

Authorities in the French city of Lille have launched an investigation into a banner displaying a swastika that appeared at a pro-Palestine rally over the weekend.

LONDON (AP) – Britain’s Brexit minister predicted Monday that relations between the UK and the European Union would continue to be “bumpy” amid tensions over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

MADRID (AP) – At least 5,000 Moroccans, a third of whom were presumed to be minors according to Spanish authorities, swam and used inflatable boats Monday to cross into Ceuta, the largest number of migrant arrivals in a single day into Spain’s enclave in northern Africa.

BERLIN (AP) – Germany’s environmentalist Greens party wants to boost rail travel at the expense of domestic flights to help the country achieve its goal of sharply reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Greens’ candidate for chancellorship in this year’s national

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – German soccer federation president Fritz Keller resigned Monday, nearly a month after he compared one of the organization’s vice presidents to a Nazi-era judge.

BERLIN (AP) – Germany said Monday it is close to an agreement with Namibia on the killings of tens of thousands of people when Germany was the southern African country’s colonial ruler over a century ago.

An Israeli flag hoisted in the city of Solingen was set on fire on Thursday as a wave of antisemitic attacks in Germany is taking place against a backdrop of ongoing conflict in Israel.

A Swedish court has ruled that a non-plastic, biodegradable, reusable bag will still be subject to a tax on plastic bags because it looks too much like real plastic.

German police have arrested several people of “Arabic appearance” following attacks on synagogues in North Rhine-Westphalia, including incidents where suspects burned Israeli flags in front of temples.

(AFP) — Italy is pushing EU partners to revive migrant burden-sharing deals as it seeks to stave off a summertime surge in landings from North Africa, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Wednesday.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) – Slovakia’s health minister says he plans to keep AstraZeneca in the country’s vaccine arsenal, speaking a day after the country suspended use of the shots after a recipient died.

BRUSSELS (AP) – European companies doing business with Iran could face legal troubles if they have terminated their contracts with Iranian banks or firms solely because of fears about possible U.S. sanctions, according to a legal opinion handed down Wednesday by a top EU court advisor.

Brexit leader Nigel Farage has said that the “impact of Brexit is only just beginning”, as French political figure Michel Barnier took a move towards the right and stated he backed a cessation of immigration in France for three to five years.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has condemned a new letter, allegedly authored by active French military personnel, that warns of a potential civil war in France.

France should commit to a three to five-year moratorium on immigration in light of problems such as terrorism, the European Union’s former chief Brexit negotiator has said.

As a party which would be naturally supportive of the Conservative Party, we welcomed David Cameron’s electoral success and the emergence of a Conservative government in 2010, writes Sammy Wilson MP…

ROME (AP) – A top World Health Organization official has strongly denied making false statements to Italian prosecutors about a spiked UN report into Italy’s coronavirus response, doubling down on his assertions in court documents obtained by The Associated Press.

PARIS (AP) – France’s prime minister is proposing tougher and faster punishment for people who attack the police, as the government pays a national tribute to the latest police officer killed in the line of duty.

BRUSSELS (AP) – European Union foreign ministers on Monday debated ways to maintain support for Afghanistan’s beleaguered government after a brutal weekend attack on a girls’ school underscored deep concern that violence will spread as U.S.-led troops leave the country.

Chinese spies could be able to access “sensitive” information in Belgium through investments made into the Liège Airport by the Jack Ma-owned e-commerce giant Alibaba, the country’s justice minister admitted this week.

President Emmanuel Macron turned to rhetoric fit for the Napoleonic era in his latest attempt to deflect blame for French and EU inoculation programme failures, accusing “the Anglo-Saxons” of hoarding vaccines and vaccine ingredients.