People across Italy have been singing from their balconies in an effort to keep up morale as the country faces the worst coronavirus outbreak outside China. Italy’s 60 million citizens were placed under lockdown to halt the spread of a virus that has so far claimed over 1,000 lives in the country
Continue reading...Category Archives: Europe
Coronavirus live news: Trump says UK may be included in travel ban as WHO calls Europe ‘centre of pandemic’
Queen cancels engagements; Canadian prime minister self-isolates; UK cases rise by 208
- School closures could wipe 3% from UK GDP, ministers warned
- Spain to enter state of emergency as EU nations step up measures
- How many will die of coronavirus in the UK?
- Social distancing: is it risky to go to the pub or gym?
- Share your experiences
Plans to close off Catalonia have been announced by the northeastern Spanish region’s president, Quim Torra, who called on the central government to help by authorising the closure of ports, airports and railways.
The evolution of the contagion calls for most drastic action. We need to restrict entry and exit to protect ourselves.
In Europe, Hungary is closing all schools and will continue education as best as it can via digital channels, its prime minister Viktor Orbán has said.
In a Facebook video, he said he expected the Hungarian economy to stall soon and it will have to be restarted; an effort the government will participate in.
Continue reading...UK and EU agree to ‘dial down rhetoric’ in Brexit talks
Both sides expected to produce legal texts of negotiating positions next week
The UK and the EU have agreed to “dial down the rhetoric” over Brexit in an effort to open up space for a deal, it has emerged.
Brussels and London are expected to produce legal texts of their negotiating positions next week, with diplomatic sources claiming both sides have agreed to “lower the temperature” to enable the texts to be considered in detail to assess the scale of the divergence.
Continue reading...Why did Donald Trump exclude the UK from his coronavirus travel ban?
President’s restrictions are as arbitrary as 2017 ‘Muslim ban’ – driven by politics, not science
Donald Trump’s contorted spin on the travel restrictions he announced on Wednesday night, including pinning the blame for “a foreign disease” on the European Union, revealed a mind largely driven by politics and not science.
The impression he sought to create was that the EU bureaucracy had let the world down by failing to take necessary steps to slow the spread of coronavirus, but the United Kingdom, legally outside the EU and physically an island, was exonerated.
Continue reading...Ireland school closures reveal stark contrast to UK Covid-19 response
Critics of UK coronavirus measures call for joint strategy on island of Ireland
Ireland is shutting schools, colleges and childcare facilities to delay the spread of coronavirus in contrast to the UK which is keeping education institutions open, exposing a stark divergence in response to the crisis.
Irish authorities said the shutdown would begin at 6pm on Thursday and last at least until 29 March as part of a series of restrictions, including a ban on mass gatherings, that will be kept under review.
Continue reading...German intelligence agency puts part of far-right AfD under surveillance
Agency chief says far-right terrorism and extremism are biggest danger to democracy
The chief of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV) has described far-right terrorism and extremism as the biggest danger facing democracy in Germany, as his agency put part of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) under formal surveillance.
The most radical rightwingers in the country number 32,000, said Thomas Haldenwang, adding that 13,000 are considered potentially violent.
Continue reading...Migrants on Greek islands to be offered €2,000 to go home
One-month EU scheme offers more than five times usual sum in bid to ease pressure in camps
Migrants on the Greek islands are to be offered €2,000 (£1,764) per person to go home under a voluntary scheme launched by the European Union in an attempt to ease desperate conditions in camps.
The amount is more than five times the usual sum offered to migrants to help them rebuild their lives in their country of origin, under voluntary returns programmes run by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Continue reading...Shops and pubs close in Italy as prime minister praises citizens’ sacrifices – video
The Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, ordered on Wednesday night the closure of all non-essential commercial activities to counteract the spread of the coronavirus, which has so far claimed 827 lives, after a 31% rise in 24 hours.
The World Health Organization has formally declared a pandemic. After banning all but essential travel on Monday, Italy is allowing stores selling ‘basic necessities’, such as pharmacies and supermarkets, to remain open. Conte added that the impact of the new measures would only become clear in a few weeks
Continue reading...‘We will go overhead the boat and we will light our landing light’ – audio clip
EU flight crew guide a Libyan naval vessel to a rubber boat carrying people fleeing Libya
Continue reading...Revealed: the great European refugee scandal
Evidence obtained by the Guardian exposes a coordinated and unlawful EU assault on the rights of desperate people trying to cross the Mediterranean
As night fell on 26 March 2019, two small boats made their way north across the Mediterranean. The rubber crafts were flimsy; it would be nearly impossible for those onboard to make it to Europe without help. From the north, a twin-propeller aeroplane from the European Union naval force approached. From the south, the coastguard from the country they had just fled, Libya, was coming.
The aircraft arrived first but there would be no rescue from Europe. Instead the flight, callsign Seagull 75, radioed the Libyans telling them where to find the boats. But Libya’s would-be interceptors would need more than just the coordinates. “OK sir, my radar is not good, is not good, if you stay [over the boat] I will follow you,” said the coastguard, according to recordings of VHF marine radio picked up by a nearby ship.
Continue reading...Erdoğan likens Greek border crackdown to Nazi atrocities
Turkish leader repeats unproven claims of killings by Greek forces and says border will stay open
Turkey’s president has likened Greece’s treatment of refugees and migrants at its borders to Nazi atrocities, reigniting tensions between Athens and Ankara before a visit by EU officials to the Greek capital.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said alleged abuses against people who had amassed at the two nations’ land frontier were comparable to tactics employed by Hitler’s troops during the second world war.
Continue reading...Woman in Russian ‘sex spy’ scandal fights deportation from Canada
Ottawa judge to hear case of Elena Crenna, who denies allegations she shared classified information with Russian officials
A woman at the centre of a three-decades-old Russian “sex spy” scandal is fighting her deportation from Canada, denying allegations she ever shared classified information with Russian officials.
An Ottawa judge was due on Wednesday to hear the case of Elena Crenna, a Russian American woman who married the former Canadian civil servant David Crenna.
Continue reading...EU plans ‘right to repair’ rules for phones and tablets
European commission says linear growth model of ‘take, make, use, discard’ has reached limit
Manufacturers of phones, tablets and laptops will face legal obligations to make their products easier to repair and reuse, under a far-reaching recycling plan from the European Union executive.
The European commission wants to drastically increase recycling of electronic goods, which are often difficult to repair, replace batteries or upgrade. Less than 40% of electronic waste in the EU is thought to be recycled.
Continue reading...Italy coronavirus lockdown leaves streets deserted – in pictures
The Italian government has imposed a nationwide lockdown in an effort to tackle the world’s worst coronavirus outbreak outside of China. Movements in and out of cities are severely restricted, and streets that are usually busy with life and traffic are almost empty
Continue reading...Lesbos coronavirus case sparks fears for refugee camp
Wave of anti-migrant violence has left refugees without food and medical care – and more vulnerable to disease than ever before
News of a confirmed case of Covid-19 on Lesbos has sparked fears of the impact of an outbreak at the overcrowded Moria refugee camp, where refugees live in dire conditions with appalling hygiene and little medical care.
The troubling conditions in the camp have worsened this week, and tensions on the island have seen several NGOs forced to reduce or close services over safety fears.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live updates: WHO declares pandemic as Italy extends lockdown measures
World Health Organization chief says number of cases reported and number of countries affected ‘doesn’t tell the full story’
- What is a pandemic?
- Full story: WHO declares coronavirus pandemic
- US death toll rises to 31 as official warns ‘things will get worse’
- UK cases jump to 456 and eighth Briton dies
- Share your experiences
In addition to the unnamed cabinet minister, the junior health minister Ed Argar is also self-isolating after having dinner with Nadine Dorries on Thursday night, the Guardian understands.
A cabinet minister is self-isolating while they await test results, a government source has confirmed, thought they would not confirm the identity of the minister.
Continue reading...St Peter’s Square before and after Italy’s coronavirus lockdown – video
St Peter's Square and St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City have been closed to tourists after Italy's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, placed a lockdown across the entire country because of coronavirus. More than 60 million people have been affected by the lockdown since the government extended restrictions on movement from the hard-hit north to the rest of Italy.
- Coronavirus Italy: PM extends lockdown to entire country
- Coronavirus live updates: number of deaths outside China passes 1,000 as Italy records highest one-day toll
From confidence to quarantine: how coronavirus swept Italy
Undetected transmissions in early stage of outbreak at heart of current difficulties
Italy appeared well ahead of the curve when the coronavirus outbreak began to spread outside China.
Continue reading...What does the prospect of perpetual Putin mean for Russia’s future?
President’s plan to remain in power beyond 2024 does not bode well either for Russia or the world
The idea that Vladimir Putin would quietly retire always seemed fanciful, given the grisly fate that often befalls ageing autocrats, ex-dictators and even supposedly elected presidents once they let go of absolute power.
In January, Russia’s president-in-perpetuity floated a range of possible constitutional “reforms” to help decide what happens in 2024 when his term in office expires.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live updates: Italy-wide lockdown comes into force
UK and US had worst days trading since 2008 GFC; Global cases near 110,000; Grand Princess passengers disembark. Follow the latest news.
- Cruise ship carrying at least 21 with coronavirus docks in California
- US pledges more testing as Trump hints at aid for workers
- Quarantined US congressman flew with Trump on Air Force One
- Global stock markets post biggest falls since 2008 financial crisis
- Italian PM extends lockdown to entire country
- Coronavirus sufferers symptom-free for five days on average – study
- Coronavirus latest: at a glance
As the whole of Italy goes into lockdown, there are some reassuring signs that measures are starting to work. Across the 11 towns that went into quarantine over two weeks ago, the number of cases is beginning to fall.
Virgin Atlantic has called on the European Commission and UK flight slots co-ordinator to relax rules amid the coronavirus outbreak, PA reports.
Chief executive Shai Weiss said: “Last month Virgin Atlantic and industry partners committed to achieving net zero carbon by 2050.
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