EU Chief Von der Leyen Wants Britain and Russia in First Union Speech
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has given her first State of the Union speech with angry words about Britain’s plans to renegotiate its divorce deal with the EU.
Britain
Poisoned Kremlin Critic Navalny Out of Coma; Plans Return to Russia
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was allegedly poisoned, has been removed from a medically induced coma in a German hospital and plans to return to Russia, officials said Monday.
Eritrea Releasing Dozens Of Christians From Tough Prisons
Eritrea has released dozens of Christians, many of whom spent a decade behind bars for their faith in Christ, well-informed rights activists say.
EU, U.K. in urgent meeting on lawbreaking British Brexit plan
Top European Union and British officials were holding an emergency meeting in London on Thursday over Britain’s plan to break part of the Brexit divorce agreement, a move the EU says would demolish any goodwill to reach a trade agreement.
Trump warns schools may lose federal funding if they teach the “1619 project”
President Donald Trump announced Sunday that schools that incorporate the New York Times’ “1619 Project” may lose federal funding, Zero Hedge reports. Created by NYT reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones in 2019, the “1619 project” is an ongoing initiative which “aims to reframe [America’s] history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of [The United States’] national narrative.”
EU Accuses Britain Of Torpedoing Brexit Deal
European Union leaders have accused Britain of throwing political grenades across the channel by threatening to undermine its divorce deal with the EU. The so-called Brexit Withdrawal Agreement was signed last year to allow Britain’s orderly exit from the bloc.
Archeologists Discover Key Artifact From Europe’s Early Christianity in Britain
Britain-based archaeologists say they have discovered “one of the most important” artifacts from early Christianity in Western Europe. The 5th-century cup etched with symbols of Christian iconography was unearthed during excavation works at a ruined 6th-century church in Northumberland, northern England, officials said.
Johnson says UK will quit Brexit talks if no deal by Oct 15
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson talked tough on Sunday ahead of a crucial round of post-Brexit trade talks with the European Union, saying Britain could walk away from the talks within weeks and insisting that a no-deal exit would be a “good outcome for the U.K.”
Muslim Fighters Kill, Kidnap Christians In Nigeria
Christians, including children, have been kidnapped and one person was killed and a church destroyed in the latest attacks by Muslim fighters in north-central Nigeria, an advocacy group said Wednesday.
UK, France agree to plan to stop illegal immigrant boats across English Channel
British immigration minister said Tuesday that the U.K. and France have agreed to a plan to stop a wave of illegal immigration that has seen hundreds of migrants making their way across the English Channel into Britain this month.
Iran nuclear deal at risk as U.N. council prepares to vote on arms embargo
The U.N. Security Council is preparing to vote this week on a U.S. proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran, a move that some diplomats say is bound to fail and put the fate of a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers further at risk.
Britain Increasing Border Security As Migrants Cross Channel In Risky Boats; Europe Concerned
Britain’s government pledged Friday to strengthen border security, as a daily record number of people crossed the English Channel to the U.K. in small boats. The measures that reportedly could involve the Royal Navy, come amid broader concerns in Europe about a rising number of migrants re-emerging following lengthy coronavirus lockdowns.
Europe Struggling To Halt Coronavirus Surge
The Netherlands is among several European nations stepping up measures to halt a new rise in coronavirus infections.
Europeans Struggling With Heatwave and Coronavirus Lockdowns
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, millions of Europeans are crowding beaches and other areas amid a massive heatwave. That has added to deaths at sea, including in the Netherlands.
Europe’s Economies Plunging Into Coronavirus Recession
The European Union’s statistics agency has reported the most significant economic falls within the 27-nation bloc since it began recording the figures 25 years ago.
Europe On Edge Amid Rise Of Coronavirus Infections
Spain and several other European nations are taking new measures to halt an increase in reported coronavirus cases. The decisions come amid fresh warnings by authorities of a widespread “second wave” of infections.
The US and UK find commonality on China
China was among a range of topics discussed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London Tuesday, VOA News reports. Pompeo arrived for talks only days after Johnson finally decided to exclude Chinese tech giant Huawei from developing the UK’s 5G phone network, a move Washington has been exhorting for some time.
Russian Spies Try Stealing Coronavirus Vaccine Research
Western security services say Russian spies try to steal coronavirus research in several Western nations. Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) warned Friday that Russian hackers “almost certainly” operated as “part of Russian intelligence services.”
Anti-migration Hungary Reimposes Coronavirus Measures on Selected Foreigners
Hungary’s fiercely anti-migration government warned Sunday it would reimpose far-reaching coronavirus restrictions on people arriving from nations with a moderate or high number of coronavirus infections. The measures include mandatory two-week quarantines or bans and other limitations.
Sober Ceremony Marks 25th Anniversary of Srebrenica Massacre
Bosnia-Herzegovina commemorated over the weekend the 25th anniversary of Europe’s worst atrocity since World War Two. Some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were shot end killed by invading Serb forces in and around the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in one of the darkest episodes of the 1992-1995 Bosnian war.