Europe

France will open its borders to travelers from most European countries beginning Monday, ending months of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. As of June 15, travelers from most EU countries, EFTA nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), as well as Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican, and Andorra, will be …

Despite lacking a history of colonialism or slavery, Finland has nonetheless decided to do its bit in the anti-racism drive gripping the Western world, by changing the “racist” name of a small island. The landmass in the Pyhaselka Lake in eastern Finland bore the name Neekerisaari – which translates as …

The United Kingdom has officially told the European Union it will not seek an extension to the post-Brexit transition period beyond December 31 this year. The country left the bloc in January, but remains under EU rules until the end of the year, as new terms are thrashed out between …

Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska said on Friday she had tested positive for the novel coronavirus amid a rise in infections. Zelenska, 42, added that her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and their two children tested negative. “Today I’ve received a positive COVID-19 test result,” she said on Facebook. On Thursday, …

French police staged a protest on Paris’ Champs Elysees on Friday, demonstrating against restrictions on restraint holds they can use, and curbs imposed by the government in response to public anger over cases of police brutality in France. TV footage shows police unions that had parked dozens of vehicles at …

The Scottish Parliament has called for the immediate suspension of exports of riot gear, tear gas and rubber bullets to the United States, in light of the police response to the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. A successful motion, which was backed by 52 votes to 0 with 11 abstentions, …

A man with a knife attacked a school in Slovakia on Thursday, killing one person and wounding at least five before he was killed by police, authorities said. The attack took place at the United School in the town of Vrutky in northwestern Slovakia on Thursday morning. The establishment operates …

A far-right Norwegian man was jailed for 21 years on Thursday for the racially motivated murder of his Chinese-born stepsister and attempting to kill worshippers in a mosque shooting spree. Philip Manshaus expressed strong anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views before last year’s attack and was unrepentant at trial. Manshaus, now 22 …

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas traveled to Jerusalem on Wednesday where he was set to voice European “concern” over Israel’s controversial annexation plans in the occupied West Bank. Maas, the first high-level European visitor to touch down in Israel since the coronavirus pandemic hit, on arrival touched elbows with his …

The new sanctions by Washington targeting Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline are “absolutely unacceptable,” Klaus Ernst, chairman of the Bundestag Committee on Economic Affairs and Energy, said. He explained that sanctions could stop the completion of the project, and if the pipeline is not finished, “this will increase gas prices …

The statue of King Leopold II which has long been criticized by activists because of the former king’s brutal rule in Belgium’s former African colonies was removed in Antwerp on Tuesday just days after being daubed with paint by anti-racism protesters.

Nearly 49 million more people are likely to fall into extreme poverty this year due to the COVID-19 crisis and every percentage point drop in the global GDP would mean hundreds of thousands of additional children will have stunted growth, UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned, calling on countries to …

Swedish prosecutors say they believe they know who killed former Swedish prime minister Olof Palme in 1986, but say the suspect is dead. They identified the suspect as Stig Engstrom, also known as “Skandia Man”, who killed himself in 2000. As a result they are closing the investigation into Palme’s …

French police will abandon the chokehold method of arresting suspects, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner promised as George Floyd protests in the US inspired renewed outrage over police conduct in France. “It will no longer be taught in police and gendarmerie schools,” Castaner said on Monday, adding that the chokehold “has …

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian says he and his family have recovered from the coronavirus. Pashinian said on Facebook that he and his family members tested negative Monday for a second time in as many days. Pashinian announced that he was infected a week ago, adding that he probably contracted …

Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci said on Monday that the government is ready for dialogue with Serbia, and the process should not be delayed. Thaci’s remarks came during a press conference in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. He said Kosovo should move quickly in that direction such that it could join …

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency plans to resume international flights from July 15. That’s according to news agency TASS, citing a source ‘in one of the airlines.’ “Yesterday, a meeting was held at the Federal Air Transport Agency, during which it was decided to propose resuming international air traffic from …

Denmark on Monday lifted the limit on public gatherings to 50 people from 10 as it relaxes measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the ministry of health said. The restrictions on public gatherings were put in place on March 17.

Thousands rally in streets of several European countries in anti-racism rallies sparked by black American George Floyd’s death in US police custody. Chanting for justice, thousands of protesters rallied in the streets of UK, Spain and Italy on Sunday joining a wave of global demonstrations sparked by the death of …

German media covering US President Donald Trump’s response to the protests, rioting, and violence stemming from the police killing of George Floyd have gone to cartoonish lengths to pin all the nation’s problems on Bad Orange Man. Der Spiegel, never one to look too kindly on the president, nevertheless outdid …