Europe

Maltese legislator elected European Parliament president

Editorial Bureau January 19, 2022

BRUSSELS — Roberta Metsola, a Christian Democratic politician from Malta, was elected president of the European Union’s parliament Tuesday, taking over for a 2½-year term following the death of Socialist David Sassoli last week. Metsola is only the third woman elected to the post. Her birthday

Europe

Norwegian mass murderer appears before parole hearing

Editorial Bureau January 18, 2022

SKIEN, Norway — Anders Behring Breivik, the right-wing extremist who killed 77 people in bomb-and-gun massacres in Norway’s worst peacetime slaughter in 2011, appeared Tuesday before a court for a parole hearing. The Telemark District Court must rule whether Breivik is still so dangerous that society needs extra protection against him. and keep him behind […]

Europe

In Greece, unvaccinated people 60 and up face monthly fines

Editorial Bureau January 18, 2022

ATHENS, Greece — Greece imposed a vaccination mandate Monday for people 60 and older, as the country’s vaccination rate remains below the European Union average and a spike in infections has put sustained pressure on Greek hospitals. Older people failing to get vaccinated will face penalties, starting at a 50-euro ($57) fine in January and […]

Europe

Waves from eruption in Tonga cause oil spill in Peru

Editorial Bureau January 18, 2022

LIMA, Peru — Unusually high waves attributed to the eruption of an undersea volcano in Tonga caused an oil spill on the Peruvian coast, but authorities said Monday the spill was controlled within hours and there’s an ongoing process to clean the area. The Peruvian Civil Defense Institute said in a press release that a […]

Europe

Austria tweaks vaccine mandate plan, to come in next month

Editorial Bureau January 17, 2022

BERLIN — The Austrian government on Sunday presented revised plans for its proposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which it said will now apply to all residents age 18 and over, rather than 14 as originally intended. Officials said that a phased introduction will give people plenty of opportunity to comply. The government announced nearly two months […]

Europe

No vaccine? No cafe, according to new French virus law

Editorial Bureau January 17, 2022

PARIS — France’s parliament approved a law Sunday that will exclude unvaccinated people from all restaurants, sports arenas and other venues, the central measure of government efforts to protect hospitals amid record numbers of infections driven by the highly contagious omicron variant. The National Assembly adopted the law by a vote of 215-58. Centrist President […]

Europe

French far-left presidential hopeful woos voters’ senses

Editorial Bureau January 17, 2022

NANTES, France — Far-left French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon sought Sunday to reinvigorate his flagging campaign for April’s election with an “immersive and olfactory” rally, using videos, sounds and smells diffused through an exhibition hall. The unusual event in the western city of Nantes came as the once-powerful French left wing is deeply fractured and

Europe

Portugal’s election campaign begins under pandemic limits

Editorial Bureau January 16, 2022

LISBON, Portugal — The official two-week campaigning period for Portugal’s Jan. 30 general election kicked off Sunday, but there will be none of the large flag-waving rallies usually associated with the buildup to the ballot because of the coronavirus pandemic. The vote comes two years ahead of schedule after parliament in November rejected the minority […]

Europe

Tulips for Amsterdam: Growers hand out free flowers

Editorial Bureau January 16, 2022

AMSTERDAM — As stores in Amsterdam and across the Netherlands cautiously reopened after weeks of being under a coronavirus lockdown, the Dutch capital’s mood was lightened further Saturday by dashes of color from thousands of free bunches of tulips being handed out. National Tulip Day is usually marked by an improvised flower garden in front […]

Europe

In southern Dutch town, cafes open in lockdown protest

Editorial Bureau January 15, 2022

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Shops, bars and restaurants in a southern Dutch town opened Friday in a protest action that underscored growing anger at weeks of coronavirus lockdown measures, a day before some of the restrictions are expected to be eased. A local broadcaster showed people eating and drinking at outdoor tables of restaurants in […]