Europe - CDE News - The Dispatch

Photo Story: Little Amal visits St Paul’s Cathedral in London

'Little Amal,' a 3.5-meter-tall puppet representing a young Syrian refugee girl visits St Paul's Cathedral in London, Britain, 23 October 2021. Amal arrived in Britain on 19 October 2021 on…

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Moldova PM says Russia gas talks still divided as govt declares emergency

CHISINAU, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Moldova and Russia remain divided over price and other details of a new gas deal, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita said on Friday, after expiry of…

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Photo Story: Sea-Watch 3 vessel with 406 migrants on board arrives in Pozzallo, Sicily

Migrants disembark from the ship Sea-Watch 3 in Pozzallo, near Ragusa, Sicily Island, southern Italy, 23 October 2021. The Sea Watch 3 ship arrived in Pozzallo with 406 migrants rescued…

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Turkish defence minister warns against alliances that harm NATO

NATO-member Turkey's defence minister said the forming of alliances outside of NATO would harm the organisation, according to comments released on Saturday, after Greece and France agreed a defence pact…

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Russian, Chinese warships hold first joint patrols in the Pacific

MOSCOW, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Russian and Chinese warships held their first joint patrols in the Western part of the Pacific Ocean on October 17-23, Russia's defence ministry said in…

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Italy struggles to name climate envoy as ministers argue over name

Italy, joint host of a key United Nations climate summit just over a week away, has still not found a special envoy to represent it because the ministers responsible for…

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Romania tightens restrictions to stem COVID-19 surge

The Romanian government will re-introduce a night curfew and make health passes mandatory for entry to most public venues from Monday, as well as sending school children on vacation for…

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German COVID-19 infections at highest since mid-May

Germany recorded the highest incidence of coronavirus infections since mid-May on Saturday, reaching the threshold of 100 cases per 100,000 in the past seven days that used to be the…

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COVID-19 deaths in Russia hit record for fifth straight day as lockdown looms

Russia reported 1,075 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, its fifth straight daily record, as the authorities prepare to shut workplaces countrywide and lock down the capital. A record 37,678 new cases…

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UK’s Sunak rules out return to major COVID restrictions

British finance minister Rishi Sunak said there must be no return to "significant economic restrictions" despite a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, The Times newspaper quoted him…

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Luxembourg first in Europe to legalise growing and using cannabis

Adults in Luxembourg will be permitted to grow up to four cannabis plants in their homes or gardens under laws that will make it the first country in Europe to…

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Delta ‘Plus’ Covid variant may be more transmissible

A new mutated form of coronavirus that some are calling "Delta Plus" may spread more easily than regular Delta, UK experts now say. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has…

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S&P raises Italy’s outlook to ‘positive’ on reforms

Ratings agency S&P Global raised Italy's outlook to "positive" from "stable", saying the government's commitment to pro-growth reforms would boost the economy. The government in April presented to the European…

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Norway to boost financial support for most vulnerable amid power price spike

OSLO, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Norway's new centre-left government on Friday proposed a one-off payment of up to 3,070 crowns ($369) for people receiving housing support in southern Norway to…

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Chip crunch to cut Renault’s 2021 output by 500,000 cars

LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Renault said on Friday it would cut output by 500,000 cars this year, more than double its previous forecast due to a crippling global semiconductor…

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A few facts on Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch

Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the world's longest-reigning monarch, spent a night in hospital but returned to Windsor Castle on Thursday. Here are some facts about the 95-year-old queen: PRINCESS Elizabeth Alexandra…

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Output, delivery disruptions raising costs and prices – Swedish central bank survey shows

STOCKHOLM, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Sweden's economy is strong, but bottlenecks and supply problems are having a major impact on businesses, leading to increased costs and prices, the central bank…

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Card spending in UK falls below pre-COVID average – ONS

Spending on credit and debit cards in Britain fell last week to 97% of its pre-pandemic average in February 2020, official data showed. The sharpest falls over the past week…

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Bottlenecks continue to brake German growth, inflation mounts – PMI

BERLIN, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Growth in business activity slowed in Germany in October, a business survey showed on Friday, with inflationary pressures resulting from supply chain bottlenecks at a…

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Swedish rapper Einar shot dead, stoking outrage over gang violence

Einar, one of Sweden's most popular rappers, was shot dead in Stockholm late on Thursday, heightening outrage over gang-related violence that has afflicted the Nordic country in recent years. Einar,…

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Portugal’s gig-economy workers set to become staff

LISBON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Portugal has moved a step closer to ordering digital platforms such as Uber and Glovo to employ some of their drivers as staff with formal…

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New poll puts Zemmour in round two of French vote, behind President Macron

The hard-right political talk-show star Eric Zemmour was forecast to reach the second round of the French presidential election in a new poll published on Friday, although President Emmanuel Macron…

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Belgium enters fourth COVID-19 infection wave as cases jump

Belgium's daily COVID-19 cases have jumped to the highest level in almost a year, prompting health experts to say that a fourth wave of infections has begun. Data from the…

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‘Don’t be afraid’ of EU defence ambitions, France tells NATO

French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly told her NATO counterparts on Friday not to fear the European Union's defence plans, saying that the United States will benefit and any European…

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UK employers tell Johnson to ‘get serious’ about tax and investment

LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - British employers told Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government on Friday to "get serious" about encouraging business investment and stop blaming them for the economy's problems…

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Auf Wiedersehen: Merkel attends her swan song EU summit – probably

European Union leaders paused their meeting in Brussels on Thursday for a farewell photograph with Angela Merkel, who is attending what could be the last of more than 100 summits…

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France offers lower-income households 100 euro inflation bonus

French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that lower-income households would receive 100 euros from the government to help mitigate the impact of rising energy prices, particularly those at the petrol…

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Italy delays contested new sugar and plastic taxes until 2023

The introduction of contested taxes on plastic and sugary drinks has been postponed for a fifth time and will not now come into force until 2023, the government said in…

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UPDATED: England’s COVID prevalence rises to new highest level since January, ONS says

The prevalence of COVID-19 infections in England increased to around 1 in 55 people in the week ending Oct 16, Britain's Office for National Statistics said on Friday, once again…

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Russian COVID deaths hit 4th straight record a week before new curbs

MOSCOW, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Russia reported a fourth straight daily record of COVID-19 deaths on Friday, with still a week to go before the start of a nationwide workplace…

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German COVID-19 cases rise sharply

A key measure of coronavirus infections in Germany rose sharply over the past week, figures showed on Friday, raising the prospect of tougher restrictions as winter approaches. The seven-day incidence…

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Remains of ‘Big John’, largest known triceratops, fetch nearly $8 million

A private, anonymous U.S. collector bought the fossilised remains of 'Big John', the largest triceratops dinosaur ever discovered by palaeontologists, for 6.65 million euros ($7.74 million) at a Paris auction…

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German parties aim to make Scholz chancellor by early December

The three German parties working to form a new coalition government aim to wrap up their talks by the end of November and elect Social Democrat Olaf Scholz chancellor in…

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EU states must not strip migrants of their basic rights, Luxembourg PM says

BRUSSELS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The European Union has to find the right balance to tackle the Belarus' migrant scheme but not strip people attempting to cross the bloc's borders…

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UPDATE: Moldovan government to ask parliament to back emergency energy measures

Moldova's government, unable to agree on a new energy deal with Russia's Gazprom, will ask parliament on Friday to approve a state of emergency to try to ease gas shortages,…

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UPDATED: Ukrainian shuts schools as coronavirus death toll hits new record

KYIV, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Ukraine shut schools in coronavirus hotspots on Friday and announced a requirement for vaccine certificates or negative tests to access public transport in the capital,…

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UPDATED: Queen will rest and undertake light duties

Britain's Queen Elizabeth, 95, will spend Friday resting and undertaking light duties after she spent a night in hospital for the first time in years for what Buckingham Palace termed…

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Ireland hopes for agreement on Northern Irish trade within weeks

The dispute between Britain and the European Union over Northern Irish trade could be resolved within weeks to end economic uncertainty in the province, Ireland's European Affairs minister, Thomas Byrne,…

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Italy’s Berlusconi acquitted of bribing witness in underage prostitution case

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was acquitted on Thursday of allegedly bribing a witness in a 2013 underage prostitution case, giving a fillip to the 85-year old who has…

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Putin says Western military backing of Ukraine threatens Russia

President Vladimir Putin warned that the Western-backed military development of Ukraine posed a serious threat to Russia, two days after the U.S. defense secretary staged a show of support for…

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FATF ‘grey lists’ Turkey

An international watchdog downgraded Turkey to a so-called grey list for failing to head off money laundering and terrorist financing, a decision that could further erode foreign investment after a…

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UPDATED: Queen Elizabeth back home after first night in hospital in years

Britain's 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth spent a night in hospital for the first time in years for what royal officials termed 'preliminary investigations' but was in good spirits and back at…

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Swedish watchdog says to investigate crypto trading firms

STOCKHOLM, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Sweden's Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) said it would investigate how firms which trade crypto-currencies implement regulations aimed at preventing money laundering and the financing of…

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More Britons struggling to pay their bills, poll shows

LONDON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - More people in Britain are finding it hard to meet their bills and a growing number are worried about being unable to heat their homes…

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After Everard murder, London police to reassure women with video calls

London's Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday lone officers in plain clothes would call a supervisor to identify themselves when approaching lone women, in order to regain trust after the murder…

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Barnier talks tough on immigration in quest for France’s centre-right presidential ticket

Europe's former chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, now seeking the centre-right ticket in France's 2022 election, said the country was deeply divided and accused President Emmanuel Macron of being oblivious…

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Spies and lies: regulators round on Credit Suisse

Credit Suisse misled authorities over spying on its staff and lied to investors about a corrupt loan to Mozambique, regulators said, painting a bleak picture of the cultural decay at…

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Italian senate asks government to ban Forza Nuova neofascist party

Italy's upper house Senate on Wednesday asked the government to dissolve the Forza Nuova neofascist party, which this month took part in violent protests against the introduction of mandatory COVID-19…

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Kremlin says Russia can not be forced to respect Navalny’s EU rights prize win

The Kremlin on Thursday said Russia could not be forced to respect the European Parliament’s decision to award an annual human rights prize to jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny. The…

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G20 split over coal, 1.5 degree climate limit ahead of Rome summit – sources

ROME, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The Group of 20 rich countries are divided over phasing out coal and committing to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius as they prepare…

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Russia put Navalny’s ally Sobol on wanted list

Russian police have declared Lyubov Sobol, a prominent ally of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, as wanted, according to various media reports, which cited the police's wanted list. Russia's RT…

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Sweden extends pause of Moderna COVID vaccine for younger age groups

STOCKHOLM, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Sweden has extended the pause of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 30 and younger due to rare heart-related side-effects, the public health agency said…

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Russia warns NATO any move on Ukraine will have consequences

Moscow has warned NATO that any move towards Ukraine's membership in the bloc will have consequences, the RIA news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko as saying on…

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Italy reports H5N1 bird flu outbreak among poultry, OIE says

PARIS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Italy has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu in a commercial farm of fattening turkeys in the north of the country, the…

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Photo Story: Handover of the mayoral office in Rome

Roberto Gualtieri (L), the new center-left mayor of Rome with outgoing mayor Virginia Raggi (R) greet from the balcony of the Campidolio (Capitol) after the handover of the office in…

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UPDATED: Man charged with murder of British lawmaker Amess

British police on Thursday charged Ali Harbi Ali, a 25-year-old Londoner, with the murder of lawmaker David Amess, who was stabbed to death last week in a church while meeting…

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UPDATED: Romania’s Iohannis picks army general as prime minister

Romania's president nominated Nicolae Ciuca as prime minister on Thursday, asking the retired army general to form a centrist government to end a month-long policy stalemate as rising COVID-19 infections…

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