Europe

The EU on Tuesday told Turkey to reverse plans to open up the Cypriot ghost town of gr, announced during a controversial visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the divided island. The 27-nation bloc, which includes the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, condemned “Turkey’s unilateral steps and the unacceptable …

A trial opened in Vatican City on Tuesday for 10 defendants, including a once-powerful cardinal, in a case based on a sprawling investigation of the allegedly criminal management of the Holy See’s portfolio of assets, including donations by countless Catholics. Among the defendants is Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a longtime …

French authorities said Tuesday they are investigating a gasoline bomb attack that caused minor damage to the Cuban Embassy. The Paris prosecutor’s office said an investigation is under way. No one has been arrested or claimed responsibility, and no one was hurt, according to police. The French Foreign Ministry condemned …

Cuba has blamed the United States for an attack on its embassy in the French capital of Paris, saying Washington encourages such violent actions against the Latin American country. The Cuban Embassy building was attacked by Molotov cocktails in the French capital on Monday. According to firefighting officials, “the devices, …

The European Union on Tuesday called for a speedy return to political stability in Tunisia after the country plunged into turmoil following the president’s ousting of the prime minister. “The European Union is following developments in Tunisia with the greatest attention,” the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in …

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that 70 percent of adults in the bloc have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, 57 percent of over-18s are now fully vaccinated across the 27 nations, she said in a statement. “These figures put Europe among the …

At least one person was killed and 16 injured after an explosion at a chemical park in the western German city of Leverkusen on Tuesday, the site’s operator said, with four people still missing. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the death of an employee,” Chempark operator …

New legislation extends the use of health certificates in daily life, introduces mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers. France’s parliament has approved legislation to make COVID passes a key part of daily life and vaccinations mandatory for health workers amid a surge in infections across the country. Monday’s move means people …

Wildfires burned in regions across southern Europe on Monday, fuelled by hot weather and strong winds, as some northern countries cleaned up after a weekend of torrential rain and flooding. In Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said firefighters had battled around 50 fires during the past 24 hours and it …

Russia rejected what it called a hostile Japanese diplomatic protest following a visit by the Russian prime minister to a disputed island chain on Monday, saying he could go wherever on Russian territory he wanted. A top Japanese government spokesman said earlier on Monday that Tokyo was lodging an official …

The Russian prime minister on Monday visited the Pacific islands claimed by Japan and said the government is considering setting up a special economic zone there. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is touring Russia’s Far East and Siberia this week, and the Kuril Islands were his first stop on Monday. Mishustin …

Russia’s media regulator has blocked 49 websites linked to jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, his ally said Monday, as pressure mounts on the movement of the opposition leader ahead of parliamentary elections in the autumn. Navalny, President Vladimir Putin’s most vocal domestic critic, was arrested in January after he returned …

Italy asked European states on Sunday to send firefighting aircraft to help tame fires that have swept across parts of the island of Sardinia, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of people. Italy’s Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Facebook the country’s civil protection authority had issued the request and …

Ten people have lost their lives and at least 44, including children, have been injured, after a bus traveling from Germany swerved off the highway in Croatia after the driver apparently briefly fell asleep. The incident took place early on Sunday morning. The bus was traveling along a highway linking …

Countries across Europe have begun to tighten borders and implement stricter quarantine requirements as governments seek to prevent the spread of COVID-19 across the continent as the fast-spreading Delta variant continues to paralyze nations. Authorities in Malta have barred entry to unvaccinated travelers, while Germany has targeted people arriving from …

French President Emmanuel Macron appealed for national unity and mass vaccination to fight the resurgent coronavirus and lashed out at those fueling anti-vaccine sentiment and protests. About 160,000 people protested around France on Saturday against a special COVID-19 pass for restaurants and mandatory vaccinations for health workers. Many marchers shouted …

Greek police used teargas and water cannon to disperse people who had gathered in central Athens on Saturday to protest against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. More than 4,000 people rallied outside the Greek parliament for a third time this month to oppose mandatory inoculations for some workers, such as healthcare and …

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff said on Sunday he fears the number of new coronavirus cases in Germany could soar to 100,000 a day in about two months unless many more people get vaccinated and those who refuse may face restrictions. His suggestion quickly hit resistance from several senior …

Protesters have staged huge rallies against COVID-19 restrictions in several countries around the world as governments move to make vaccination mandatory. In France, demonstrators held rallies Saturday to protest the compulsory vaccination for certain workers and the mandatory use of a health pass imposed by the French government. French police …

Russian President Vladimir Putin has observed a naval parade in St. Petersburg to mark the country’s 325th anniversary of the Russian navy. Putin observed the drill at the Main Naval Parade on the Neva River on Sunday. During the parade, Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov reported to the president about …