Suu Kyi Jailed For Public Unrest
Myanmar’s ousted elected leader, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to four years imprisonment Monday on charges including “inciting public unrest.”
European Union
US, EU, UK and Canada Announce New Belarus Sanctions
The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada have announced a new round of sanctions against Belarus officials and entities, citing the government’s “ongoing attacks on democracy, human rights, and international norms, and for their brutal repression of Belarusians both inside and outside the country,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
Germany To Ban Unvaccinated People From Many Venues
Germany’s outgoing chancellor said Thursday that vaccination could become mandatory in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, from February.
EU chief: It’s time to ‘think about’ mandatory COVID vaccination
It is time for the European Union to “think about mandatory vaccination” against COVID-19, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday, while stressing member state governments would decide.
EU, US Ban Travel From Southern Africa Amid New COVID Variant Fears
The United States joined the European Union Friday in imposing travel restrictions on visitors from southern Africa after discovering a new COVID variant.
WHO Calls New Coronavirus Strain ‘Variant of Concern’ And Names It Omicron
The United Nations health body said Friday the new coronavirus variant is “a variant of concern” and named it Omicron.
Migrants Face Uncertainty At Belarus-Polish Border
As Europe’s winter sets in, Pope Francis urged prayers for migrants fleeing war, persecution, and poverty as the European Union braced for a new influx of desperate people through Belarus and other routes. The Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, offered humanitarian aid to refugees who opted to stay at the Belarusian-Polish border.
All EU States Ban Travel From Southern Africa
All 27 member states of the European Union agreed Friday to suspend travel from seven southern African nations over the outbreak of a new coronavirus.
EU Warns Of South Africa COVID Variant; Banning Flights
The European Union’s executive wants that EU countries introduce an “emergency brake” on travel from southern Africa due to a new coronavirus variant.
Children, Pregnant Woman Drown In Channel
Among 27 migrants who died after their boat sank near Calais, France, were 17 men, seven women – one of whom was pregnant – and three children, France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
New Government In Germany To Phase Out Coal, Legalize Drugs
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, will have a new government of Social Democrats, Greens, and liberal parties that seek to phase-out coal by 2030 while legalizing “soft” drugs.
Dozens Of Migrants Drown On Way To Britain
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “shocked, appalled and deeply saddened” after at least 30 people died when their boat sank in the Channel.
Abbas meets Putin, seeks Quartet role in peace process
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for talks on reviving the peace process with Israel, in the context of Russia’s support for the two-state solution.
Fresh Corona Unrest Erupts In Netherlands Injuring Several
More unrest has rocked the Netherlands and other countries in Europe, amid mounting anger against new lockdown rules that authorities say are needed to tackle rising COVID-19 cases.
WHO: ‘500,000 COVID Deaths In Europe Without Restrictions’
The World Health Organization (WHO) has effectively told Europe‘s leaders to maintain COVID restrictions even as people were injured in protests against these policies in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.
Austria Announces Full COVID Lockdown, Vaccination Order
Austria has announced a full lockdown starting Monday and will force all its citizens to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Mideast Quartet expresses concern over West Bank violence, PA financial crisis
The so-called Quartet of Middle East mediators urged Israel and the Palestinians on Thursday to address an array of challenges — ongoing violence in the West Bank, the advancement of new settlement units in Palestinian territories, and “the untenable fiscal crisis within the Palestinian Authority.”
Polish Forces Fire Tear Gas, Water, At Trapped Migrants
Poland’s border forces fired tear gas and water cannon at migrants Tuesday as desperate crowds tried to cross into the European Union nation from neighboring Belarus.
Netherlands Has West Europe’s First Lockdown
The Netherlands’ police used water cannon and force to crackdown on protestors after the prime minister announced West Europe’s first partial COVID-lockdown this winter.
Europe Facing Conflicts In Poland And Balkans (Worthy News Analysis)
As Europe focused on the coronavirus pandemic, it overlooked looming military conflicts in its eastern backyard from the Polish-Belarus border to the Balkans.