Belarusian Athlete In Poland After Outcry
A Belarusian athlete who refused orders to fly home early from the Olympics in Tokyo has arrived in Poland and is “happy to be in safety.”
Europe
Europe: Thousands protest COVID-19 restrictions mandatory vaccination policies in Italy, France, Greece
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Italy, France, and Greece over the weekend to protest against mandatory vaccination policies and overall COVID-19 restrictions, DW reports.
Google to Build Underwater Cable Connecting Israel, Europe and Asia
Google announced plans to build a Blue Submarine Cable System, an undersea cable connecting the Middle East, Southern Europe, and Asia.
Poland Grants Asylum To Belarus Olympic Sprinter
Poland says it has granted a humanitarian visa to a sprinter from Belarus who refused her team’s order to fly home early from the Olympics. The offer to Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was due to lead to asylum in the European Union nation amid growing political and social turmoil in Belarus.
Albania Repatriates Islamic State Women, Children Despite Controversy
A group of women and children who were the families of Albanian nationals who joined Islamic extremist groups fighting in Syria and Iraq have returned to their homeland. Their arrival Sunday comes amid a debate in several other countries in Europe on what to do with fighters and supporters of groups such as the Islamic State.
Belarus Olympic Athlete Seeks Asylum In EU
A Belarusian Olympic athlete who criticized her nation’s authoritarian leadership and coaches wants asylum in a European Union nation, Worthy News learned Sunday.
EU Targets Christian Doctors Saying Abortion Is ‘Human Right’
Pro-Life doctors and Christian groups are under pressure after the European Parliament passed a resolution saying that abortion is a “human right” and condemned opponents.
Inquiry Blames Maltese State For Murder Journalist
A public inquiry into the car bomb murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has concluded that the Maltese state failed to protect her.
CDC director says European-style health passes ‘may very well be a path forward’ in US
European-style health passes for admission to public venues “may very well be a path forward” in the United States, said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky.
China warns Europe stop ‘politicizing origin tracing’ of pandemic, amid speculation on COVID start
China on Wednesday told Brussels to stop “politicizing the issue of origins tracing” after a European Union official called for more investigations.
Tunisia President Accused Of Coup After Ousting Premier
Tunisia plunged into the worst social unrest in years Monday, with the main political parties accusing the president of staging a coup.
Thousands Protest Hungary’s ‘Anti-LGBT Law’
Thousands of Hungarians, many armed with rainbow flags and rainbow umbrellas, have demonstrated against a law that bans teaching about homosexuality and transgender issues in schools. Saturday’s Budapest Pride march came after the self-declared conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán confirmed a referendum on what he called the “child protection” legislation.
U.S., Russian Diplomats To Hold Arms Control Talks Next Week
U.S. and Russian diplomats will hold the first round of nuclear arms control talks of the Biden administration next week in Geneva, Switzerland, the two countries announced on July 23.
Belarus Detains Christian Missionary Amid Crackdown
Belarus has detained a Christian missionary as part of a massive crackdown on those deemed dangerous to the government, Christians told Worthy News.
Iran Water Shortage Protests Result in 3rd Death, Extend Into 7th Day; Internet Disrupted
Water shortage protests in drought-plagued southwestern Iran appear to have spread to more cities and resulted in what authorities say is a third fatality as the unrest extended into a seventh day.
US, Germany reach a deal on its controversial pipeline to Russia
The Biden administration announced an agreement with Germany on Wednesday that would allow the completion of the controversial Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Hungary, Other Nations, Spying On Journalists and Activists
Hungary’s government has denied wrongdoing after a worldwide investigation showed authorities infected cellphones to spy on critical journalists, politicians, and business figures.
Rescue Crews Rush To Save Lives As Europe’s Flooding Kills 150
Rescue crews were racing to find survivors of floods that devastated parts of western Europe, killing more than 150 people and leaving at least hundreds of people still missing. In the Netherlands, a low-lying seafaring nation, authorities declared an emergency in the south.
England lifts COVID-19 restrictions as cases rise again
England celebrated the end of many grueling months of COVID-19 restrictions as of midnight Monday, but the lifting of all restrictions came amid a surge in infections and warnings about supermarket shortages, Ynet News reports. Following an intense nationwide inoculation drive, 87% of the UK population has now received at least one dose of the vaccine; 68% of the population is fully vaccinated.
Europe Floods Kill 130, Over 1,000 Missing
At least 130 people were confirmed dead, and as many as 1,300 people remained missing as devastating floods hit Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.